IaOrana! December 2016. Show in Tahiti. From Helsinki to Miami, Santiago, Easter Island and finally to Papeete in Tahiti. I was 8years 11mo.
French Polynesia: Tahiti & BoraBora
CHRISTMAS 2016 - STARS AT TAHITI
Hello! IaOrana! Flight from Easter Island to Tahiti, French Polynesia left at midnight. Boeing Dreamliner, 5 hours flight towards west over Pacific Ocean. We landed to Papeete, capital of Tahiti, exactly same clock time as we started from Easter Island. 5 hours flight passed 5 time zones. In Papeete, white flower lays around neck. Tahitian group singing and playing ukuleles, moving harmoniously. We got Tahiti feeling.
• French Polynesia has 118 atolls and islands
• Tahiti is the highest and largest island in French Polynesia
• Tahiti is formed from volcanic activity: mountains, coral reefs
• Tahiti is 4400km south of Hawaii, 7900km west of Chile
• 300-800 Polynesian settlers arrived to Tahiti
• 1576 Spanish explorer Juan Fernandez expedition
• 1606 Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandes de Queiros
• 1767 British Lieutenant Samuel Wallis, HMS Dolphin
• 1768 French Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
• 1769 English explorer Captain James Cook, HMS Endeavour
• 1880 Kingdom of Tahiti became French colony
• 2016 Population 180.000, 70% Polynesians, capital Papeete
• Languages: French and Eastern Polynesian Tahitian
Time -12 hours to Finland time, when Helsinki is 12:00 noon, Tahiti is 12:00 at night. Looking like a paradise. Excellent French style breakfasts and dinners, kitchen miracles.
A boy, culture and Christmas. We spent days at InterContinental's three pools. In one pool you could swim with colourful fish. Fish feeding afternoons. Spa and fitness. Fruit cocktails.
Tahiti moments like from the cinemas.
Polynesian Warrior Drumming and Dancing Show, six drummers and 20 dancers. Sweat, no blood. Photo session with warriors who gave low roars.
Warriors! Drumming and Dancing was noisy and wild!
BaBa let out a roar!
• Excellent, paradise-like views
• Enjoyed the hotel, restaurants and services
• Noisy, powerful Polynesian Drumming and Dancing Show
From Tahiti to BoraBora
December 21, 2016
• Flight from Tahiti to BoraBora, 50 mins by Air Tahiti
• BoraBora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Bungalow No.50, 7 nights
50 minutes flight by ATR 42 propjet to 230 kilometers northwest of Tahiti.
BoraBora Lagoon Airport aka Motu Mute Airport, open since 1943. We stayed a full week in BoraBora.
We got flower lays around necks inside the airport. Perfect weather +28C, sharp green mountain and turquoise sea.
Islet has no taxi cars, boats take travellers to hotels across the lagoon. Our hotel boat on the right. Across the lagoon to our islet.
Hotel boat speeded us in 10 minutes to Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort.
- Lagoon colours were chocking
BORABORA BACKGROUNDER
Long ago this was Kingdom of BoraBora. During WW2 USA had a military base in BoraBora. During 1941-1946 they brought in 7000 soldiers, built runway for airplanes and 30km road around the island. Soldiers put artillery cannons on Mount Otemanu. After WW2 the runway enabled tourism.
• No WW2 combats ever happened in BoraBora
• Located 230km north west of Tahiti, population 8800
• Land area 30km2, Mount Otemanu 727 meters
• BoraBora Lagoon Airport on islet Motu Mute, open since 1943
• 1820 London Missionary Society
• 1888 French colony
• 1941-1946 U.S. military base
• 1961 Hotel BoraBora opened
• 1970 Over-the-water bungalows
Arrived to BoraBora. Let's get tropical! It will be seven nights here on islet Motu Tevairoa. No snakes in this paradise. Hotel's reception gave us tropical drinks, face wipes and presentation into BoraBora resort life and services.
Our Bungalow was on pillars, top of the lagoon sea, opposite to 727 meters high Mount Otemanu of the main island of BoraBora. Bungalow was spacy and modern: cooling, ceiling fan, TV, fridge, shower, bath, balcony with steps to platform and sea, internet. Floor window to watch the marine world, tropical fish, to feed the fish.
