French Polynesia - Bora Bora or bust! Part Three (a)

Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine

And there it was! On day six of our trip, the sun was shining, the water shimmered in shades of blue, and off in the distance we saw the remnants of two volcanic peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. We were arriving at Bora Bora. The lagoon, one of earth's spectacular wonders, is ringed by coral reefs. It's an island almost entirely dependent on tourism. The standard feature in Bora Bora are the resorts which boast many over the water bungalows on stilts...the image which I have so often longed to be a part of. The capital city, Vaitape, just off the wharf, boasts a population of 5000.

We were going to be in Bora Bora for two days. This gave us time for a few touring opportunities. The first, was a lagoon cruise with snorkeling.  This "opportunity" seemed to include getting up close and personal with sting rays and sharks. 

a few sharks approached

his arm on left

making friends

On the second day, after he recovered from staring into the eyes of sharks, hubby toured the island in a more sedate off road adventure. He got to see some of the scenery, a pareo house and sarong demonstration, as well as some of the seven cannons left over from WWII when the U.S. was protecting the area from the Japanese.  

 I wanted no part of the bumpy driving up to the volcano or the historical war adventure, but rather had already planned my dream day. It was a no brainer. I was going to be a participant in my Bora Bora vision. Had I thought of it, I would have booked an overnight stay at the Pearl Beach Resort and Spa. It was actually doable since the ship stayed in Bora Bora for two days. Perhaps next time. All participants received lovely shell necklaces, before we were off on a boat to Motu Tevairoa.  Then, there they were...I saw not only the bungalows, but also Mount Otemanu in the distance.

 When I arrived at the resort, I gazed around in wonder at the fantastic woodwork, the lobby with mother of pearl wall, and the entire atmosphere. I cried. The participants were given washcloths (in my case for the tears) and a lemon drink to cool off  before our tour of the facilities. We were told to enjoy the everything or nothing. There was lots to do...kayaking, canoes, snorkeling, stand up paddle boards, table tennis, mini golf, tennis and volleyball courts, and of course, beach chairs. All activities were included in our day.

hotel lobby

greeting washcloth and drink

gorgeous beach

We had a lovely lunch which included an appetizer, a drink of any kind, and main course or dessert. If I'd known the size of my appetizer salad, I would have opted for a small dessert rather than a main course which was too much for me to eat. 

                           

My version of the feet photos most people take while on vacation. Proof that I was there.

What a phenomenal and memorable day it was. Not only that, I was so impressed with the peoples'  respect for the environment, attempts to take care of resources by recycling, using solar energy, and providing areas for fish nurseries and regrowth of vegetation.

As the day ended, we gathered our bags, got back on the water ferry and headed to the ship. I took one last look at the bungalows off in the distance and... I cried.

***This blog got a bit longer than expected so I think I'll make it 3a. and Raiatea and Huahine part 3b. Stay tuned. I'm working as fast as I can.

French Polynesia - Bora Bora or bust! Part Two

            MOOREA, FAKARAVA, RANGIROA

welcome champagne

excellent library

We explored our room and the ship, and took
a short break in the lovely library. Later, we said goodbye to Papeete, and enjoyed the scenery while we recovered from our long flight.

It was a hazy day when we anchored offshore at our next destination. Moorea,  meaning yellow lizard,  is located 19 km. west of the island of Tahiti. It is unique in that it has both white sand and black volcanic sand beaches.  

Mount Tohivea and Mount Rotui are tall,   
jagged and memorable landmarks.

We stepped ashore, received a flower which we now knew was not a snack, and enjoyed the local music and dancing with which we were greeted. Unfortunately, I did not realize that my lens would fog up from the heat, so at this point, my photos were still a bit hazy. (I used proper lens wipes to avoid this problem in future)

We boarded our Ohana Catamaran cruise excursion and went on a lagoon tour. The water was a pristene pool colour, and the current was noticeable as people attempted to snorkel. Locally grown fruit and assorted snacks were served and they were delicious.

I'm not ashamed to admit that this sight made me cry. I couldn't believe where I was...not Bora Bora yet, but near enough to see some over the water bungalows off in the distance.

In Fakarava, we opted to check out the local souvenir stands and wander along the scenic street. We opted for the early morning since we thought it might be cooler. After about 15 minutes of perspiring through all our clothing and feeling the burning sun's scorch, we headed back to the ship. First, we took some photos of the scenery and interesting buildings. Again, we were greeted with flowers and local talent.

