Honeymoon 2

September 30, 2011

For our second day on Moorea we arranged a 4x4 excursion. Shortly after breakfast our driver and guide Eloy picked us up at our hotel. We then proceeded to pick up couples from other resorts. Two couples were from Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) and the other was from New York, having also been married just the previous Saturday. They too are bound for Bora Bora and may come up again in another post!

Our first stop was this beautiful Garden in Cook’s Bay. We took in the sights of the Bay and also of the flowers and vanilla plants. Without delay we were off to our next stop, Magic Mountain. To no coincidence does this share the name of an amusement park. We took off up this impossibly narrow and steep path. We serpentined back and forth, climbing impossibly higher. The bumpy ride was eerily familar to the Indiana Jones ride we had taken not a week ago. Finally we crested, got out and hiked to a panoramic 360 degree view of Cook’s Bay, Oponopu Bay and the endless pacific. We stared into the distance in awe of the view (and our survival up). After the Kodak moment we made the harrowing journey back down the path.

Our next destination was deep into the Oponupu Valley, into the heart of the island. Here the jungle began to thinken into that familiar Panama-esque thickness. Finally we made it to Bellvedere, a point to look from the most inward point of the island back towards the sea. The sight here was also amazing. We stood with our backs against the giant volcanic monoliths formed millions of years ago. Their impossible forms were the backdrop of this picturesque scene leading out to the tourquoise lagoons. Again the beauty of this place took hold of our imaginations.

Further down the road we stopped to see some archeological sites. Now becoming even more like Indiana Jones. We explored the rock foundations of former temples, thousands of years old. Our short hike concluded at a foundation which was made of round rocks. Not just rounded, closer to spherical. This was the site where weddings were performed and we thought it very appropriate for the occasion.

No tour of a tropical paradise would be complete without a Journey to a pineapple plantation. We awed at the vastness of the fields and delighted in the taste of fresh pineapple. It was a delicious treat. We trialed through a copper dust trail back into cook’s bay. We eventually dropped off the rest of our travellers and made our way back to the Sofitel. It was quite an adventure.

Again the afternoon consisted of a swim in the bath tub warm water, smuggled tequilla drinks and a whole lot of sitting around, reading. Eventually we were picked up by a shuttle from our restaurant and were taken back to Cook’s Bay for dinner at Te Honu Iti. This tiny restaurant was entirely staffed by one poor guy, taking every order, bringing out every plate and bussing every table. The water front patio we sat on was the stage for the after dinner show as masses of stingrays swam about. They came waiting for their nightly feeding of meat scraps. The same waiter/host/busser even did the stingray feeding duty and the fish went nuts. After some delicious crepes set on fire by Grand Marnier, we were back on our shuttle headed back to the hotel.

The perfect mix of exploration and relaxation. Again, things on the island are perfect.

Honeymoon 1

September 29, 2011

As I write this, we are sitting on the patio of our lagoon-side bungalow watching the sunrise over the turquoise waters of the Island of Moorea. However, our journey began what seems like a very long time ago.

We rose early to meet our good friends Casey and Jia. Our destination: the happiest place on earth. We hit the road and made it there in no time. We met up with Joe Birdsong and hit the park not long after it had opened. We started with Space Mountain. The Mouse-cast outlook for this day at Disneyland was Ghost town. We waited 10 minutes to ride Space Mountain! This was the pace for the rest of the day. We covered the whole park and California Adventure going on whatever ride we wished with no more than a wait of maybe 30 minutes. We had a blast! Our last trip was on Space Mountain and we escaped before the main street parade ended, allowing us to get out of Disneyland with ease and on our way to LAX.

After an exchange of hugs and keys, Em and I set off to the terminal. The next 10 hours were a mix of waiting standing up, waiting through a body scanner, waiting in a terminal, waiting in a line and finally waiting in our seats. Our brilliant idea was to be so tired and exhausted from a day at Disneyland that we would pass out through the whole graveyard shift of flight. This was not the case.

Through hours of light naps and rude awakenings, our plane made its final descent 5,000 miles from home on the tiny speck of an island called Tahiti just before dawn. We went straight from there through customs, out to the terminal, got all of our travel info, went back into the terminal and waited for our small plane to Moorea. The tiny 2 engine plane would take us on the bewilderingly short 8 minute plane ride to Moorea. I don’t think the pilot even put the landing gear up. We were then transported to the Sofitel. It was still only about 8am.

The staff was very welcoming and polite (and even knew English for us) in explaining that our room still wouldn’t be ready for another 6 hours. We tried our best to pass the time, but we were still so worn out from travelling, the lack of sleep and the lack of a shower to wash off the sunscreen of our faces from Disneyland. Luckily the absolute beauty and tranquility of the island calmed our souls. Finally after what seemed like another pan-pacific flight, our room was ready. We showered, we napped and then we got ready for dinner. We had dinner on a small pier that went over the water. Finally our vacation had begun and we ate to our heart’s content. Each answer to the waitress’ questions received with a confusing yet endearing “That’s okay.”

The next day we got right down to business. After a hearty breakfast we picked up our rental bikes. We set out on two missions: One to explore the island and Two to get some groceries. The water is not safe to drink from the tap and the 600 CFP adds up after a while. We biked out along the road which circumnavigates the island and took in the local scene. Eventually we reached Cook’s Bay. Here the majesty of the island takes form. Giant monoliths jet impossibly high from the island. They are dressed with green trees and palms as whispy clouds huddle around and between them. On three sides of the bay these giant mountains offer a stark contrast to the absurdly beautiful blue waters of the bay. It is like a goddamn postcard here.

We ventured as far as we could and then went back to this little bar of a restaurant called Allo’s Pizza. So far as Pizza goes, this was legit. He had a full on wood fired oven and hand made our pizza right in front of us. Being in this tropical paradise, we opted for the seafood pizza. Very very tasty. Transporting the leftovers in the basket of the bike proved tricky but we were on our way. Half the way back from cooks bay we stopped at the Supermarche in Maharapa. We loaded up on waters of course and then cheese and bread and fruit juice mixers (For the reposado Patron Tequila we smuggled in). Our backs now overloaded, we got back on our bikes and hoofed it the last 5 or so Kilometers. Our butts were battered and sore just like [insert inappropriate joke here]. We got back to our bungalow and as quick as we could jumped into the water right in front of our porch. This was probably the most refreshing swim in recent memory. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening making up new tequila drinks, reading our books, eating our snacks for dinner and finally going to bed. It was our first full day on the island and we really lived the hell out of it.

Now we are at now, where the sun is now totally risen and it’s almost time for breakfast. The beauty of this island is unimaginable and the best part is we get to spend it together as a newly married couple. Things could not be better.