Adventures In Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora (66 pictures)

Hello everyone. We just returned from French Polynesia and we had the BEST trip we have ever experienced. We went for our Anniversary just as the Hausers had. Coincidentally enough, we share the same Anniversary date!

Before we went, some of our friends had warned us about the mosquitoes, the food, and boredom from no nightlife. Well, I am here to tell you that they are absolutely wrong! Moorea and Bora Bora are the SIGNS of GOD'S EXISTENCE. If this is what Heaven is like, then we all are in for a treat!

We stayed at the Le Meridien on Tahiti for a night, the Moorea Pearl Resort and Spa for 3 nights and the Le Meridien on Bora Bora (a truly marvelous mix of natural and man-made beauty). The French food was marvelous, we had no bug problems whatsoever, and the sunsets were to die for. Jaw-dropping...spectacular... words cannot do them justice.

One note...by far the best excursion on the islands is the Shark-feeding and Sting Ray Feeding Excursion done by Teiva Tours. Those guys are awesome and they have no fear! They swam alongside 12 foot sharks and wrestled moray eels out of their holes with their bare hands. Unbelievable to see...

Yours truly got the SCARE of a lifetime when one of the sharks you see in the pictures came right at me and bumped me face to face on my facemask. As I flailed like a little schoolgirl with a bug on her, it brushed past my shoulder leaving an abrasion on my right shoulder as sharkskin is like sandpaper. I thought I was a goner...

The next day I was swimming on my back and looking where I was going and I bumped my head on a swimming turtle's shell (he was about a yard long). Again, I swallowed enough salt water to sink the Titanic and hurriedly swam away to a safer distance as they can snap at you with powerful jaws.

Somehow I survived the trip. The stingrays were huge and they were so gentle and friendly. We actually fed them from our hand and even held a fish in the mouth that they came up and took ever so gently...

The coral life and fish varieties are amazing. I have snorkeled many places and these fish were by far so much more numerous and variable.

Finally, the Le Meridien Bora Bora is an amazing place with out of the world service. The food was terrific also and I am picky about that. We stayed in overthewater bungalows and they were awesome inside and outside. Every convenience was there and yet, it was so Tahitian in style. Even our cell phones worked on the islands! The floor of the overthewater bungalow was glass and you could see fish underneath during the day and night.

If any of you are interested in visiting there, we have the full scoop now. It is hella expensive though... we thought living in CAL was expensive. These islands take the cake. I am so glad that we had the meal inclusive plan for breakfast and dinner because the one breakfast I did have to pay for was $ 110 for 2. Ridiculous!

We hope you enjoy the pictures and let me know if there is anything I can help you with if you are interested in going there. It truly is the trip of a lifetime.

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5/27/0511:32 PM

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AFROSMember

I still have no idea how much you had to pay to get a wife so hot. I'm very skeptical of the whole situation.

5/27/0511:46 PM

CALF ootball FanMember

Afros,

She is a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse. Believe me, she didn't need the money....

Thanks for the compliment... but she is just a down to earth good-hearted woman. I married WAAAAAAAAAY over my head but there are no catches...just love.

Don't be so skeptical. If you do good, good things come your way naturally.

5/28/0512:07 AM

AFROSMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:
Afros,

She is a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse. Believe me, she didn't need the money....

Thanks for the compliment... but she is just a down to earth good-hearted woman. I married WAAAAAAAAAY over my head but there are no catches...just love.

Don't be so skeptical. If you do good, good things come your way naturally.

Good work. I'm way over my skis too. Congrats. I hope it didn't sound like an insult because it certainly wasn't meant to be. It should definately be a compliment. Different people take things different ways so just wanted to make sure.

The pictures look like it was a great time. Hope you had fun and good luck to the Bucs this year (you will probably need it, even with your fantastic coach.)

5/28/0512:12 AM

CJSMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:

One note...by far the best excursion on the islands is the Shark-feeding and Sting Ray Feeding Excursion done by Teiva Tours. Those guys are awesome and they have no fear! They swam alongside 12 foot sharks and wrestled moray eels out of their holes with their bare hands. Unbelievable to see...

Yours truly got the SCARE of a lifetime when one of the sharks you see in the pictures came right at me and bumped me face to face on my facemask. As I flailed like a little schoolgirl with a bug on her, it brushed past my shoulder leaving an abrasion on my right shoulder as sharkskin is like sandpaper. I thought I was a goner...

Somehow I survived the trip. The stingrays were huge and they were so gentle and friendly. We actually fed them from our hand and even held a fish in the mouth that they came up and took ever so gently...

CAL - your trip looked awesome - and there is no need to mention your wife again here because clearly her beauty speaks for itself! My wife and I spent our honeymoon on Moorea about 7 years ago and I think we went on the same shark/manta ray tour you were on. The tour guide wanted to dip me in soy sauce because I'm so dang white and I think the sun reflecting off me was blinding him. I got a good laugh out of it. Swimming with Sharks was one of the more dangerous things I've ever done - I was swallowing plenty of ocean that day myself - but I was afraid to take my face out of the water because I wanted to keep on eye on those sharks!