We found the plants,the churches, and the school to be of particular interest. We were informed that the main religion on the islands is Christianity and that the majority are Protestant with a lesser number of Roman Catholics. There are also some Buddhists and Jehovah's Witnesses. The churches serve as centres, integral parts of the community, providing support and entertainment.  

School

We didn't get off  the ship at Rangiroa, but opted to stay aboard. The town was some ten kilometres from the tender pier and the only tour available was a glass bottom boat ride.

Instead, I spent some time reading about French Polynesia and learned that the Society Islands which we were visiting were one of five groups of islands and atolls comprising French Polynesia.

*** I have no idea why some of these descriptions are underlined. I can't seem to get rid of the lines.

Still to come  -   PART THREE - BORA BORA, RAIATEA, HUAHINE.
        PART FOUR - PACKING ESSENTIALS

French Polynesia - Bora Bora or bust! Part One

It's been on my bucket list for years and years. The image of those thatched huts perched in the crystal clear turquoise waters of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean has been etched in my brain.
Sure, there are newly built imitations in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Maldives and other places,  but the original was built in Bora Bora over thirty years ago.  It no longer exists, however, there are many similar hotels within the lagoon and barrier reef that make Bora Bora unique.

This year, my dream materialized in the form of a very, very long flight, and an Oceania cruise.

The flights were organized by the cruise line and were spaced with a reasonable layover between. Air Canada got us to LAX in five and a half hours...no delays despite much climatic disturbance of late.

Once in Los Angeles, it took a bit of effort and walking to locate the next leg of our flight, Tahiti Nui airlines. On the way, I found a currency exchange booth. All advice about not exchanging money at airports went out the window when I spoke with the agent. Polynesian francs...as many as I wanted would cost $9.95. A quick calculation and I decided it was a good idea. The ship was charging 5% for exchange. Despite the agent's urging (as much as you want, one time fee),  I changed only $350 deciding we wouldn't need much more than that for shopping and tips during the next ten days. (As it turned out,  little more would have been good). The ship provided food and drink and the excursions were prepaid. Besides that, someone was bound to take credit cards weren't they? 

(Important Note -  Many of the local handicraft huts only take Polynesian francs because the proprietors don't want to bother with foreign currency for various reasons. Plus, they find trips to a bank an inconvenience.)

Tahiti Nui airlines turned out to be one of the best surprises of the trip. What a lovely airline. I won't say that the eight and a half hours "flew" by, but that length of time could have been a lot worse. Hubby and I had two seats, window and aisle (four in the middle of plane and two on each window side). As we entered the aircraft we were impressed with the brightness, the turquoise blankets, the multi coloured pillows, the comfort kit (socks, ear plugs, head sets, wet wipes), and the Gaugin murals on the wall. Flight attendants had dresses and shirts made out of beautiful floral fabric with flowers in their hair (only the female ones). It provided an immediate pleasant atmosphere.

We were no sooner in the air than it was announced that a meal would be served. A tray came around with warm hand towels. The attendant then gave us this with a pair of tongs and said, "Take it." I took it and stared.

I hate to admit this, but hubby and I looked at each other wondering what to do with it. Despite all clues and appearances, we didn't know. On the other hand, at this point we also hadn't slept in thirty hours. So I sniffed it a few times and placed in on my tray table, opting not to eat it. After all, it was an odd looking appetizer wasn't it? If it looks like a flower, and smells like a flower, and you are given one every time you set foot anyplace in French Polynesia, it's probably a flower...a Tahitian gardenia or tiare to be exact.

The meal was quite good as far as airplane food goes, as was the breakfast the next morning. We were given a choice of an omelette or french toast...a choice...imagine. Since we landed in Papeete (pronounced something like Papa-etay) at 5:30 a.m. and ships need to unload and get cleaned thereby not allowing passengers on board before noon, we were taken to a hospitality room at a local hotel. We were provided with food, drinks, and a comfortable place to wait.

These were our first real views of Papeete, the Pearl Beach Resort where we waited, and the black volcanic sandy beach.










Eventually, a bus picked us up and delivered us to the ship. The boarding process was one of the easiest and most efficient we've experienced on a ship.

