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.