Thought on Polynesia

One of the first things you notice after you land are the beautiful women.  Beautiful smiles, long hair and every so friendly no matter where you are or what you are doing.   Everyone is so friendly, greets you – even someone not working at the resorts.  They are just a friendly people.

The fruits and vegetables are magnificent, although I think Moorea had a better selection and the oranges tasted better there.  Each island grows specific things; Moorea had the papaya, kiwi and a bigger selection of fruits at breakfast. 

No bugs on Moorea; bugs on Bora Bora.  It is hot, the women wear pareos more so on Moorea than here on Bora Bora.  Everyone wears thin cotton and the native women are always in a cotton pareo or cotton dress, no shorts or slacks.  The men all wear shorts with flowered shirts of some type, not always bright colored ones.  Men working outside also wear pareos.   Drinks are cool, but not cold.  Ice is available for tourists. 

Skin lotion or softener is coconut oil; women even use it on their hair.  They use coconut for many things.   Vanilla is a big crop – and is used in many sweet and savory recipes.  I am not fond of vanilla flavored things to start with and their vanilla is just too sweet tasting for me.  It is practically the only thing I tasted that I did not care for since arriving.  I have eaten several different looking fruit and vegetable, some I don’t even remember the name!

Everyone is very easy going, there are no signs that you may not do this or that like at home.  No rules.  20,000 people live on Moorea and there are only 11 policemen.   Everyone seems to get along.  The resorts really have no rules posted. 

We were really surprised by the number of people with children here, babies to teenagers.  There are a large number of Asians, some French and only a few honeymooners.  It seems much different than advertised.

15% of families on Bora Bora are a relative of GI’s who were here during the war.  We couldn’t find any relatives in the phone book but Jim thought several times he may have seen a niece or two!!

The South Pacific is incredibly beautiful and still very rustic and primitive in ways.  One of our guides told us he spear fishes for Mahi Mahi.   Most men (and probably some women) work 2-3 jobs to take care of their families.  Taxes are very high and everything is incredibly expensive, even for the natives who pay a percentage of tax to France and to Tahiti government.   Not sure which is which, but on our bill from the supermarket there was a 4% charge and 16 % charge for tax.   We were in the market shopping with the locals who must work hard to pay these taxes.

 The travel to Tahiti is a killer and actually we feel that once we have seen it we have no desire to return.   Meals (just the main course) were about the equivalent of $25 to $80 each and that is before your water or glass of wine.  Same prices were noted at the resorts or local restaurants.   We were told that there used to be 15 resorts on Bora Bora and now there are 11 – tourism is down due to high costs.  The Pearl Resort in Moorea was much nicer – they were crowded.  Bora Bora, the most expensive of the islands was not very crowded.  It is however the end of the low season.  June, July, August is their busiest times.

And, as an added note:  we will never fly Southwest again.  Luckily I did pay the extra charge to get us a better seat – we were “A” list on the way home and allowed to be among the first to board but it is still a zoo.  The general seating is a joke, and the folks trying to cram their big bags into the overhead bins where there are already bags (like ours!) are rude and obnoxious.  On British Airways, one can store their laptop bag up there without worry.  Glad I had my little net book in my purse clutched close to me.  She would have been killed in the overhead bin by this obnoxious woman.  Also, LAX is a zoo…and we hope not to see that again either.  JFK and now LAX are both on my avoid list!!

Also, if you plan to go to Tahiti – fly Air France or take a ship!  Air Tahiti Nui are very nice folks – no problem with the staff, timing of flights or the food.  However, their Airbus planes for such a long ride are ridiculous.  We always have more room on our British Airways 767 or 777  and more room on the Airbus planes in Europe to fly to Germany, France or wherever.  Truly for 8+ hours we were jammed in like sardines.   They plan Tahitian music, give you little flowers…all very nice except for the seating room!!

Truly, being in the South Pacific one feels like they are in a movie!