4/15/18
After our ferry ride to the main island, we were met by Teava and Vaihere, our very friendly and very excited hosts. The car ride to their airbnb was filled with so much laughter. There place had 2 rooms, a bungalow, and 3 tents you could rent. We had rented a room, but they upgraded us for free to the bungalow b/c it was our honeymoon. It was a really cool airbnb, kind of like a small hostel. It was right across the road from a little beach and within walking distance of the famous matira beach. They are trying to be green with recycling, compost, rainwater use, and solar panels. They had a cute cat, gris gris, as well. At the pension was Martin (slovakian pro cyclist), a swiss guy, a french guy, and 2 Romanians. We went to dinner, as it was late, at a fancy wood-fired pizza place.
4/16/18
Teava gave us a ride to Viatape with Martin where we started the climb to Mt. ???? and Mt. Pahia, 2 of Bora's iconic summits. We at first had some trouble finding the trail b/c we weren't dropped off at the normal place, but then we eventually found the trail. It was a steep and slippery climb, but ropes helped out on the rock climbing part. The views on top were absolutely stunning! We could see the shimmering lagoon, other islands and motus (including the heart island (Tupe), and the highest peak Otemanu. It's impossible to climb Otemanu, and it's never been climbed. We could also see the super fancy over-water bungalows, including the one where Rick and Shannon stayed on their honeymoon. We couldn't quite get to the top of Pahia b/c we didn't trust the rope on the last cliff portion with a 2,000 foot drop off below, but the view from the other peak we climbed had just as good of a view.
After the hike, we explored Viatape a bit. We were all pretty dehydrated. Elisha got a hot dog, and then we hitched a ride back to the pension. We went to a small market to get some food and made chicken curry for dinner. Vaihere played ukulele while we all sat around and had dinner and hinano beer.
4/17/18
We took a lagoon tour with Nono tours (yes-yes to Nono) w/ Martin and Mark (from Switzerland0. The tour was incredible! The water color, just indescribable. So many shades of blue! We snorkeled at a spot in the lagoon where we could feed and pet stingrays. Really cool! There were also lots of black-tipped reef sharks. We continued cruising around the island with beautiful mountain and water views. We stopped for lunch at a private motu with a beautiful lagoon. The guide climbed a coconut tree, got us coconuts, and then cut them open for us. They prepared a huge, delicious polynesian feast of grilled (over fire) tuna, raw tuna salad, taro, breadfruit, manioc, plantains, and coconut cake for dessert. We also had banana, pineapple, watermelon, and coconut for fruit. The 2nd guide played ukulele and sang while we ate (something he also did while we were boating). After the meal, we all danced polynesian style, then headed out again. We cruised past an American WWII bunkder, fancy over-water bungalows (including where Rick stayed at the Intercontinental). We then went to a coral garden to snorkel where there was amazing tropical fish.
After the tour, we showered real quick and then we, along with Martin and the french guy, climbed the steep trail up to Otemanu cave (located at the bottom of the cliffs of the tallest peak on the island). It was a steep climb with lots of ropes, but had nice views. We hiked down after sunset and did the last 1/2 in the dark with flashlights. At the bottom of the hike we had some streetfood for a snack and then made a chicken and rice dish back at the pension.
4/18/18
We got up before sunrise and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise from the lagoon near the pension. We then took beach cruisers and road a circle around the island (20 miles). We stopped at some US canons from WWII, which had great views of the peaks. We made it back for breakfast and then took off to the airport. The boat ride to the airport (this time during the day) was stunning, going through the surreal water and with views of the Bora Bora peaks. The airport is super beautiful with the clear turquoise water and the mountain views. I don't know if there is a more picturesque airport in the world!
We had a great time in Bora. The pension was amazing. It was well set up and the couple was so nice. Taeva had such a great laugh and sense of humor. And Vaihere was just so nice and sweet.
After our ferry ride to the main island, we were met by Teava and Vaihere, our very friendly and very excited hosts. The car ride to their airbnb was filled with so much laughter. There place had 2 rooms, a bungalow, and 3 tents you could rent. We had rented a room, but they upgraded us for free to the bungalow b/c it was our honeymoon. It was a really cool airbnb, kind of like a small hostel. It was right across the road from a little beach and within walking distance of the famous matira beach. They are trying to be green with recycling, compost, rainwater use, and solar panels. They had a cute cat, gris gris, as well. At the pension was Martin (slovakian pro cyclist), a swiss guy, a french guy, and 2 Romanians. We went to dinner, as it was late, at a fancy wood-fired pizza place.
4/16/18
Teava gave us a ride to Viatape with Martin where we started the climb to Mt. ???? and Mt. Pahia, 2 of Bora's iconic summits. We at first had some trouble finding the trail b/c we weren't dropped off at the normal place, but then we eventually found the trail. It was a steep and slippery climb, but ropes helped out on the rock climbing part. The views on top were absolutely stunning! We could see the shimmering lagoon, other islands and motus (including the heart island (Tupe), and the highest peak Otemanu. It's impossible to climb Otemanu, and it's never been climbed. We could also see the super fancy over-water bungalows, including the one where Rick and Shannon stayed on their honeymoon. We couldn't quite get to the top of Pahia b/c we didn't trust the rope on the last cliff portion with a 2,000 foot drop off below, but the view from the other peak we climbed had just as good of a view.
After the hike, we explored Viatape a bit. We were all pretty dehydrated. Elisha got a hot dog, and then we hitched a ride back to the pension. We went to a small market to get some food and made chicken curry for dinner. Vaihere played ukulele while we all sat around and had dinner and hinano beer.
4/17/18
We took a lagoon tour with Nono tours (yes-yes to Nono) w/ Martin and Mark (from Switzerland0. The tour was incredible! The water color, just indescribable. So many shades of blue! We snorkeled at a spot in the lagoon where we could feed and pet stingrays. Really cool! There were also lots of black-tipped reef sharks. We continued cruising around the island with beautiful mountain and water views. We stopped for lunch at a private motu with a beautiful lagoon. The guide climbed a coconut tree, got us coconuts, and then cut them open for us. They prepared a huge, delicious polynesian feast of grilled (over fire) tuna, raw tuna salad, taro, breadfruit, manioc, plantains, and coconut cake for dessert. We also had banana, pineapple, watermelon, and coconut for fruit. The 2nd guide played ukulele and sang while we ate (something he also did while we were boating). After the meal, we all danced polynesian style, then headed out again. We cruised past an American WWII bunkder, fancy over-water bungalows (including where Rick stayed at the Intercontinental). We then went to a coral garden to snorkel where there was amazing tropical fish.
After the tour, we showered real quick and then we, along with Martin and the french guy, climbed the steep trail up to Otemanu cave (located at the bottom of the cliffs of the tallest peak on the island). It was a steep climb with lots of ropes, but had nice views. We hiked down after sunset and did the last 1/2 in the dark with flashlights. At the bottom of the hike we had some streetfood for a snack and then made a chicken and rice dish back at the pension.
4/18/18
We got up before sunrise and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise from the lagoon near the pension. We then took beach cruisers and road a circle around the island (20 miles). We stopped at some US canons from WWII, which had great views of the peaks. We made it back for breakfast and then took off to the airport. The boat ride to the airport (this time during the day) was stunning, going through the surreal water and with views of the Bora Bora peaks. The airport is super beautiful with the clear turquoise water and the mountain views. I don't know if there is a more picturesque airport in the world!
We had a great time in Bora. The pension was amazing. It was well set up and the couple was so nice. Taeva had such a great laugh and sense of humor. And Vaihere was just so nice and sweet.
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