Week 42: Bali Hai Calls: Romance and Adventures in the South Pacific

For the last few weeks, it seems like we’ve been reminiscing on epic trips: Greece, China, Peru. This next post is one of those trips – but not quite as Type-A. This T-shirt is our souvenir from our trip to French Polynesia, otherwise known as "Tahiti."

Our trip to Tahiti was my husband and I’s first trip overseas together. This was actually our official honeymoon, since our Hawaiian adventure was technically our wedding trip (Huh? Whatever. *That* is my logic).

Our first stop was in Mo’orea. We landed on the island of Tahiti and took a puddle jumper to Mo’orea. Puddle jumper was the exact description: I think this was the smallest plane that I have been in, and there were only 12 passengers. It was so small that I thought it was going to fall apart (flashback: the cab in Xian from my China Trip).

In Mo’orea, we stayed at Cooks Bay at the Club Bali Hai Hotel. Although the accommodations were a bit dated (It is one of the original hotels in Mo’orea), it was quite relaxing and very laid back. We always woke up to a beautiful view of Cooks Bay. The view from Cooks Bay was the inspiration to Bali Hai in South Pacific (Hence the name of the hotel; although some say it is actually Hanalei Bay in Kauai). We often enjoyed a fresh Tahitian breakfast outside. Breakfast was usually fish that was just caught by the brother of our server and fresh fruit. In the evening, the staff always had entertainment – whether it was Tahitian dancing or crab races (long story – but I was the hit of the show).

In our four days in Mo’orea, we explored quite a bit. Looking back, it was actually quite unbelievable that we only spent four days. Club Bali Hai is walking distance to a good restaurant (Honu Iti where we had our first dinner), the Top Dive dive shop (very important – we dove two days), and the black pearl shop (most important). We also enjoyed an excursion in a glass bottom boat, a shark feeding and stingray snorkel (with Tahiti's most entertaining guide - Siki), dining, and of course, diving. In fact, this was the reason that I started diving. I figured if we’re going to Tahiti, I gotta dive!

From Mo’orea, we took a plane (a full-size airplane this time) to Bora Bora, "the most romantic island in the world." We had multiple stops, so the anticipation increased after each stop. When we landed and saw the famous Bora Bora landscape & lagoon, it actually exceeded all expectation. It was more beautiful that I ever imagined. I think that this is really the inspiration for Bali Hai.

In Bora Bora, we stayed in an over-the-water bungalow at the Le Maitai Polynesia. It is a beautiful hotel on the main beach in Bora Bora with a bar and a full restaurant. It is walking distance from a number of casual “snack” places – where we usually had our lunches. The bar has a really good happy hour: 2 for 1 drinks. However, they do not know how to make a Martini (even with clues from my husband: ‘James Bond, shaken not stirred’ – nothing worked).

In Bora Bora, we enjoyed a lot of diving (again two days of diving) and kayaking (it was free). My husband and I kayaked a lot those days, so some of the folks thought we were professionals.  We even rented a car for an hour – that was how long it took to go around the island, look at the sorry looking dogs (they were not starving, just too hot), and stop for drinks. It rained one day, so we just walked over to the nearby Intercontinental and enjoyed the buffet breakfast and passed the time to read the “newspaper” (it was more like a two sheet summary) and working on a Japanese bat puzzle (which my husband claims as the most stressful part of his vacation).

We also enjoyed a fabulous dining experience at Bloody Mary’s. When you’re in Bora Bora, you have to dine at Bloody Mary’s. It is a unique experience. You select your order from the fresh fish on a bed of ice displayed as you enter the door. The restaurant has a tropical theme: sand on the floor and palms everywhere. You really feel like you’re in the South Seas.

Another must while in Tahiti is staying at an over-water bungalow, especially in Bora Bora. The view of the lagoon is just breathtaking. We even enjoyed the moon reflecting on the lagoon one evening. It was the most awesome moonrise I have ever seen (an inspiration every time I dance hulas about the moon). My husband also had the most relaxing sleep in his life: the sound of the water under the bungalow is so soothing that it just rocks you to sleep. And oh, the coffee table in our bungalow was rather unique. The table top was glass, but the flooring below it was cut out, replaced with a glass pane, so while sitting there, you enjoy a tropical aquarium from below. My husband was actually stalking an octopus. We checked him out while snorkeling.

This trip was so fabulous that we did not have that much time to shop – that is why we bought this shirt after the fact to commemorate our trip (plus the airport shops were closed - they only open one hour before a flight). We loved Tahiti, and we do hope to return to Tahiti. I know we always say this about our adventures – but this time I think it will be true. In fact, maybe I should change that to “we will be coming back to Tahiti” (perhaps for our 15th Anniversary, which is coming up soon.) Don’t get me wrong this is not the first time we splurged on a milestone anniversary: Our fifth and tenth were back in Kona, we spent one in Maui (our 7th?). For our 10th, we spent 10 days – maybe when we return to Tahiti, it will be 15 days.

Fifteen days... Now that will be a lot diving!!!!