Mmmmm............Bora Bora

Languishing in Bora Bora.

Cycled around the island (30k) taking in the sights. It has a very beautiful lagoon

with large Motos (small islands made up of reef fringing the island) these Motos have been developed for tourism they have the typical thatch roof bungalows out onto the water. The hotels operate launches to bring the guests in from the Motos to the main island, some are very grand.

We are attached to a mooring off the Bora Bora yacht club, the water is very deep on the eastern side hence the moorings.  There was a wedding party of French people at the yacht club Saturday night, they really let their hair down!

There is a big local dancing competition being held in the town (3 k from yacht club) we walked down last night to watch, the road is very narrow,dark with unfriendly dogs snarling at our heels, we managed to get a lift back thankfully.

Kayaking and snorkelling will be on the to do list in the next few days, after we've done a few boat jobs.

The Society islands

Neil relaxing after long bike ride Raiatea.

Now exploring the smaller Society islands after checking out with customs, immigration etc in Papeete.

First stop was 108 miles from Papeete, Huahine island. We kayaked in the bay behind the reef, which is great, its very protected calm & shallow, so we can see the reef fish from the kayaks.

Our boat neighbours on "Venture" hired a car drove around the island for a few hours, they still had time left on the rental ,so they very kindly lent us the car, off we zoomed to see all the sights. Its a small island & we drove around it all in 2 hours.

It was weird to drive a car we haven't done that for a while!

Next Raiatea, spent Sunday, Fathers day cycling around the island, kept stopping at the churches to hear the beautiful Polynesian hymns the men & womens voices were harmonised, all the women were wearing white dresses, it was lovely. After all the churches we stopped off at a hotel, and watched some dancing & drumming entertainment, & had a couple of well earned beers after the 45k cycle. 

Moorea French Polynesia

View over Cooks bay Moorea.

On three pines trail Moorea.

Pot luck on Camelot.

Tahiti ballet Co.

Tahiti ballet Co.

Tahiti ballet Co,on the lawn of the Bali Hai hotel.

More dancing.

Moorea the beautiful island opposite Tahiti is our current "home".There are quite a few boats here, and we have been busy.

We arrived Sunday afternoon just in time to see a fantastic dancing display by the Tahiti ballet company, it was hosted by the Bali hai hotel which is right by the side of the bay we are anchored. The hotel guests and the sailors saw a 2 hour show on the lawn, which was backed by swaying palm trees and rugged mountains, the whole thing was incredible.

There have been numerous boat parties and lots of eating & drinking we held one & had 12 people on board, we think that's record so far!

The day after a group of us hiked up to a lookout spot high above the bays , then hiked right over the other side of the island, it took all day, and  we had to hitch hike back, so  we split up in to smaller groups to achieve this, of course it became a huge game who could get back first!

Tomorrow, weather permitting Neil & I plan to cycle around the whole of the island

its 60 km so we better set off early!

 

Tahiti

This Ray swam past the waterfront restaurant in Fakarava.

Table & chairs in the water at the restaurant Fakarava.

Pearl farm in Fakarava. 

Oysters and the would be Pearls ready to put in the water. will be pulled out in 18 months.

Tahiti yacht club.

Having holes drilled in our pole.

New Tahitian haircut & Tahiti yacht club bar.

Reef and bay where we are moored at the yacht club.

Catch of the day for sale by roadside.

Now in busy bustling Papeete.After a bit of a rough passage we managed to get the last mooring at the Tahiti yacht club, which is a good bit of luck as Papeete is loaded to the max with boats.

We've been whizzing around on the buses and on our bikes,sight seeing & getting some of our jobs done.We managed to get a new piece of metal tube to try and fix our broken pole. It was not easy first we had to find a place that sold metal poles, we found a plastic window factory, that had some poles ( probably drainpipes) then the language barrier, then trying to get holes drilled in the pole, then transporting a 4 metre long pole in a dingy, for several miles!! 

After all that work we washed tons of laundry in the yacht club washing machine, then washed the boat from stem to stern. We did however manage to fit in a couple of beers on the waterfront in Papeete, watching the world go by.

Off to Moorea tomorrow.