Tahiti and Moorea
When arriving to Tahiti, we had planned to visit Tahiti, plus some islands around, perhaps Bora Bora and Moorea. We learned that to any other island besides Moorea we would have needed to fly and it would
have of course costed quite a lot. Moorea is just half an hour boat trip away, so we decided to stay a week in Moorea and a week in Tahiti. We got advised that Moorea is nicer than Tahiti and that it is where the Tahitians go mostly on their days off/holidays.
In Moorea we rented a kind of beach cabin from a friendly family. They rent out only 3 cabins, so you have your privacy as there is not so many people around.
One day the hostess taught us how to prepare raw fish with coconut milk. It was delicious and we were happy to learn how to do it as we have eaten so good raw fish during the trip, and it is something we are
not used to. The daughter of the family also offered us interesting local fruits and drew us pictures. The cat of the family liked staying at our porch especially at eating times.
Chris was cooking and preparing breakfast nearly every day and Netta got just to be lazy. We felt strange waking up every morning very early, around six, even we didn’t have to, but here it is natural with the
sun rising and setting early. Anyway the time difference for Easter Island was four hours, so we got tired already at eight. Actually the first time we felt the time difference really.
Even though the cabin was not by the beach, we had a great location as we were only 500 meters from probably the best beach on the island. And as it is a low season here (rainy season), there were not many
people around. The weather was very favourable to us, as it didn’t rain much at all.
The beach was close to a coral reef and the water was crystal clear. We swam and snorkeled few times a day and watched beautiful fishes and corals. Unfortunately we have pictures of these only in the water-proof camera at the moment. And of course one afternoon when the film was already full, a huge ray swam right by us in only knee high water. Chris tried to find one again the following day, but only saw a smaller one which he hopefully caught on a camera. One day we rented a scooter and drove around the island. Amazing week.
Photos
In Tahiti we were lucky, as we got to stay five last nights in a brand new 4-star hotel for really cheap price. It had been opened only a week earlier, and was not completely finished, perhaps that is why we got the room and breakfast almost for the price of only breakfast (damn expensive breakfast though). Anyway compared to the prices here it was an awesome deal, which we found thanks to the extremely helpful tourist information office workers we visited in the beginning. Otherwise too the people on the island are really friendly and helpful, even though not the smiliest ever.
Photos Pension de la plage
Photos Hotel Manava
The week in Tahiti was more rainy than the one in Moorea, but we didn’t mind as we had got too much sun on the first week. No matter how well you try to protect yourself, it’s hard to avoid sun burn, when you would like to stay in the sea all the time. Tahiti week was good timing for relaxing and taking advantage of free internet connection. And of course the fancy hotel was a perfect place for a honeymoon ;)
One day we rented a car and drove around the island. We didn’t quite manage to do it all during daylight, but for the parts we saw we didn’t find as awesome, clear water beach as in Moorea. The best parts must be taken by expensive hotels, and the rest is mostly good for surfing. We were surprised that Tahiti was not that touristic as we expected. Big parts of the shores are inhabited by locals, and the hotels are built one here, one there. Close by hotels there are normally no restaurant and bar areas or much any shops or activities as we are used to see in touristic places in Europe. What you can find every here and there are little kiosks selling fruits, pizzas, crepes and burgers.
Photos and Video
All good things have an end, and it’s now time to fly out. Next port of call: Noumea, New Caledonia.