Little Lolly's Small Adventures: Anchored, Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Excursion: Off the Beaten Track by 4x4

The Maasdam anchored not too far from Vaitape on a wonderfully sunny day. The tenders were soon in full swing in this beautiful part of the world.

I joined my assigned tour group at some Land Rovers near the pier. Being a biggish group we were split up between three open air Land Rovers with a shade canopy on the roof. Being the last one to be allocated to a vehicle, I thought I would be left behind. Fortunately one of the drivers asked everyone to move up and make a bit of space for me - just to make things a bit cosier! As it was, there were three chaps sitting on the bench facing my side of the Land Rover but the one chap was quite portly and literally took up two seats. Us four ladies facing the lads were cosy but not squashed.

Pearl Beach Cannon

Our tour consisted of a drive around the island with a view hill viewpoint stops. The upward inclines of the tracks were very steep and we just had to hold on. Either you could be squashed against the tailgate and just about head overboard, or get squashed against the ledge separating us from the front driver's/passenger's seat. We all held on tightly to the sides of the vehicles or roof railings to avoid squashing each other. It did cause a bit of a giggle at times.

Views over the lagoon from the hill stops were spectacular: different colours of water depending on how deep the water was, the surrounding atoll, and more. At one of the hill stops we visited Pearl Beach Cannon on the west side of the island. This overlooked the valley of Faanui and the bay below. The cannon was originally used during WWI and later dismantled and brought over to Bora Bora, piece by piece, and re-assembled for use during WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbour. After all the hard work in bringing it to Bora Bora, the cannon was never used except during training practice. Pearl Beach cannon was one of eight cannons that were brought to the island. Seven have remained on the island after the war.

Part of the tour included a stop at 'The Farm' where black pearls are farmed. A partial demonstration was given of how pearls are cultivated, and we were given a peek into a workshop. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photographs inside the workshop but it was still very interesting. There was a shop where we could buy pearls if we wanted to. One guest came away with a nice earring and pendant set.

Intercontinental Hotel Moana

We were taken to Point Matira where we were able to look out over the lagoon but also taken in the beautiful sights of Intercontinental Hotel Moana. Most of the guests rooms are built on stilts and connected by a wooden walkway over the lagoon. Each room has an outside verandah overlooking the lagoon from which there are steps directly down into the water. Unfortunately a very nice price tag comes with staying there.

The cloth has just been dyed and needs to dry out on a table

Our final stop was in Faanui at a small family business that makes paeros. The women demonstrated how white cloth is twisted and wound into a coil then dipped into different colour dyes. The cloth is unwound and opened up to reveal a pretty pattern and put on a table to dry out in the sun. Pieces of cut out linoleum in the shape of fish, shells, mermaids, etc. were placed strategically on the wet cloth which leaves a pattern on the material when it is finally dry. We were also given a demonstration of how to tie a paero and 5 volunteer guests helped out, much to their delight. Guests could purchase paeros and other items from the small stall.

By the time we had finished watching paeros being dyed we were very hot. As we headed back to the pier in Vaitape our driver/guide thoughtfully handed out cold damp facecloths to help cool us down. It was bliss. The cool breeze, as we drove along, helped a great deal.

I had a brief wander around the indoor market before heading back to the ship. It was just too hot to walk around outside.

Soon after I'd had a nice cool, refreshing shower Paul rang me from somewhere on the ship; advising that an animal lover was needed on deck 6, port-side aft, and to bring a towel. I wasn't too sure what to expect but hurried down, grabbing the bathmat on the way. A large grey-coloured bird with a narrow thin hooked beak seemed to be injured, unable to walk or fly. It had been found when a deck seat had been moved away from the wall for wall repairs. I managed to grab the bird with the bathmat and wrapped it up as gently as I could, leaving its head uncovered. The poor bird put up such a fight, giving me a few good nips around my chest and neck for good measure; as well as attacking my fingers. It hurt a bit but I didn't mind - I didn't want to let the bird go! What to do with it??? Paul and the crew had to work so I ended up going in the tender back to the pier to look for a vet. I was told that the nearest vet was about a 5 minute drive away. I had no money with me but another local, near the indoor market, advised me to go to the Information Centre. She kindly came with me to the Information Centre where a woman behind the desk rang the vet. Unfortunately the vet practice opened at 3pm but the woman told me to leave the bird with her and she would take the bird to the vet's practice when opened in another hour or so. She found a cardboard box into which I carefully put the wrapped up bird in and thanked both women for their help.