French Polynesia Day 6

Day 6: Bora Bora

Big day today.  Shortish ride, but lots of stops to see things. Bora Bora is situated 142 nautical miles fnorthwest of Tahitiin the Leeward Islands (also included are Raitea and Taha’a).  It’s actually a mispronounciation by Capt. James Cook of the Polynesian words Pora Pora which means “first born”.  Cook came here in 1770 and missionaries arrive 50 years later.  After fierce resistance, it was annexed by France in 1888. 

During WWII, Bora Bora was thought to be of strategic importance by the Allies to block the Japanese, and during the war, the U.S. had 6,000 troops stationed on this tiny island. Though the Japanese never attempted to gain control here, the war was a boon for the island thanks to many infrastructure projects of the Army Corps of Engineers including an airfield and a beautiful (for cycling) ring road.

 

Along the road we stopped to visit a “pareo factory”.  These are the shmatas (“rags” for you non-Jews) that the Polynesians  (men and women) wearlike a skirt.

We also got to see a demonstration of thatch fabrication at a thatch factory.  The ubiquitous fruit and coconut juice was available here as well.

There was also a hike to a WWII gun emplacement that we started out on, but realized that our bike cleats were not the safest footwear for the path.  Jeri kept thinking of her Hawaian fall on lava, and I kept thinking of the goat path in Corsica, so we finally decided to turn around and let Erik and Beth check out the guns.

 

On the west side of the island we stopped at Bloody Mary’s where we had moored overnight and had dinner a mere 15 years ago.  It appeared to have not a changed a bit, with the sand floor and tree stumps for seats.

 

We spent the afternoon snorkeling with sharks and rays.  The rays are really used to humans and sidle right up to you for petting.  It was a bit hokey, but fun just the same.

 

Dinner tonight was on Windstar’s private motu.  We were all ferried over at sunset for a great bbq and Polynesian entertainment. 

 

The entertainment consisted of Polynesian dancing, singing, and fire twirling.  The fire dancers included an amazing 6 yo, though most of our group felt that protective services should have been called.  The kid was good, but did manage to get burned (slightly) at one point in the show.

But the best entertainment was the sunset and the full moon over Bora Bora.  Moth very romantic!