It’s hard to write this article and describe such a magical and unique place, but the chickens take up the challenge to share this wonderful step. After nearly seven months of traveling in Southeast Asia, we can not deny the fact that we were looking forward to discover Polynesia. Not only for the heavenly images that we all have in mind when talking about Tahiti, but also for the total change of scenary.
Indeed, the chickens wiped what could be called a “little slouch” after this first half of the trip, and Polynesia came at the right time to recharge the batteries and relive a little piece of France from the other side of the globe!
We all grew up with a Polynesian dream in mind. Audrey through Antoine’s VHS tapes looped along with her sister Johanna, Ben through the stories of her friends who visited these islands in the past. Fasten your seatbelts and board on Air Tahiti with us!
Tahiti, the dream in real life
Upon our arrival in Tahiti, a special atmosphere emerges. A mix between the landmarks of our native country and the atmosphere of the islands. Moreover, the yukulele celebrating our descent from the plane in the airport hall is the perfect example. After a a few hours night flight from our stop in New Zealand, it is at early morning that we go to our base camp for the island of Tahiti. Our benefactors and guardian angels Antoine and Marine, friends of friends of the ancestral circle of Guerande expatriates, welcome us like kings and make available to us house, scooter, kayak… A nice economy for the chickens in paradise, but still in backpackers mode! But more than the relief for our budget, it is especially a beautiful meeting of new friends with whom we will not miss to take the drink when they return to Toulouse.
We stay four days on the island of Tahiti to discover its miles and wonders on scooter. But first of all, we rush to the Super U (yes mom, they are everywhere!), to fill up brie, ham and buckwheat crepes! We never forget our roots! The rest of the program is much more immersive: exploration of the main island Tahiti Nui and its paradisiacal beaches with black sand, or white bordering the lagoons, but also waterfalls, caves, lush gardens or marae (traditional sites dedicated to ancestral cults). We also discover the covered market of Pape’ete, an institution. What is striking above all is the calm and serene atmosphere that emanates from the city, and the kindness of its inhabitants. Small things like wreaths of flowers, or frangipani flowers on the ear surprise us, because these little notes are far from being clichés here. It is very clear that the Polynesian culture is still very anchored, which is not to displease the chickens!
The following days are dedicated to the exploration of the peninsula, called Tahiti iti, with its belvedere offering a breathtaking view of the main island. It is also on the peninsula that is located Teahupo’o, the surf spot known worldwide for its wave rather “advantageous” dimensions (our friends riders will speak better than us!). Although being in “high season” we are surprised by the few tourists in Tahiti. The beauty of the place makes the chickens immediately feel extremely lucky to be there. Will follow the discovery of “trailers” of Pape’ete, small snacks where we delight in raw fish with coconut milk, a treat! Without forgetting the “local” shopping, pearls for the lady who is never tires of watching them! Before taking off for the island of Moorea, another Polynesian jewel, we end our little Tahitian stop by a sunseton kayak at the Venus Point, a bay offering a superb panorama of the Tahitian mountains.
Moorea, sparkling little sister
The island of Moorea is located about twenty kilometers from Tahiti (yes the chickens fly for such small distances, it’s like that). It offers a beautiful mix of the beauties of the archipelago as it combines green mountains, lagoons with turquoise waters, and exceptional seabed!
Indeed, we spend eight days on this island, and put our tent in the garden of a beautiful place named Fare Om. It is a community accommodation combining camping, bungalows, dormitories and especially offering delicious buffets to share in the evening. A beautiful address, ideal for budget travelers like us wishing to share a good time with the residents of this place a little bit of a hint with the luxury hotels Polynesian honeymooners or the portfolio a little more packed than the our. Thanks to our new privileged means of transport, the hitchhiking, we go to the discovery of Moorea. Every hitchhiking trip allows us to meet the inhabitants of this island. It is with pleasure that we sit alongside local or tourists various and varied and never having to pray to tell their story and provide us with various explanations on the island, better than a guide!
Once again, the expectations we had on this step are widely verified. The landscapes of Moorea leave us speechless. After discovering the beautiful beach of Tamae, we decide to embark on a hike of 6hours and 30 minutes with some other residents of Fare Om. The game is well worth the candle, as incredible views of the bays of Moorea available to us. You will notice dear readers that we like to specify the duration of our hikes with each article, just to be a little lather when we come back and that you perceive at best the transformation of the chickens!
Believe it or not but we will have a good day of rain. And yes it rains in Polynesia contrary to the dubious predictions of Ben who originally wanted to take a mosquito tent without rain protection! Fortunately, Audrey, skeptical, insisted since the chickens would have spent more than one night soaked in Polynesia!
We take advantage of this “sun break” day to visit the Rotui fruit juice factory, the official supplier of pineapple juice served aboard Air Tahiti. Uh yes Moorea is not New York either, we do what we can as “indoor activity”! The sun again pointing the tip of its nose the next day, it is time to make our first excursion in Polynesia. It is therefore on a snorkeling (fins, mask and snorkel) stingrays, black tip sharks, and humpback whales that we set our sights. And what a choice! We spend an amazing day observing these incredible animals so closely. Audrey literally jumps into the water to swim with the sharks and asks for more, while Ben makes friends with the rays that dazzle in the turquoise water. The highlight of the day is a jump in the water with the whales. After seeing them from the boat, we have the huge chance to see them pass a few meters under our feet once in the water. Sea giant placids fifteen meters long come to breed in the warm waters of Polynesia. Unbelievable. There will be a delicious lunch with our new friend Albane newly fiancee, then visit the turtle conservation center of the Intercontinental Moorea. The chick days are exhausting as you can guess.
The next day, it’s decided, we put away the thumb, and we treat ourselves with a little pleasure. We rent a scooter (it itchy, it’s stronger than us) to go around the island salted hair in the wind and enjoy the wonders of the island. Yes, you will notice that the little Polynesian pleasures are unpretentious for the chickens who approach a way of travel different from their Asian adventures. We are both moved at the sight of magnificent panoramas and we have a big thought for all our loved ones with whom we would like to share all that! Removed from our emotions, coconuts, small beers and pasta with tomato sauce helping, we end the discovery of the island to stroll in the pineapple crops of Moorea. We are even entitled to a small session of discovery of “life coaching” by a resident of our pension wanting to share his job. Very interesting, but for once the chickens know where they want to go and where to live their dreams since they are in it, lucky they are!
It is high time to look at the mountain in the center of the island, to fill up with pasta, tinned and couscous, and to tidy up the tent, the Tuamotus archipelago calls us for twelve days on its paradise atolls! What a chicken life! But that’s for the next article of chickens travelers.
See you soon for the rest of the roast chickens in paradise,
Ben & Audrey