Tahiti

Synopsis:
Paradise.

More details than you ever wanted:
Are we sure that the Promised Land isn’t in French Polynesia? We arrived on the main island of Tahiti at around noon on 31 October, our feet danced in the Tahitian sun as we ran down the gangway. It was a long leg from Ecuador; blue waters bordered by white beaches beckoned us with indefinable intensity. We took an afternoon ferry (are you getting that we just really can’t get enough of ships and boats?) to Mo’orea. An open-air bus ride leisurely weaved around mountains stealing into the sky on our left, and palm trees heavy with coconuts shadowing the shoreline to our right. Finally at Hotel Hibiscus in Hauru Point, we (Amanda, Yas, Melanie, Makiko, Ann – all IRCs – and myself) dropped our bags and waded into warm, turquoise waters, patterned with the deeper shades reflected from the coral. Fish painted the colors of a child’s imagination swam amidst our feet while the sunset broke the clouds to set behind a distant reef of crashing waves.

Dinner and a peaceful, early evening brought my eyes to meet the long risen sun at 6am. Understanding how I could embrace sarongs as my daily wear, I donned my own as I found the tranquil beach and lapping waters awaiting me. The patisserie set back from my spot on the sand cracked open a coconut for me, filled my belly with a chocolate croissant and a coconut macaroon pastry, and lovingly laughed at my feeble French skills.

The day unfolded exploring the waters and eventually back to the patisserie for a crepe filled with goat cheese, tomatoes, and gruyere cheese. Less than 24 hours and we felt at home in this land of time relativity, so we felt at ease asking for a ride back to the port – who really needs to pay for the bus, right? J Setting a fantastic example for our students who all awaited the arrival of the bus, we piled into the back of a two-seater jeep for a scenic and ridiculously fun ride back to the ferry port with Mahuru, our new Tahitian friend whom we promised to call and send pictures to from New Zealand!