TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS – Island of Bora Bora – French Polynesia

Friday, September 12th – Island of Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora – another tropical paradise. It’s pretty amazing to see the waves breaking on the Bora Bora 2reef a good half-mile offshore. I don’t know how anyone could come here and not fall in love with the island and the people. Unlike so many of the ‘spoiled’ ports in the Caribbean, the people of French Polynesia are serene, friendly, and laid back. If you buy something from them, great. If you don’t, c’est la vie. There are few paved roads on Moo’rea or Bora Bora, and what roads there are have pot holes that could swallow a child! But they speak a modicum of English, enough for the tourist to get by, and they take American dollar$.

Their arts and crafts on display are incredible, the workmanship exquisite. Shell jewelry, wood carvings, gorgeous fabrics. Needless to say, this is where we loaded up on gifts.

Bora Bora - ReefThe sea surge was high on this day, making it rough for most of the water excursions. Ours, however, was perfect! We took a glass-bottom boat — captained by a native and guided by an American ex-patriot who came and stayed — out to one of the coral reefs. My honey and I have snorkeled all along the Central American reef, around Aruba, Barbados, and St. Thomas. But here—in the South Pacific– these islands abound with lagoons while a half-mile offshore, big waves break against the natural barrier reefs. Beautiful. Bora Bora - Tiki Huts 2Hundreds of different varieties of colorful fish. Incredibly clear water. Blue water in colors I can’t even name. Our guide also took us by the famous Tiki huts that jut out over the water. We learned these rent out for $600 a night.

Of all the places we’ve seen so far, I’ve love to return to them all, but this one … Bora Bora stole my heart.