I noticed thepicture of the straw huts on the beach (taken from the water) - was that the Sofitel? That's where my wife and I stayed.

I wish we had gotten down to Bora Bora. I heard that there was a lot of WWII stuff sunk there and I wanted to snorkel or learn to scuba there. Perhaps next time.

Glad you had so much fun. Welcome back.

5/28/0512:14 AM

hntr74Member

Great stuff cal!

Thanks for sharing your special trip with all of us...Im still in awwwww.

5/28/0512:18 AM

CALF ootball FanMember

Afros,

No confusion buddy. I am used to it. I took it as a compliment. Seven WOMEN complimented Mrs. CAL on that trip in Tahiti. Not one for me...

I think I just wore her down until she HAD to marry me. Thanks again. As for the Bucs, God help them. They can't get worse than 5-11. So, it HAS to be an improvement. If Cadillac can help like Clayton did, then watch out... we could get dangerous.

CJS,

Thank you also on behalf of Mrs CAL.

I believe it WAS the Sofitel Hotel on Moorea. The water looked great there. It was on Moorea and we were driving back from the nearby Ferry Port back to the Pearl Resort and climbed a hill and I happened to see the rainbow and stopped the car there and we got the shot of the bungalows too.

I don't know if you went on the same excursion for the shark feeding because ours was on the waters of Bora Bora and you mentioned that you stayed on Moorea. BY plane, the islands are 45 minutes apart. Was it Teiva Tours? I think they had similar excursions on both islands.

When I got brushed and scared by the shark, the Captain turned to Mrs. CAL on the boat and said, "Thanks for bringing your husband, he's good meat for the sharks!" We laughed and laughed. Later, when we returned, I gave the guy the French champagne bottle ($ 80 bottle) that they had put in our room for the package.

It was a great experience to be there within ten feet of sharks, stingrays, and moray eels. We saw a 10-12 foot Lemon Shark and I got out REAL quick!

CJS, maybe you should add to the pics and put your honeymoon pics there too...

I too heard about some WWII boat sunk there... There is a place called Top Dive there on Bora Bora and I heard their guides were excellent from another couple we met there that dove twice a day. Glad to hear that you honeymooned there... that is truly the place to honeymoon!

They are building a Ritz Carlton next to the Le Meridien and those bungalows will have a bedroom and separate living room AND a private swimming pool OVER the water for each bungalow. It looked amazing...

5/28/0512:36 AM

CJSMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:

I don't know if you went on the same excursion for the shark feeding because ours was on the waters of Bora Bora and you mentioned that you stayed on Moorea. BY plane, the islands are 45 minutes apart. Was it Teiva Tours? I think they had similar excursions on both islands.

CJS, maybe you should add to the pics and put your honeymoon pics there too...

Oh, you're probably right then. My wife and I stayed on Moorea the entire time. Our tour was run by locals via the Sofitel, I don't think it was Teiva now that I think about it.

Pics? Hmmm... well, that would sort of uncover my secret super-hero identity now wouldn't it? I'd have to find them too (no digital camera). Besides, a lot of those pictures were of me getting Aloe rubbed into my Red Lobster back. Ow. Give me some more time and I can come up with a dozen more excuses for ya.

Are you going to be up in Northern CA during the football season?

5/28/051:26 AM

CALF ootball FanMember

CJS,

I am sure that we will be attending the Bucs/49ers game next season and we will also take in some CAL games as well. It would be a pleasure to meet you and your wife. If we don't go to Lambeau for the Bucs/Packers game, maybe we can get together at a local sports restaurant in your area and watch it together. I am always in San Francisco because I have clients there.

5/28/054:00 AM

BorderLineMember

Congratulations to you and the lovely Mrs. CalBuc on your anniversary. Wishing you many more happy years together.

5/28/056:45 AM

CJSMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:
CJS,

I am sure that we will be attending the Bucs/49ers game next season and we will also take in some CAL games as well. It would be a pleasure to meet you and your wife. If we don't go to Lambeau for the Bucs/Packers game, maybe we can get together at a local sports restaurant in your area and watch it together. I am always in San Francisco because I have clients there.

I'd be up for that! I think I should explain to the wife what an Internet BB is at some point anyway.

I'm not sure which game I'm flying back for this year either - maybe it will be the Bucs game.

5/28/0510:54 AM

MN SnowBongMember

Great pics, Cal. Thanks for sharing those and congrats on the anniversary.

5/28/051:04 PM

CALF ootball FanMember

CJS,

If you do go to the Bucs/Packers game, let me know. It would be fun either way to get together for the Bucs/Packers. Mrs CAL wonders about Bulletin Boards but after meeting the Hausers, she is fine with it now because they were a really great couple.