We unpacked. Soon a Polynesian waiter brought us a welcoming gifts: bottle of white wine in wine cooler, and chocolates. I went right to snorkeling among tropical fish in turguose sea. Water was warm.
- This looks and feels like a paradise
Dinner restaurant was hut-style with open side towards Mount Otemanu. I like tuna steaks. At night when walking back to our cottage we saw clear, starry sky like never before! During the night our bungalow had some wind sounds. We had to keep air cooling ON all the time.
Snorkeling with Mamster in front of our Bungalow. I saw M-size shark (maybe 3 meters long) here in turquoise lagoon. Lagoon's depth is low, around one meter deep, sharks don't like to come daytime, they come after sunset.
BoraBora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa. Snorkeling, to pools, to hot tub. Swimming until dinner time.
- In BoraBora I updated my trip diary daily, stories and drawings
Shark-Feeding Safari. That's Captain Will's boat. We stopped here for fruits. Shark-Feeding Safari with Captain Will was a exciting experience and a lot of learning. But safe all the time.
SHARK-FEEDING SAFARI with Captain WILL
Captain Will arrived by his small motorboat and we threw ourselves into the hands of the lagoon Captain. He took us across the lagoon to several shark places. Swimming with wild sharks, over 3 meters tall, tens of stingrays, and deeper 6 meters wide mantarays. Well, I didn't swim but MaMa did and everybody was really excited. We had five stops in different parts of BoraBora lagoon, four on sea and one at fruit hut on an islet. We went around the main island of BoraBora on the lagoon. Colors were from green, to turquoise, to bright blue.
Captain Will was born in French Polynesia, nearby islet, his dad is from France. His son had 8-year birthday just before Christmas 2016. Captain Will spoke Polynesian Tahitian, French and English. He had lived in BoraBora for 15 years. He knew the sea. When Captain Will predicted soon rains, the rain came in 3 minutes, he made me surprised.
Shark-Feeding Safari. Mamster played with hundreds of stingrays during Shark-Feeding Safari. In Anau Lagoon she went down to face two six meters wide mantarays with huge open mouths, and many three meters long black fin sharks. We also saw meter wide giant clams (seashells), the famous shell closing action is defensive, not aggressive.
Good weather again. To pool, hot tub and swimming for four hours until dinner time. Stand-up paddling board aka SUP-board on low-water lagoon. Weather can change rapidly. And Christmas is coming!
Turquoise lagoon. Paddleboarding on SUP-board is fun. There is Mount Otemanu. Ice cream. Minigolf. Jumping into pool and swimming most of the day. BaBa went shark kayaking to see the edge of our islet Motu Tevairoa, and managed to get back!
Polynesian Christmas Dinner. Afternoon we had my birthday party in our bungalow. Birthday song, cake, candle blow. Friend's gift: neckless with amulet. At Polynesian Dinner party we got lays around necks, and they gave birthday-hero-me three lays. Welcome drinks and snacks.
Polynesian Christmas Dinner.
Polynesian Christmas Dinner. Cooks made delicious dishes, we enjoyed. A wild Polynesian Warrior Drumming and Dancing show with warriors and dancers with fires. Wild hip-shaking dances.
Polynesian Christmas Dinner. Warriors and dancers.
Polynesian Christmas Dinner. Warriors, dancers, and fighters. At night when going back to bungalow we saw starry sky like never before. We spotted Orion, Otava, planet Mars, more. Great night without Santa Claus.
Christmas Day. This was a hot and tiring day. Swimming. I played full game of billiard at hotel's activity room, a big round hall like a hut. This day we took lazy, today and tomorrow (Dec. 25th and 26th) are public holidays in BoraBora.
Sir-D and Sir-K performed Polynesian style Cannonballs!
Lazy days!
There, Mount Otemanu.
Sir-D and Sir-K in hot tub at hotel's beach.
Christmas Day, another wild dinner show.
