At anchor: 16º31.00′ S 151º45.30’W
Bora Bora is beautiful. Hot and humid this time of year, but beautiful.
Like Tahiti, Bora Bora is part of the Society Islands. Unlike Tahiti, Bora Bora is part of an atoll. Bora Bora is the mountainous inner island surrounded by motus, or lower islands and islets. That makes for beautiful views in all directions, calm waters, and a variety of blues in the waters corresponding to a variety of depths. Other differences include Bora Bora is a much smaller island and it is much less developed, although there are more “large” hotels, but no highrises. Also we were anchored not docked. The Princess Line’s Paul Gauguin was also anchored off Vaitape between Bora Bora and Toopau.
Our excursion in “Le Truck,” a truck body with an open-air, bus-like back-end, took us all around the island. This time being on the water-side of the bus meant we had great views across the shades of blue toward the motus. No impressive valleys but a few big craggy mountains in the middle.
Our tour made several stops for photos. One included the remains of a marae (ancient temple) with petroglyphs, including one obvious carving of a tortoise.
Another stop was to see pareos being dyed. They sort of tie-dye a cloth, sort of because they don’t tie it, they just twist and dip the cloth in acrylic dyes. Then they open it up lay it out in the sun and lay linoleum cutouts and palm fronds, etc. on it. The sun enriches the saturation of the dyes and the objects keep the colors subdued. How they fix the colors they didn’t say.
Another stop was to see a cluster of Sand Crabs. At first we just saw a bunch of holes in the sand below a few coconut trees. The driver threw hibiscus flowers out the window and slowly several crabs emerged from their holes. I have a really good video of one sampling the flower and leaves, which they drag back into their holes and eat it.
Another stop was to see broken up coconuts drying in the sun. They would eventually be sent to Tahiti to have the oil extracted.
We also stopped at the Sofitel Hotel for a sumptuous snack on the water front looking out at the bungalows on stilts over the water. We saw very few guests as the recession has hit paradise and several of the major hotels have closed and unemployment is up.
On the way back to the ship we stopped at the famous Bloody Mary’s Restaurant and Bar, founded in 1979. They have several boards at the entrance with the names of many of the famous people who have stopped by, including the Phantom Diner from KDKA’s (no defunct) Evening Magazine!
Upon our return, we had a light lunch and Janice and I tendered back into “town.” It’s really just a string of buildings either side of the road. Lots of vendors offering excursions, pareos and other brightly colored fabric and clothing, carved wood and shell, pearls, etc. One vendor had a couple of tables of fruits and vegetables and a metal rack at the side of the road with about eight 18-24” salmon handing by their tail fins.
Dinner was a “Bali Hai BBQ” on the Lido including roast pig—delicious. Entertainment was the movie Avatar. Janice went to the movie while I enjoyed the cool of the evening on deck, took more photos, and took care of some Internet business.
Too tired for Diane’s piano. The heat and humidity are very wearing.