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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. AU REVOIR, FRENCH POLYNESIA ~ Living in French Polynesia is like living in a post-card. Surrounded by coconut trees, you can swim among a thousand small fish in the blue turquoise waters of the lagoon or lay down yourself to rest on a warm white sand beach. Yes, it has been my life for the last 10 years. Au revoir, French Polynesia, au revoir. Article by Virginia De La Rosa |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
People say every good thing has an end.
But is it true?
After long hours of hard thought, we’ve finally
decided to quit everything, to move, to
relocate ourselves. We’re going back to my
roots, to Latin America. But before that, I
must do like most pilgrim souls do: “re-visit”
every single square centimeter of this
magnificient masterpiece of land and bow in
reverence before its beauty, its fragrance and
its harshness. Because like all roses, French
Polynesia has hidden sharp thorns,too.
But is it true?
After long hours of hard thought, we’ve finally
decided to quit everything, to move, to
relocate ourselves. We’re going back to my
roots, to Latin America. But before that, I
must do like most pilgrim souls do: “re-visit”
every single square centimeter of this
magnificient masterpiece of land and bow in
reverence before its beauty, its fragrance and
its harshness. Because like all roses, French
Polynesia has hidden sharp thorns,too.
French Polynesia, everybody knows. Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, not far from Australia,
New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 118 islands, inhabited or not, swept over by trade
winds the whole year round.
New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 118 islands, inhabited or not, swept over by trade
winds the whole year round.
We have all heard about the Bounty, about Marlon Brando’s island “Tetiaroa” or about the
mythical island of Bora Bora. Well, don’t be jealous! I live in Moorea, just 12 kms from Tahiti.
You can either reach us by ferry-boat or airplane.
mythical island of Bora Bora. Well, don’t be jealous! I live in Moorea, just 12 kms from Tahiti.
You can either reach us by ferry-boat or airplane.
Moorea, as all polynesian islands, has a
volcanic origin. Witness of this eventful past
is the Opunohu valley, with its mountain
chain and proud standing peaks, the
Pierced mountain or “Moua Puta”, the
“Tohieva” mountain, the “Moua Roa” and
the impressive sacred mountain, “Rotui”.
volcanic origin. Witness of this eventful past
is the Opunohu valley, with its mountain
chain and proud standing peaks, the
Pierced mountain or “Moua Puta”, the
“Tohieva” mountain, the “Moua Roa” and
the impressive sacred mountain, “Rotui”.
This 12-acres surface is jealously kept by
the SDR, the local Rural Development
Service. Here is the Agricultural School,
surrounded by tropical plantations of
vanilla, flowers and fruits. Selling and
tasting of farm’s natural produce is possible
at the sales outlet. Come and try fresh fruit
juices, ice creams and local fruit jams.
Delicous!
the SDR, the local Rural Development
Service. Here is the Agricultural School,
surrounded by tropical plantations of
vanilla, flowers and fruits. Selling and
tasting of farm’s natural produce is possible
at the sales outlet. Come and try fresh fruit
juices, ice creams and local fruit jams.
Delicous!
Keep going up, let’s take the road leading
to the “Belvedere”. You won’t regret it, the
view is breathtaking! To the left, Opunohu
Bay. To the right, Cook’s Bay. And just in
between, like the icing on the cake, the
mythical “Rotui” Mountain. This place is
worth seeing!
to the “Belvedere”. You won’t regret it, the
view is breathtaking! To the left, Opunohu
Bay. To the right, Cook’s Bay. And just in
between, like the icing on the cake, the
mythical “Rotui” Mountain. This place is
worth seeing!
All around the island there’s the “route de
ceinture” or coast road, bordered by
kilometer markers or “PK”, as locally
called. You’ll never get lost on Moorea,
trust me!
ceinture” or coast road, bordered by
kilometer markers or “PK”, as locally
called. You’ll never get lost on Moorea,
trust me!
The 60-km coast road guides you through a string of charming and typical districts.
Haapiti, the longest, famous for its surf spots and white sand beaches;
Temae and its domestic airport at PK0;
Paopao known for its pineapple road leading up to the Belvedere;
And,last but not least,
Papetoai, my hometown. World-known for its octogonal temple, its fishermen gathered at
the quay ready to sell their fishing.
And others. Beautiful island tour guaranteed!
Haapiti, the longest, famous for its surf spots and white sand beaches;
Temae and its domestic airport at PK0;
Paopao known for its pineapple road leading up to the Belvedere;
And,last but not least,
Papetoai, my hometown. World-known for its octogonal temple, its fishermen gathered at
the quay ready to sell their fishing.
And others. Beautiful island tour guaranteed!
But despite this beauty, my soul pilgrimage is taking my steps somewhere else, to an
unmaterial place. It’s taking me to my souvenirs, to my own real life. Even farther than
Belvedere, even higher than Rotui mountain.
unmaterial place. It’s taking me to my souvenirs, to my own real life. Even farther than
Belvedere, even higher than Rotui mountain.
Faces, scents, warmth, laughters, cries, voices, murmurs, barkings, rumblings,... There’s like
mumbles in my head. At the same time, I feel confident. The wind caresses my body and the
sun warms my soul. I can feel the music from a frenzie “tamure” beating in me. Something
has touched me. Deep inside. Unidentified.
mumbles in my head. At the same time, I feel confident. The wind caresses my body and the
sun warms my soul. I can feel the music from a frenzie “tamure” beating in me. Something
has touched me. Deep inside. Unidentified.