.JPG)
.jpg)
Cruise World-Day 20--Moorea (Paradise)
This morning at 5AM, our ship left Papeete, Tahiti and sailed 12 miles to one of it's sister Society Islands, Moorea.
There is a long standing debate among those who visit French Polynesia: is Moorea or Bora Bora the most beautiful. I dont have the answer but I cannot imagine beauty that surpasses that of Moorea.
With its jagged mountains, deep bays, and emerald lagoons, the volcanic island is surrounded by a large coral reef.
After enjoying breathtaking views during the sail in, I took the first tender in and sought out the tour operator from whom I booked a tour yesterday (in Tahiti).
7 of us joined the combo tour guide and driver, Delores, for a 3-hour tour around this beautiful island. She is a native who gave a comprehensive tour in flawless English. (I had hoped for a real tour yesterday but alas we merely had a driver who stopped at various scenic and historic sites.)
Sites we visited as we headed westward than south from Opunohu Bay, were:
Several pristine beaches, stunning Cooks Bay, sacred sites with ancient maraes, several scenic lookout points, over the water bungalows views, passes, and Belvedere Point with stunning views of the panorama of the valley and bays on either side of Mount Rotui.
This is one of the most enchantingly beautiful and tranquil places I have ever visited. (so far, everyone to whom I have spoken agrees this is their favorite island).
Many claim the Cooks and Opunohu are the world's most gorgeous bodies of water and often photographed. They are even used in Hollywood film settings.
Here are a few facts we learned from Delores along with some of my observations:
Moorea is pronounced in 4 syllables. It stands for yellow gecko.
There are only 13 letters in the Polynesian alphabet.
Many residents make the daily Moorea to Papeete commute.
There breathtaking views from throughout of the iconic mountains.
People sell fruits at road side stands.
For its 16,000 residents, there are 5 gas stations, 1 hospital, 3 pharmacies, 7 elementary schools, and 2 junior high schools on the island.
They export fish, flowers, vanilla and no no.
They host 200,000 tourists per year vs Fiji's 1 million. 120 ships per year stop here.
Of the 118 French Polynesian islands, 67 are inhabited. Only 12 people (a family) live on the smallest.
I find it disturbing that some families in French Polynesia send their sons to China to have them castrated at the age 6. They believe these "he-shes" make better workers in the hospitality industry.
I look forward to my next visit to this island paradise!
Tonight's big game show in the Queens Lounge was “Majority Rules”. The rule of play is similar to that of family feud. There must have been at least 100 teams at play. I played with Asia, her parents, and a woman who left her husband in the hospital in Tahiti, yesterday. She hopes he will reunite with her on the ship in New Zealand. SMH! I still cannot wrap my brain around that one. How can you leave your husband on an island in French Polynesia?