NEXT - Watch for -

              PART TWO - MOOREA, FAKARAVA, RANGIROA
              PART THREE - BORA BORA, RAIATEA, HUAHINE.
              PART FOUR - PACKING ESSENTIALS

Fun With Pot Holes

Every year CAA posts a list of the worst streets in Ontario. Usually, the reason for the offensive street is lack of maintenance, or, the dreaded pothole.

During this past year there was a news item about Toronto residents who were growing tomatoes in a hole on their street. Farther afield, UK citizens have been planting flowers. Parisians have used yarn to add colourful images in the holes, and a Chicago artist has filled the holes with ice cream mosaics.

I was amused, (but then we were in a rental car, not our own), during a recent trip to Newfoundland. Not only do they have potholes which kind of hold the pavement together, the locals make fun of their circumstance.

People say things like "they send a crew out to put up caution pothole" or "potholes ahead" signs instead of just fixing them. True. For the most part though, the endless potholes aren't marked, whereas the dreaded moose crossings are clearly labelled.

In one town, Port aux Choix, the townspeople held a pothole protest. Evidence thereof remains at Ben's art studio. Ben also added his own, typically Canadian apology for visitors.

Our town is not immune to potholes. In fact, one particular spot has been growing in size in the lasts year or two to the point where it could have swallowed a small car. Perhaps it did.

I was running an errand recently when I noticed that an enterprising or frustrated person had tried their best to help solve a problem. Either that, or it was part of our new premier's austerity budget.

  The next two times I passed the same spot, it looked like this.

                                                     

Finally,  I was amazed and impressed that a few days later, the situation seemed to have been remedied.

Perhaps it was slated to be repaired anyhow. I prefer to think it was the efforts and ingenuity of  the person who came up with the clever and multifunctional warning that finally brought about action.

Bloggeriety & Stuff I'm Doing

I have but a few friends who read my blog. That's fine. Mostly, I write this all for myself so I've incorporated a variety of topics.... news, controversial, opinion, fun and nonsense, memories, travelogues, and so on. I'm fairly scatterbrained for the most part, so I also usually write whatever pops into my head.

I know people who have a preference for each type of writing.

If I have completed a travelogue about a place, and I think I might want to go back there, or someone asks me about it, I can simply refresh my memory by looking at an old blog. I can even print it off if they prefer. I try to add helpful travel hints.

When I have expressed an opinion, usually unpopular, I can go back and decide whether I still feel that way years later. Perhaps my perspective has changed. Usually it hasn't.

When I have a memory, it's nice to share that too.

Of late, I have been writing, although not always in this format. I have completed a number of projects including letters of complaint. For a variety of reasons, most of them airborne, I have been housebound and have kept busy indoors. My captivity has forced me to further downsize and clean things that I've always wanted to. For example, I've finally been working on the dreaded boxes of photos that I've been threatening to organize for years. As I do that, I can't help but think that we might be among the last generation of people to have actual physical photos. I find that sad.

I've been completing a chapter by chapter summary of a book and sharing thoughts about it with a friend who is reading the same grouping of short stories. It's called "60 Things to Do When You Turn Sixty." I don't recommend the book, although working through it with a friend has been rewarding.

Another one of my efforts has been some upholstered chairs. I have re-covered two of four of my dining room chairs. I think I might need a whole blog just for that topic. At the moment, I'm taking a break from the chairs, remembering why I gave up on an upholstery course many years ago. They will be completed but not necessarily before November. We will be having company during September and October, so I don't want deconstructed chair guts lying around.

Currently, I am editing a book...a challenge which I greatly enjoy.  It's not an easy task. The most important thing is to retain the person's "voice".  Resisting temptations to change words and structure to something that sounds like it's written by me and not by them is tough. If it's not part of the person's normal vocabulary, I can't use it. Similarly, if it's not an idiom they're familiar with, I can't add it.

 I have read a few books for pleasure lately. I like a good mystery and have been fortunate to come across  some that have been well constructed surprises. At the same time, I cannot tell you how often I've started on a novel, gotten through a chapter or two, and hoisted it unceremoniously across my bedroom in frustration. I've probably written that before. Are New York Times best selling authors all writing in the style of fifth grade girls?  Perhaps fifth grade girls are the editors of some of those books.