Breakfast service had Egg Cook who made prime omelets and Eggs Benedicts. A lot to choose from, and French quality: super. Service by Polynesians is friendly. Many of them are tall but always friendly. Pleasant day, a rain shower, not too hot. My best day in BoraBora. This was my program after breakfast:
• Billiard match against BaBa, he won by one point
• Pool: cannonballs, five voltings underwater, 15 meters dive
• Chocolade milkshake
• Stand-up paddling board (SUP-board) play on turquoise lagoon
BORABORA JEEP SAFARI with Mr STEVE
Jeep Safari started by boat from our islet to BoraBora's main island. Our guide was Steve-the-Jeep. He showed us BoraBora's main island, Vaitape beach and pearl industry shop where we got a presentation. We drove up Mount Otemanu to see WW2 cannons. We visited Masson Art Gallery.
Jeep Safari. Road to WW2 cannons was pumpy, our guide Steve-the-Jeep took us some 200 meters up from sea level. In 1942 operation Bobcat brought eight WW2 artillery cannons on BoraBora. We saw two cannons on Mount Otemanu.
- BoraBora Salute by BaBa and Mamster at Mount Otemanu
Jeep Safari. Small WW2 observation bunker at BoraBora Mount Otemanu. Two huge 7" cannons were just 10-15 meters from this bunker.
Jeep Safari. BoraBora WW2 cannons. From Mount Otemanu cannons site we had view to islet Motu Tevairoa and our Hotel Pearl Beach Resort, lagoon and the sea.
BORABORA CANNONS
• Made by Bethlemen Steel Co, 7-inch (178 mm) called 7" Naval
• Mount Mark II from 1907, No.23
• Shooting range 10km
• Book: Bogged down in Bora Bora, 1942-1943 by Ervan F. Kushner
Jeep Safari. Paradise boating! This sailing yacht is Wind Spirit. Built in France in 1988, renovated. Wind and diesel powered. 74 cabins on two decks for 148 passengers. Seven days route from Tahiti's Papeete ➙ Huahine ➙ BoraBora ➙ Motu Mahaea ➙ Raiatea ➙ Moorea ➙ Papeete.
MANUEL MASSON ART GALLERY
Steve-the-Jeep took us to the main town Vaitape, to Art Gallery and home of artists Emmanuel and Maima Masson. Colourful place a bit inside from the sea. Masson's art family got many kinds of fruits from their own garden. Friendly! We saw a photo of James Bond 007 Pierce Brosnan visiting BoraBora and buying paintings at Masson. Manuel introduced his method of fabric painting, making bordered colour areas. Fresh colours.
We left Masson Art Gallery by Mr Steve's Jeep. We continued by boat across the lagoon to our hotel on islet Motu Tevairoa. It was another successful day.
Swimming in warm lagoon, then hot tub, finally dinner time.
Angus steak dinner in hotel's restaurant, then back to bungalow.
Boat to airport. Our seven nights in BoraBora was done.
• Visited three BoraBora islets: airport, hotel and the main
• Shark-Feeding Safari: mantarays, stingrays, sharks, seahells
• Bought a white good-luck stone creature as a souvenir
• Saw amazing corals, views, colours, and changing weather
• Jeep Safari around main island and cannons of Mount Otemanu
• Didn't need local currency, all was collected into hotel bill
• Service in hotel restaurants and during safaris was friendly
• BoraBora lagoon is a paradise with mountain, islets, corals
December 28, 2016. back to Papeete, Tahiti.
• Flight from BoraBora back to Tahiti, 50 mins by Air Tahiti
-- ATR 42 propjet flight had a stop on Raiatea Lagoon
• Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 386, Papeete, Tahiti, one night
ADVENTURE FLIGHT TO NEXT TARGET RAROTONGA
Air Tahiti flight from Tahiti by ATR 42 Turboprop plane was half full. After take-off and 15 mins flying the plane suddenly begun to turn left and drop. We dived to about 1000 meters above sea level.
Bing-Bong! Captain spoke:
- We have a problem, we have turned back to Tahiti
No more info. After 15 mins flight low over the ocean we reached Tahiti. Stormy, but landing was ok. We walked in rain back to Tahiti airport. Three hours wait with drinks and snacks, then new take-off. We probably had white noses. This time 3 hours flight went well. But Rarotonga had bad weather for landing.
Bing-Bong! Captain spoke:
- We circle over the ocean until we get permission for landing
Circles in the storm, plane was shaking, zero visibility. During the circling, just before landing the aircraft's cabin was disinfected with foggy spray against Dengue Fever viruses.
