Stunning Society Islands

From the Tuamotus we headed for Tahiti..."The Cartier of holiday destinations" according to one of our tour guides. He coined  this phrase in his explanation for the fact that many of the 5 star hotel resorts on the island have gone out of business in the face of the current economic crisis.

Troubled Paradise.

Crisis or no crisis, the Society Islands are true gems. We spent 3 weeks in the area, enjoying one marvellous anchorage after the next in the company of our friends Keith and Lindy...who had braved the mammoth journey from Cape Town via New Zealand to taste this tropical treasure.

Lindy shopping for Grass skirts in Papeete Market.

Our boom had been admirably repaired by Eddie, the Oyster Doctor, as soon as we arrived in Tahiti so Legend IV is now in ship shape and, fingers crossed, will remain so all the way back to Antigua!

Cook Bay, Moorea...Legend back in business.

For good measure, Oyster arranged to have the skippers of the fleet blessed by a Tahitian priest..just to cover all the bases and to keep the wind Gods smiling gently and sweetly on us all!

Feeling a little self conscious Skip?

 

The Big Kahuna busy anointing.


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 Continuing my geography lesson of the previous blog, the Society Islands are middle aged in geological terms. They consist of volcanic inner islands  surrounded by coral reefs..the best of both worlds...much the same as a  middle aged man?

Middle aged man in search of surf spots!

I could go on for hours about the Society Isles..we are in Bora Bora at the moment. "The Pearl of the Pacific" according to Captain Cook. 

Sailing into Bora Bora..Keith checking to see if surf's up.

We toured the island on a motorbike...ate at Bloody Mary's (twice). ..AND.... Al bought me a fabulous pair of black pearl earrings...embellished with diamonds! So it was worth the wait and all is forgiven....Thanks Skip!

Magical Atoll Idle/Idyll

The Islands of French Polynesia present a spectacular contrast from one group to another.

There are 5 separate groups, each characterised by geographic features which reflect the geological age of the group.

Niku Hiva, Marquesas-breathtaking scenery.

Our first port of call,  the  Marquesas islands, consist of volcanic outcrops,  not yet old enough to have had coral reefs develop around them. The islands are steep sided with deep anchorages in bays which are formed mainly by collapsed craters.

Four and twenty Blackbirds enjoying the Polynesian scenery along with Legend.

The next group on our route, the Tuamotu's,  are the most ancient of the French Islands. The Volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the coral reefs which surround them. The reefs now form a ring of coral outcrops and small islands around a lagoon.

Rangiroa Lagoon- Tuomotes- Palm Island fringes

The lagoons are accessed by passes, large and small, terrifying and placid, which need to be negotiated in order to enter the shelter of the shallow, sandy anchorages therein.

Al and I used our week in the Tuamotu's atolls to rest and relax after the Pacific passage.

We swam and snorkeled with sharks and rays and colourful fish in coral gardens, read our books, ate at restaurants large and small, went for walks and the toughest test of our mettle was the odd bicycle trip around the sandy islands.

Brompton folding bikes circumnavigating the globe....

We finished our idyllic sojourn with a visit to a Black pearl farm..where poor Al misread my words...which stated that I wasn't "that keen on black pearls".

 He didn't get the real message ..("I'd love some black pearls but am waiting to see if you care enough to buy them for me.") and when he didn't actually buy any for me, I sulked for an ungracious week!

I had to wait until Bora Bora before he got the mixed signals and unvoiced sentiments.. but he did come through in the end..... Watch this space.

Beautiful black pearl and a dud....bit of a gamble considering both oysters required 5 years of nurturing.

Pearl farmer tending his crop.

Husband of sulking wife wondering what he has done wrong!