So that's it. My current status. Tomorrow, I get a lung function test which I know will now go well. Depending on the results, I should be off to new adventures by next week. Will report back.

I Want Change !

Some would call it   *** "cutting off your nose to spite your face". Perhaps that's the case. I did act out of anger and a degree of frustration. I'm a Scorpio after all, and I have a short fuse when, in my perception, I've been wronged. What 's happened you ask?  Well,  I have decided never to set foot downtown again, and not only have I let some of the businesses, the chamber of commerce, and the by-law enforcement office know, but I'm planning to write a letter to the newspaper. After all, why go only half way?
           
                     (Note to self - Look into changing name after all this. Good thing I have options...three                         other seasons and a spouse's name.)

Without going into great detail, here are the facts as I see them.

Ok, so maybe I was two minutes late for a parking meter, into which I had inserted $1.10 for 70ish minutes. However, there are several extenuating circumstances. For one thing, I'm asthmatic, have been housebound, and despite my excitement at getting out, was moving slowly. Secondly, I was having coffee with a friend. It has to cool off before drinking after all. Idle chatter will produce this desired result. Finally, on my way out of the coffee shop, I had to pant and trudge my way across the street in multi vehicle traffic, a detour as it were, to take the following photo before returning to my car. Is it my fault the town has placed these visible distractions everywhere? Should I be punished for that?

There are those who ask, "Did you see the meter reader?"

Of course not. I wasn't looking for a meter reader. I was looking at a giant polar bear with a piano keyboard across its abdomen, a log stump in front, and a chain connecting him to a park bench. To that I say, "Abuse. Free the animals!"

I got into my car and was half way home before a saw a small receipt under my windshield wiper...a receipt no less. As if I'd already paid. Of course I had no idea what it really was until I pulled over, my interest piqued. I lifted it gingerly out of its hiding spot between the wiper and the crack that accumulates layers of ice and snow in the winter.

"What? How dare they?" I yelled at absolutely nobody. "$20.00? $20.00? For what?"

I noted the time on the ticket 11:47 a.m. It was now 11:49 and I was half way home. How was this even possible? I had put enough money in the meter to last until 11:45 I thought. When the meters were first installed, the newspaper reported the following.

"Those who put $1 into the meter will receive 60 minutes plus an additional 15 minutes at the end of their paid time."  Northumberland News Feb. 6, 2015

Nope. Didn't happen. I was now expected to pay $21.10 for an hour and ten minutes of parking. At least I should get back my original meter donation don't you think? Besides, what about all the times I overpaid and left large amounts of time on the meter? Do I get change? Do I get credit?

The way I see it is that the meter reader was at the infamous meter #59 a minute or two before the time ended and rubbed his/her hands together in glee. The receipt maker was programmed and ready to print. With one fell swoop, his/her hourly wage would be covered and the town would have a profit of six or seven dollars.  

I won't go into detail about my tirade after I returned to the town hall over this outrage. However, I did threaten to come back and picket the building with a huge sign. I told them I'd have to sit outside with a hat and beg for pennies because I am a senior on pension. I wheezed as I spoke and flailed my arms around, needlessly elevating my blood pressure. My performance was oscar worthy. All the while, the clerk nodded. I could see his wheels turning..."another crazy old lady."  

I have since thought it over. As I understood it, the original town plan for the meters was to recoup funds so that the park and beach could be cleaned up after "tourists" came and made a mess. Why then, are citizens of the town, who already pay exorbitant taxes being punished? I parked at a meter because the closest free lot was full and I couldn't walk and breathe at the same time. It was a weekday morning. I paid. Why do we even have functional meters on weekdays?  They aren't anything special like these beauties either...just the old, gray, manual, corroding kind.        

Shouldn't the meters be reserved for weekends when visitors park everywhere and sully our pristine park, sand, and water? Besides, why is this town so technologically challenged that they don't have the phone app to view and add time to a meter?

It's been a summer of air quality captivity for me. I think I've had too much time on my hands. Besides that, I think I'm becoming agoraphobic, but that's a topic for another blog. 

 So? What do you think? Once I'm done my letter writing campaign, should I run for town council? I just might...after I change my name that is.         

______________________________________________________________________________
 ***"Cutting off the nose to spite the face" is an expression used to describe a needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem: "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face" is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one's anger.