French Polynesia

 

August 2008

Here is the news from French Polynesia!! We went hiking in Moorea

All about the trees–we saw many groves of MAPE trees



The Mape tree was brought to Polynesia from South East Asia. It has a smooth trunk and can get rid of MOLD! The trees were used as drums and made into canoes. Medicine made from the sap of these trees can cure poisonous stonefish stings and stop inflammation. The dye from these trees was also used to decorate clothes and ritual objects. See link on side for our shutterfly album.

Beautiful Bora Bora made by Volcanoes

Flying into Bora Bora –landing on Motu Mute



Bora Bora was formed after many volcanic eruptions that began four million years ago and continued over hundreds of thousands of years. Since then–it has started to slowly SINK! Its lagoon is encircled by a wide coral reef that enclosed several big motus (small islands) and has ONE opening from the lagoon out to the ocean. It is very blue. We stayed at Matira Point the BEST beach on Bora Bora (and really the ONLY beach on Bora Bora)

Bora Bora Lagoon Tour

Swimming with SHARKS



We went on a boat ride around Bora Bora. We stopped to snorkel at the “Aquarium” where we were surrounded by schools of small fish. At the next stop, we were able to touch and even kiss Sting rays. We swam with about 10 sting rays that were about 4 feet across. BUT the best spot was where our guide, Ringo Star, fed black tip reef sharks. There were about 12 of them 5-6 feet long and we watched from the water as they ate. Below us there were 2 lemon sharks (10 ft long). We were able to snorkel after the sharks were done eating. We also stopped at a motu for photos and the beautiful view of the island.





HELLO FROM MS. NIVER!!!

George and I spent Two Weeks in French Polynesia


During our 2 weeks in French Polynesia, we were able to visit 4 islands. We spent our 1st 2 nights in Papeete, Tahiti. We traveled by boat to Moorea where we had 5 days and nights of snorkeling, hiking and biking. Flying to Bora Bora was beautiful. Our 4 days there included many walks, snorkeling and swimming with sharks. Our final 3 days in Huahine, we were able to bike from Fare to Maeva to see the Marae (ancient sacred sites). I was amazed by all the solar powered houses. It was also incredible in Bora Bora–we stayed at Pension Robert and Tina for $100/night. The Intercontinental next door was $1000/night. We saw many local people living right next door with very limited resources. The extremes in all the islands were incredible.
Use this link to see the photos!
We will try to annotate them so you will know which ones are WHERE!
Now we are in New Zealand. And I am finding out even more about volcanoes! My website is almost done and we will have a blog! Happy AUGUST!
Lisa and George

Lisa Ellen Niver

Lisa Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel. On her award nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times. Named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, Niver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTube channel with over 2 million views, and in her memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

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