Bora Bora,
French Polynesia
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
So after one wild night in Papaeete, I got on a plane and one hour later found myself basking in the sun aboard a ferry bound for vaitape. Two hours later I was sweating my ass off walking south towards my intended lodging, village pauline. One thing I noticed right away is that I attract alot of attention on this island. Everyone that passed, whether on bike or in the bed of a pickup, waved, gave me thumbs up, or stared until they dissapeared around the bend. One thing they would not do was stop and give me a lift. I made it to the village and have been staying there for the past four days. It is set in a garden, and most of the people staying there are long term guests. The only beach on the island, excluding the motus, is matira beach, which is only a ten minute walk further south. The beach is prototypical bora bora: long, white, shaded by towering palms and enhanced by vibrant water. I have made it a habit to watch the sunset from the beach bar at hotel bora bora while tilting back one or two ice cold Hinano Beers (sometimes more, depending on the sunset).
On my first full day here I hiked around the island (about 32 km). It was a slow way to see the island, and unless you value that sort of perspective, I would not recommend such a trip. The island, although beautiful, is essentially a support system for the resort communities that dot the coast and motus. The culture is not as vibrant as it is on other islands, and I plan on making short jaunts to huahine and maupiti to compensate. I will be here for the hawaiki nui canue race finish which is supposedly intense, and may perhaps redeem some of the apathy I feel towards this place in the moment.