Bing-Bong! Announcement:
- Absolutely harmless!
Spray just before landing? If any passenger gets reaction, the medical care is near. Empty spray cans are given to receiving airport's authority. Anyway, better spray than Dengue Fever.
Island-Hopping World Tour
• Tahiti and BoraBora were stops during our World Tour
• World Tour from December 10, 2016 to January 26, 2017
• Beginning of the tour I was 8 years 11mo old
• World not flat, we went to the left, arrived back from the right
• After 21 flight hours over Pacific Ocean the world feels still big
• Mosquito bites, street dogs but nothing serious
TOTAL 48 days including starting and ending days
Our World Tour route from right to left
World Tour Islands
From Helsinki to
1. The Bahamas, Nassau (via Miami, USA)
++ Hotel Atlantis Resort, waterpark, dolphins, scenery, quality
-- No problems
2. Easter Island, Chile (via Santiago)
++ Moai era, BirdMan era, nature, touring trips
-- Mosquitos, street dogs, Internet problems
3. Tahiti Island, Papeete, French Polynesia
++ Hotel InterContinental, views, pools, dinners, dance shows
-- Mosquitos
4. BoraBora Lagoon, French Polynesia (visited 3 BoraBora islands)
++ Lagoon, beach, mountain, service, shows, lagoon/jeep safaris
-- Mosquitos, main island street dogs and forest dogs
5. Rarotonga Lagoon, The Cook Islands (via Tahiti)
++ Muri beach, pool, jeep safari, lagoon, shows, jungle
-- Mosquitos, hot, beach dogs, extra price of breakfast elements
6. Aitutaki Lagoon, The Cook Islands (visited 8 Aitutaki islands)
++ Hotel Pacific Resort, views, pool, dinners, lagoon cruise, shows
-- Mosquitos
7. New Zealand: Auckland, Rotorua, Tongariro, Wellington
++ Views, dinners, geologic, nature park, cafees, hotels
-- No problems
8. Bali Island, Amed, Indonesia (via Melbourne, Australia)
++ Views, friendly service, dinners, juices, jungle temple
-- Mosquitos, hot, angry monkeys
9. Singapore
++ Hotel Shangri-La, quality, service, pools, restaurants, Orchard Rd
-- No problems
Back to Helsinki
FLIGHTS
No.1 from Helsinki to Miami, 10,5h night flight, Finnair
No.2 from Miami to Nassau, 30mins, American Eagle
No.3 from Nassau back to Miami, 30mins, American Eagle
No.4 from Miami to Santiago, 8h night flight, Latam
No.5 from Santiago to Easter Island, 5,5hours, Latam
No.6 from Easter Island to Tahiti, 5hours, 5 time zones, Air Tahiti
No.7 from Tahiti to BoraBora, 50mins, Air Tahiti
No.8 from BoraBora back to Tahiti, 50mins, Air Tahiti
----- flight had a stop on Raiatea Lagoon, French Polynesia
No.9 from Tahiti to Rarotonga, 3hours, Air Tahiti
----- flight got a technical problem, back to Tahiti, 2nd try ok
No.10 from Rarotonga to Aitutaki, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.11 from Aitutaki back to Rarotonga, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.12 from Rarotonga to Auckland, 4,5h night flight, Air New Zealand
----- NZ car tour from Auckland to Wellington, around 800km
No.13 from Wellington to Melbourne, Australia, 4hours, Jetstar
No.14 from Melbourne to Bali, Indonesia, 5hours, Boeing 787, Jetstar
No.15 from Bali to Singapore, 3hours, Jetstar
No.16 from Singapore to Helsinki, 12h night flight, Finnair
TOTAL 16 flights, 65 flight hours, 48.000 kilometers
HOTELS
No.1 Miami - Hotel Element, rm 249, one night
No.2 Bahamas - Hotel Atlantis Resort, rm 8549, 4 nights
No.3 Easter Island - Hotel Ota'i, Hanga Roa, rm 135, 4 nights
No.4 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 180, 2 nights
No.5 BoraBora - Hotel Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Bungalow No.50, 7 nights
No.6 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 386, one night
No.7 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 209, 4 nights
No.8 Aitutaki - Hotel Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Bungalow No.114, 3 nights
