WHERE IS MOOREA?
Moorea is Tahiti’s neighbour in the Society Islands of French Polynesia in the South Pacific.
A naturally beautiful island with tall dramatic volcanic peaks lush with tropical vegitation and fruit. It has a multitude of white sandy beaches, great hiking trails and cascading waterfalls. For tourists there are accomidations ranging from decadent to camping in a local families back yard. For sailors there are many well protected anchorages with those in the north designated as available for stays longer than 48 hours. No anchoring fees at the moment. Free amendities at the public parks and beaches.
HOW DID WE END UP BACK HERE AGAIN?
We were here around this time last year. When we were here we picked out the island as a great place should family want to come out for a visit. A short ferry ride from the main island of Tahiti, but still the islands slower pace makes it feel a mile away from the capital.
Well you are not going to believe it but some of the family took the humans up on the offer to entertain them here! Imagine that? But more took up the offer than could possibly fit on the boat, so a local cottage was also rented 5 minutes from the beach anchorage at the mouth of Opunohu Bay.
Logistics to get two separate families, from different ends of Canada, to French Polynesia at the same time actually worked out!? The Watson and Miller families met up in San Fransisco and caught one of the new French Bee budget flights to Tahiti.
We could have shuttled some of the family from Tahiti to Moorea on our boat, Spirit of Argo. But they had already been travelling for 2 days and we did not think adding another day of traveling would be fun for them. So we took the 20 minute inter-island ferry instead. The local bus waits for the ferries to arrive.
BEFORE THEY ARRIVED
Madness rained on Spirit of Argo before the family arrived. With all the sailing and exploring a few cosmetic jobs had been left on the way side. Full steam ahead to get a few caught up.
The humans also got to work making the pearls they had been given into Christmas presents for the family.
THE FAMILY IS ALL HERE
Once we got them here the holiday fun could begin.
L to R ~ Mary, Liam, Ashley Watson from Ontario, April you know as one of my humans, Shannon Miller from British Columbia, Mike Watson from Ontario.
First thing we needed to do was get them into the water and exploring the reef.
And getting up close and personal with to the local wildlife.
Stingray City. An open sand bank where the stingrays and black tip reef sharks are friendly and happy to recieve a few hand outs from the tourists.
Dolphins regularly come into the bay to feed.
Everyone loves geckos.
The Watson side of the family enjoyed a bungalow at Fare Maheata (www.maheata.com), with in sight of the Miller clan aboard Spirit of Argo.
The boys chilling with a beer. But there is more to life than the beach. We also went off exploring.
Some Polynesian archaeological sites and to learn about the local floura and fauna.
How do pineapples and bananas grow, how good coconut water is fresh from the nut, and how to pick avacados wih out bruising them. A team sport in his family.
Last, but not least lessons on how to make coconut milk.
Great fun to have everyone together. L to R ~ Cain, my human, Conner Miller, Liam Watson, Kim Miller, Shannon Miller, Ashley Watson, Mary Fillipelli-Watson, Mike Watson and Andy Miller.
But they had all come for than more than just a holiday in the South Pacific. They came to celebrate the holidays.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
We may not have snow in the South Pacific, but we still know how to celebrate the holidays. How about a seafood feast accompanied by Tahatian musicians?
Just too many great memories to share them all.
NEW YEAR
To finish off the visit we had an amazing New Year Celebration. Another excuse to get all dressed up, eat too much, drink too much, listen to beautifully sung Tahitian sings and boogy the night away to old time disco.
What more do you need?
Except maybe?
On the beach, anckle deep in the South Pacific with a glass of champagne in your hand, your family all around you seeing the New Year in.
Happy New Year to all our family and friends.
MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BE FILLED WITH HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND LOVE
