Saturday, March 05, 2005
French Polynesia
Life is very easy on a Pacific Island. We had a break doing very little except lounge on the beach reading or periodically diving into luke warm water and watching some very exotic fish and coral life. I did not even need a snorkel to see the sea life. While sitting on the deck at lunch we could toss bread into the lagoon and watch the fish-feeding frenzy and an occasional ray swim by. The hotel on Moorea had an outrigger that took us out to an island which was a snorkellers paradise.
Papeete in Tahiti is a bustling tropical town where the hub is the local market. We bought our food there and could be seen most days with a baguette under one arm and chicken, cheese and fruit in the
other. They have a wonderful pearl museum giving the history and how-to of the pearl industry.
Beach Bungalow
We took the 30 minute ferry ride across to Moorea where we spent five days in a bungalow on the beach. It was pretty hot and humid but when you can take ten steps and fall into the water, it is no hardship. On Sunday we took part in the traditional Polynesian feast.
the Polynesian Feast
A pit had been dug and a fire lit under a pile of rocks and then all the delectable food laid on the hot rocks, covered with banana leaves, canvas and sand and then left to cook for four hours. There was a ceremony to uncover everything and we dined on pig, bread fruit, poi and taro doused in a choice of coconut milk or fermented coconut milk. Bill got into the poisson crui which is raw fish marinated in lemon juice. I had many glasses of wine and was glad the huge tuna head with eye intact did not appear at our table. The taro (looked like spinach) was cooked in coconut milk with cashew nuts and simmered in a large pot in the pit. Being from the South, I could recognize a "mess of greens" immediately but it was surprisingly tasty.
Polynesian Dance
Moorea
We left Moorea and began the long haul to India, via Auckland where I was thrilled to reach my niece and first god daughter on the phone during our lay-over, then Sydney, then Bangkok and finally to Delhi. We left Moorea on Wednesday and made it to Delhi Saturday evening. Something happened to Thursday at the International dateline and we dodged Roratongo because of Cyclone Percy but I do still know my name is Lynne and I am on firm ground again.
We had time in Bangkok to drive around for a couple of hours between planes and saw the very impressive palace and beautiful temples and many, many huge photos of the king.
LS
Papeete in Tahiti is a bustling tropical town where the hub is the local market. We bought our food there and could be seen most days with a baguette under one arm and chicken, cheese and fruit in the
other. They have a wonderful pearl museum giving the history and how-to of the pearl industry.
Beach Bungalow
We took the 30 minute ferry ride across to Moorea where we spent five days in a bungalow on the beach. It was pretty hot and humid but when you can take ten steps and fall into the water, it is no hardship. On Sunday we took part in the traditional Polynesian feast.
the Polynesian Feast
A pit had been dug and a fire lit under a pile of rocks and then all the delectable food laid on the hot rocks, covered with banana leaves, canvas and sand and then left to cook for four hours. There was a ceremony to uncover everything and we dined on pig, bread fruit, poi and taro doused in a choice of coconut milk or fermented coconut milk. Bill got into the poisson crui which is raw fish marinated in lemon juice. I had many glasses of wine and was glad the huge tuna head with eye intact did not appear at our table. The taro (looked like spinach) was cooked in coconut milk with cashew nuts and simmered in a large pot in the pit. Being from the South, I could recognize a "mess of greens" immediately but it was surprisingly tasty.
Polynesian Dance
Moorea
We left Moorea and began the long haul to India, via Auckland where I was thrilled to reach my niece and first god daughter on the phone during our lay-over, then Sydney, then Bangkok and finally to Delhi. We left Moorea on Wednesday and made it to Delhi Saturday evening. Something happened to Thursday at the International dateline and we dodged Roratongo because of Cyclone Percy but I do still know my name is Lynne and I am on firm ground again.
We had time in Bangkok to drive around for a couple of hours between planes and saw the very impressive palace and beautiful temples and many, many huge photos of the king.
LS
# posted by Bill and Lynne @ 4:12 PM 