No.9 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 44, one night
No.10 Rotorua - Holiday Inn Hotel, rm 615, 3 nights
No.11 Tongariro - Hotel Chateau Tongariro, rm 121, one night
No.12 Wellington - Museum Art Hotel, rm 343, 5 nights
No.13 Bali - Hotel Griya Villas and Spa, Villa No.14, 3 nights
No.14 Singapore - Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, rm 683, 4 nights
TOTAL 14 hotels, 43 hotel nights, 4 night flights
SAFARIS, TOURS, MUSEUMS, POINTS OF INTEREST, SHOWS
• Bahamas Nassau Airport - Welcoming 3-man guitar band
• Bahamas hotel - Birthday drumming show during dinner
• Bahamas - Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park
• Bahamas - Dolphin Cay dolphin show and photos
• Bahamas village - Jazz band at a street restaurant
• Easter Island - Museo Antropologico P. Sebastian Englert
• Easter Island - Moai, BirdMan tours with Mr Roberto, 3,5 days
• Tahiti Airport - Welcoming Tahitian guitar and singing group
• Tahiti hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Tahiti hotel - Great views at Hotel InterContinental Resort
• BoraBora Christmas Eve - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 1.
• BoraBora Christmas Day - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 2.
• BoraBora - Shark-Feeding lagoon Safari with Captain Will
• BoraBora - Jeep Safari day with Mr Steve
• BoraBora - Kayaking trip to the edge of islet Motu Tevairoa
• Rarotonga Airport - Welcoming guitar music by an old man
• Rarotonga New Year - Polynesian Drum and Hip-shaking dinner
• Rarotonga - Jeep Safari day with Mr Chico
• Rarotonga - Trip to Punanga Nui Market near Avarua Beach
• Aitutaki hotel - Aitutaki trio, harmonic music during dinners
• Aitutaki hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Aitutaki - Lagoon Cruise Safari with Captain Fantastic Andrew
• Aitutaki - Bicycle trip from hotel passing Arutanga Harbour
• Rotorua - HoBbiToN Movie Village tour: Lord of Rings, The Hobbit
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park geothermal and Maori culture show
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park Maori singing, warrior dances, faces
• Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, geyser
• Lake Taupo - Huka Falls on Waikato River
• Tongariro National Park - Happy Valley, Whakapapa village
• Tongariro National Park - Ruapehu volcano, Tawhai Falls
• Waiouru - National Army Museum of New Zealand
• Wellington - Museum Te PaPa of New Zealand culture
• Wellington - Waterfront and Hikitia steam-driven crane boat
• Wellington - Cable Car Museum and Wellington Botanic Garden
• Wellington - Hippopotamus Restaurant in Museum Art Hotel
• Bali hotel - Band, movie music, popular olds, Beatles
• Bali - Pura Lempuyang Temple Safari and Mount Agung
• Bali - Tirta Gangga Water Palace Safari near Mount Agung
• Singapore - ArtScience Museum: NASA, A Human Adventure
TOTAL 38 experiences, over 30GB photos and video
GET-PREPARED FOR WORLD TOUR
• Vaccines: Hepatiitti-A; Hepatiitti-B; Tetanus
• Insurance: Persons; Things; Contact info
• VISA: ESTA.org for USA entry
• Medicine bag: Travel; Adult; Junior; Care things; Docs
• Hygiene bag: Dental; Shampoo/care; Combs; Scissors; Shaving
• Electronics: Phones; Cameras; iPad; Cables; Plugs; Loaders
• On-Travel: Clothes; Flight pillows; CabinBags; CargoBags
• Holiday clothes; Shirts and all
• Sunglasses; Sun hats; Sun oils
• Swimming: Snorkeling; Fins; RashGuards; Shoes
• Trip arrangement by Aventura, Helsinki
• Trip schedule and budget
• Trip process: Targets ➙ Flights ➙ Hotels ➙ Pickups ➙ Tours
• Trip documents: Tickets, Vouchers, Schedule, Contacts
• Other documents: Passports, Credit cards, Driving licences
• Principle: less to carry is better
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