7/29-8/8/2024 - Tahiti (Society Islands of Tahiti) Dream Vacation
This video was taken on the yacht in Motu Mahaea, Tahiti Island
Pearl leading the ladies & I'm the silver haired lady behind her in blue/white
Visit the Society Islands if you have not - the people are amazing, just happy
& living in the NOW, not concerned about societal pressures of the world! Their Mantra - "Take it Easy"
Travel: We flew on United from San Francisco to Faa a, Tahiti (8 hours) near Papeete.
Stay: The ICC in Faa a (awesome for two nights) and all the other days on a small yacht doing excursions
Food: The ICC, choose the breakfast at the hotel; all other days were spent fine dined with delish food from Michelin Chef from Spain and other amazing chefs on board the yacht
Things to do: Papeete to Moorea, Raiatea, Motu Mahea, Bora Bora, Huahine, and back to Papeete on a small yacht of about 200+ people around all the islands staying up to 2 nights at a few places and doing excursions within each island, meeting the people, seeing the beauty of the islands the marine life, dancing etc.
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Papeete (Capital of Tahiti)
Things to do: Visit the James Norman Hall House, writer of American Contemporary literature; Maavai Bay; Venus Point which is the landing site for European discoverers and evangelists. The Lighthouse was built in 1867; and the Tahara'a View Point
Tahiti's national dish - Poisson Cru -
Black Sand Beach - Papeete
Faarumai Waterfalls
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Point Venus - an observatory that James Cook built in 1770. It was the landing place for many explorers such as Louis Antoine de Bougainville and Samuel Wallis.
Majestic Moorea - locals' favorite island
Things to do: hike the majestic Three Coconut Trail; visit dolphins in their habitat; swim; kayaking on the sapphire seas; UC Berkeley Gump's Research Station; plants, animals, and geology; Belvedere Lookout
It is one of the world's most spectacular islands, approximately 2 million years old.
Belvedere Lookout
South Pacific movie backdrop in Moorea
Watermelon salad
Mahi mahi grilled fish
Raiatea Island "The Sacred Island" is just across the lagoon from Tahaa and shares the same barrier reef. Things to do: Opoa Heritage Tour -We drove around the entire island along the east coast through the villages of Avera and continued -. We visited a Pearl farm and the owner explained in detail how they take the DNA of the oysters to make the colors of the pearls, and were able to purchase some gifts of pearls and met the owner and his daughter who designs the black pearls. Also visited the Unesco Heritage Site Marae Taputapuatea which is the center of the "Polynesian Triangle" which is the last part of the globe to be settled by humans. Taputapuatea is significant for people throughout Polynesia - it symbolizes their origins, connects them with their ancestors, and as an expression of their spirituality. - there is a main platform and you learn about the 1,000 years of Ma ohi civilization. Visited the Botanical Garden to see the local plants.
Visited a black Pearl Farm - the owner on the left explained in detail the process and the daughter, the designer in the pic. helped me pick out what I loved...
Motu Mahaea
Raiatea and Tahaa were one island until separation occurred. An ancient legend or myth - Raiatea and Tahaa were originally one island until a giant eel swallowed a young girl. Possessed by her spirit, the enraged creature broke through the surface of the earth, causing the sea to gush. The impact of the water split the island in two and Raiatea and Tahaa were created. You will see beautiful palm trees and white sand pristine beaches.
Things to do: We decided to do Vanilla Plantation and snorkeling. We enjoyed visiting the Vanilla Plantation (fragrant spice) family-owned; enjoyed the boat road on the turquoise water and stopped for snorkeling with the black tip sharks, colorful fish, and sting rays. Also enjoyed the private motu picnic which was fun, and wading in the ocean with new friends.
Make sure to have biodegradable sunscreen to preserve the environment when snorkeling.
Vanilla Plantation
Tahitian sing - along to most sites
find Daniel snorkeling below
Picnic at the Motu
Bora Bora - Vaitape
The kaleidoscope of blue colors was amazing to see in Bora Bora.
Things to do: We took a cab around the island on the first day and visited one of the best beaches in Bora Bora "Matira". On the second day we did the Eco Snorkeling Sites and Manta Rays Adventure (it is strenuous and you have to be a strong swimmer to do this - I was moderate and stayed close to the guide) seeing the Manta Rays in the cleaning area about 100 ft deep to the bottom; seeing Eagle Rays at 13 ft deep ocean floor; all the different colored fish, and snorkeling through the coral gardens - the most awesome experience ever!
Snorkeling with Wilson - Eco Snorkeling Tour to see the Manta Rays in the Cleaning Area of Bora Bora
The small fish clean the Manta Rays in this area in their NATURAL HABITAT - Daniel's video while snorkeling in about 100 ft deep ocean - it was a rainy day and the water was choppy!
Fire Dancing on a private motu near Bora Bora - meaning it is broken coral and
sand which makes a small islet
Fire Dancing on a private motu near Bora Bora - Daniel was able to put the kukui wand or fire stick on his feet because this dancer let his wand fall on Daniel prior to this - scary
Huahine Island - Maroe Bay- "Garden of Eden"
Things to do: Explore lush forests, tropical landscapes and quaint villages; try the motu picnic where you sit in the ocean having a picnic in shallow water
So much fine dining every day for 11 days, so we danced the night
away to keep moving...
Custard type desert below
Avocado desert; asked the chef to make plant based deserts!
Delish lamb shank entree
Loved the Spa area; the hot relaxing recliner and special showered jets on the yacht when one could figure out how the hot water worked - lol