Hntr74,

You are welcome. Every turn is a postcard there so it's easy to take good pics there.

MN Cheese,

Thank you very much.

BorderLine,

Thank you so much also!

5/28/052:34 PM

CJSMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:
CJS,

If you do go to the Bucs/Packers game, let me know. It would be fun either way to get together for the Bucs/Packers. Mrs CAL wonders about Bulletin Boards but after meeting the Hausers, she is fine with it now because they were a really great couple.

I'm not sure I can compete with the Hausers! That's some tough competition!

After I sit down with my family and figure out who is going to what games this year, I'll drop you a PM. I've already put in a request for the Bucs game so hopefully that works out.

5/28/055:29 PM

TimthePackerFanMember

I'm wondering why Calbuc stole Charle Browns vacation pictures!!!

Property of CB

5/28/057:41 PM

FerrariMember

quote:
They are unbelievable as they swim up to 10-12 foot sharks and wrestle moray eels and bring them to the surface...They have no fear

Must be pretty gutsy guys. I ran across one in Hawaii when I was scubba diving.
Got down a little deep where the lighting is weak and mistook a maray eel for a sponge as it moved slighly in the current. As I reached out from about 4 and 1/2 feet it came towards me and I never saw so many teeth.

Quick turn upwards, cutting my leg on coral and end of the dive. Six months later, all healed and good to go.

5/28/058:51 PM

CALF ootball FanMember

Ferrari,

Did you take that picture??? That's a great shot! No doubt the camera was the only survivor...

The Polynesian guys swam down to where a 10-12 lemon shark showed up. I was scared for the guy... but he didn't bat an eye. He swam above the shark and came laughing to the surface. If these guys ever participated in Fear Factor, they would win hands down. I had gotten the heck out of the water as soon as the ten footer showed up...

5/29/052:08 AM

Viking GirlMember

CalBuc - that trip looks incredible. I've always pictured Tahiti as the ideal island getaway... Now I'm thinking one would have to hit Bora Bora and Moorea too.

When we were in the Cayman Islands, we swam with the stingrays and fed them from our hands. It was so much fun, and one of the highlights of the trip!

Congratulations on the anniversary, and many, many more.

5/29/0512:08 PM

FerrariMember

quote:
Originally posted by CALBuccaneer:
Ferrari,

Did you take that picture??? That's a great shot! No doubt the camera was the only survivor...

The Polynesian guys swam down to where a 10-12 lemon shark showed up. I was scared for the guy... but he didn't bat an eye. He swam above the shark and came laughing to the surface. If these guys ever participated in Fear Factor, they would win hands down. I had gotten the heck out of the water as soon as the ten footer showed up...

Not my picture, but tried to get something representative. There were a couple of extra details I omitted. When I reached out as I said and he came toward me and opened his mouth, I couldn't believe how wide it was and full of teeth. He scared the He_l out of me and I almost lost my regulator and got water in my mask as I bumped it with my shoulder or arm. That was a real scary situation. I didn't think they were quite as big as that. He could have easily put my forearm in his mouth.

Also, I swim like a log, but with fins and scobba gear on, I can manage.

They are territorial and viscious when they attack.

5/29/0512:37 PM

QuietOneMember

Great pictures, CalBuc!
The only way you could help me with a trip there is to provide the $$.

Congratulations on your anniversary and may you enjoy many more!

Mr. QuietOne and I will be married 27 years this coming Friday. He gets to stay home from work and help me catch horses for the farrier.

5/29/053:05 PM

YooperfanMember

Yeah, great!! Wow are we lucky or what? We get to see where a Buc's fan and his beautiful wife go for their anniversary!! My wife and I went to Wendy's for a bowl of chili!!
Just joshing Calbuc, I really DID enjoy the picture show. (Didn't show them to wife though), as I plan to surprise her with a trip/tour of beautiful Gary, Indiana!!!

5/31/055:36 PM

CALF ootball FanMember

YooperFan,

A bowl of chili??? I bet she made you sleep in the living room that night!

It took this Bucs fan 40...well, make that 41 as of yesterday, to get to the point where he could afford something like that. That was a trip that we will do once or twice in a lifetime... no more.

Of course, it's your wife that makes the anniversary trip. I could have fun with Mrs. CAL anywhere. Congratulations on your anniversary as well and I am sure that your trip to Gary, Indiana will be just as fun because of who you are WITH.

Viking Girl,

Yep, the stingrays are so friendly and such gentle giants. They really were surreal...

But avoid Tahiti, the island... traffic and all the tourist trappings...

Go directly to Moorea (7 minute flight) and then to Bora Bora or Tahaa'a Island. Le Meridien or Bora Bora Nui Resort are the ones to stay at if you go... they are on their own private little island (motu) off the coast of Bora Bora...

Quiet One,

Happy 27th anniversary to you as well! Ummmm... what's a farrier?

6/1/053:06 AM

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