Tahiti & Bora Bora :

his life.  His most famous art is of  the indigenous peoples in the South Pacific and his most famous paintings are Tahitian Women or On the Beach

As for the cruise, I don’t do cruises anymore, I just don’t care for them at all, but Paul Gauguin changed my mind again.  First of all, everything is complimentary on board food and drinks and a number of onboard activities.  While some of you might not know what I am talking about, if you are a regular cruiser you know that most ships these days nickel and dime you to death.  With Paul Gauguin once you are on board you don’t have to pull your wallet out at all unless you want to enjoy a land excursion, which start at around $100 a person.  However, I just stayed on board and enjoy the solitude of my time on the ship.

There is also a spa onboard with services at an additional cost. I did not indulge, but who can resist a massage since there is little else to worry unless you can’t decide if it will be a pina colada or one of the other daily Tahitian drink specials as the boat cruises along. Whether you decide to go ashore or stay on onboard, every day you get a short newsletter of excursions to choose from on each island as well as what is going on all day like afternoon tea, entertainment, movies and even talks given by the naturalist onboard outlining some of the highlights of French Polynesia.  The newsletter also offers a nice bit of history about the island that the ship will be anchoring at and activities onshore, which are as diverse as diving, snorkeling, kayaking to hiking. This was without a doubt the best cruise I have been on in some time, but it not only had to do with the ship.  The staff were always willing to go beyond the call, well, that and the great food. Cruise prices vary depending on ports of call and number of nights.

Bora Bora InterContinental Le Moarana
After the cruise I arrived on the magical island of Bora Bora with plans to spend my final three nights here.  It was an island I have heard of all my life and was now finally visiting. What to say about Bora Bora, you can feel the strong energy the island exudes. Many vestiges of ancient times still exist on Bora Bora and there is a strong belief in what are called Tupapau are ghosts of the dead.  It is still a common practice on this island to keep a lamp lit at night to ward off the ghosts.  There was also an imposing peak of a mountain that kept following me around from every point while there at the Bora Bora InterContinental La Moarana and next door at the Sofitel.

At the Bora Bora InterContinental Le Moarana I stayed in the standard over-the-water bungalow that Bora Bora is known for around the world. Actually,from some reports this property is said to occupy what some people say is the most beautiful site in French Polynesia. There are two white sand beaches, water sports and interesting cultural activities.  The bungalows stationed over the water offer glass coffee tables inside so you can see the fish swimming underneath and there is also a ladder attached to the bungalow so you can climb down into the water and snorkel.

Bora Bora’s Sofite
On my last night I headed next door to Bora Bora’s Sofitel officially called Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach and Private Island.  The private islands in Tahiti or called Motu’s and when I arrived I was given the grand tour by the most lovely and exuberant General Manager Didier Lamoot who had been there three months.  He is French and recently came from opening a Sofitel in Cambodia.  His plans are to make this particular Sofitel property completely green.  The island does have the only Motu with a hill and that means a breathless 360 degree look at the ocean, the sunset, the island of Bora Bora nearby and the beauty and charm of the entire place. Again, I stayed in an over the water bungalow with a coral reef underneath and a nice glass hole in the floor to see the reef and the fish passing by. One other standout was the spa at the Sofitel.  Set in a bungalow overlooking the water, the air freely flows through the open windows and while there is only one treatment it’s a special massage perfect for pampering and relaxation.

Temanava Tour - Feeding The Sharks
While I spent of my days relaxing in Bora Bora there was the Temanava Tour that took me out of my revelry for a few hours.  You spend ....