Turquoise lagoon paradise--Bora Bora

This remarkable island is the one most commonly associated with Bali Hai, and for good reason.  It's covered with lush vegetation and though it has a population of 10,605, it seems untouched by modern influences.  There are some 4 star hotels, but even they are built to resemble Polynesian grass huts on stilts.  The mountain had such steep sides that there is just a thin area on the perimeter of the island that is level enough to build on.  It is surrounded by a lagoon (painted in the most incredible colors of turquoise and emerald) within a barrier reef.  The reef is made up of "motus" or islets which are connected or not depending on the tides.

David and I went on different excursions for the morning.  He got on a glass bottom boat for a cruise around the lagoon.







With a little chumming, the beautiful tropical fish could be seen through the glass.

I got on another boat which took us to a private motu.  After wading ashore, we could explore, swim, snorkel, and just relax.

Refreshments were served and a little impromptu dancing with  musical accompaniment.

While wandering the island, I think I learned why the coconut palms frequently have a curved trunk.  The tree sprouts from the fallen coconut which is lying on it's side.  The tree does its best to grow toward the sun, but can't overcome its horizontal beginnings.

From our private motu, we went to where stingrays and black-tipped sharks know they will be fed by the guides.  We got out of the boat to do a little snorkeling and petting of the stingrays--but not the sharks.  David wasn't there to take pictures, but I was in the water then, and again when we were taken to a coral garden where the snorkeling was even better.  My first time snorkeling was seven years ago in the Red Sea, so I was glad I could still do it.

This is one of the hotels that surround the island.  Much of the lagoon is quite shallow and really that color!

In the afternoon, David and I both went on "Le Truck"--a wooden sided, open-air bus of sorts in which we were driven on the 19-mile perimeter road.  I wish I'd taken a picture of Le Truck, as it was quite a primitive form of transportation. Our first stop was the bar, Bloody Mary.  It was founded in 1979, long after the movie, "South Pacific" was made, but it's become famous and sports a sign out front with the names of the famous people who have been there,





I thought this "dry dock" apparatus  we saw all around the island was interesting.

We stopped again to see a demonstration of how the pareo, or sarong is made. White cotton fabric, made in China, is tie-dyed, then linoleum designs are placed on the fabric and allowed to sit in the sun.  The linoleum absorbs some of the die and leaves the imprint of the design in lighter colors.  We got a demonstration of how to tie the pareo for both women and men.

After tendering back to the Sun, we sailed away from Bora Bora.  David and I sat on our veranda taking some last pictures of this island paradise.  When we had cleared the outer edge of the lagoon, this boat came alongside to pick up the pilot.  As soon as they pulled away, our captain let out three long blasts to say goodbye.

One last shot of this incredible spot.  It will take us the next 37 hours to travel the 538 nautical miles to Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands.