Moorea

Moorea
           
23 January 2012   Bora-Bora - Moorea.
                                                             Another lovely breakfast, and settled the bill (ouch!), and waited for the bus. We were just about to board when the receptionist came running with my passport.Must be my lucky day. Then to Viatepe for the ferry to the airport and eventually away to Tahiti with great views of Tahaa and Huahine.

Bora Bora Airport

Huahine

A windy crossing to Moorea

At Tahiti we took a taxi to the ferry and caught the fast Cat just as it was leaving. The ferry was packed and we think they were all from a big cruise ship moored in Tahiti. In Moorea the bus driver recognised me from a couple of weeks ago  and said 'Fare Aute?'  when I proffered our fares, it is where we are staying for our time on Moorea. We booked in at Fare Aute and the bungalow is lovely, set in a garden 20 paces from the beach.

We hired a scooter and went to the local supermarket for the makings of supper. We then paddled out across the lagoon to the reef to watch the Pacific swell crashing in. And very impressive it was too.
And that was the end of another day!

24 January 2012  Moorea
                                         The pension provided breakfast today, and it was very substantial. It stood us in good stead for most of the day. I took Ann round the island so that she could see what there was and maybe we will go back later to spend more time at whatever takes her fancy. We helmeted -up and set out on our trusty scooter.

Boy Racer!

First stop was Tiki Village, a theme park/tourist trap /authentic polynesian crafts. There were lots of pareos and nicknacksbut little to interest me other than a friendly little cat.

Tiki Village

And the little cat

Then it was on to the Agricultural College in the Opunoho Valley for their DIY tour and chilled fruit juice at the end.

Just rewards for a hot tour

Then up to the Belvedere dodging the seried ranks of cruise ship habituees for lunch with a view and the feral chickens for company. The wild/escaped chickens are all over the forest, and thriving.

Ann at the Belvedere

We admired the views and then walked down through the forest to the Archer's Marae, and I returned to collect the scooter. By then we needed a swim so headed for the beach where Nitidus had been anchored-off. It looked a whole lot better in sunshine!

A Mape tree in the forest

Opunoho beach

Then it was on to Cooks Bay and Viare, supermarket, supper and bed.

25 January 2012   Moorea
                                           I was out at 0700hrs for bread and returned to a leisurely breakfast. Then it was off to look for the Afarietu waterfall behind Ah Sing's store. It was a nice walk in, not long or steep but and interesting wind through the forest to end at a steep, black, triangular cliff with a gentle cascade of water running into a pool at it's base.

 I have actually climbed wetter rocks in Wales and Scotland but nothing as warm and relaxing as this. I am sure that much of the water which sets off from the top evaporates on the way down and that which arrives as a liquid has been thoroughly warmed by the black rock. We chatted to a French girl and a chap from Chicago who was recovering from 'burn-out'(2wks holiday in 6yrs!). After a while they left and we sat in the quiet with the cool draughts from the falls spilling over us and noticed that the pool was teeming with life. There were little fishes, freshwater prawns and lots of eels, some of them up to 1m long. Braving the eels we swam over to the base of the waterfall and were haloed in rainbows. After a long time we walked out and took the scooter to Viare Marina to have a nosey at the boats, but there was not much there to excite us. Ann was getting tired and hot so we went back to the bungalow for lunch.
In the afternoon we took the outrigger canoe onto the lagoon for a swim. Once we got the paddling technique right it was easy to control and much more comfortable than the kayak we used yesterday, but you didn't need to be in a hurry! But then this is Polynesia!

And that was the end of another lovely day.

26 January 2012   Moorea
                                        Yesterday was so successful that we decided on a repeat performance, except that we would choose a different waterfall. The one chosen was behind the Health Centre. It took about 3/4 hour to walk in. Again it was very pleasant with lots of shade and side trips to downstream pools and cataracts. The fall itself was similar to yesterday with slightly more water and a deeper pool. Again we lazed and swam, and lazed some more.

A pool on the walk in

In the afternoon we took the outrigger out to the reef and wandered about looking at fishes and corals sea urchins and waves.

Ann on the reef. the canoe is just to the left of her paddle.

When we left the reef to get back to the bungalow we had a very rapid downwind paddle to the beach. Just when we are getting the hang of things our visit is coming to an end!
 Tomorrow we have arranged to hire a car as we want to see the 'show' at Tiki Village which doesn't finish until late and scootering back at midnight is not for me. I must be getting old.

27 January 2012 Moorea.
                                        I did the last scoot for bread and then swapped it for a Fiat Panda.In this we pottered off on another circumnavigation of the island with numerous stops.Ann went looking for a jeweller and we ended up way out on the coast at a very arty crafty place tucked away in a coconut grove. Very expensive so no deals were done!

The view over the lagoon from close to Viare with Tahiti in the background

 We also shopped for bikinis (unsuccessful), post cards (success), pareo (success), and supper (success). We headed back to Opunoho beach which is beautiful but after about an hour it started to rain and threatened more so we headed back to the lodgings to lounge in the water and sun which had remained shining on our side of the island.

Ann is energetic

Moorea is a very laid back place and our stay here has been lovely.
 Tonight is the Tahitian Extravaganza, and then up with the lark to catch the early bus for the ferry.

Do I need a caption?