Little Lolly's Small Adventures: Pape'ete, Tahiti. Excursion: Tahiti's Natural Treasures.

Pape'ete, Tahiti.

Yesterday evening we attended a yoga class held by the gym instructor, Matt. Balance is still a bit of an issue during a class, on the ship, due to the rocking motion but last night Matt added in one or two poses that required standing. Trying to keep my balance, my foot muscles worked a bit overtime and my foot arch muscles cramped quite a bit. Paul later on suggested to Matt that he do the same pose but in line with the side to side movement of the ship (i.e. facing port and starboard) rather than doing the pose facing fore and aft-ways. It was good fun though in all. As the cruise has gone on and word has got around, more staff have attended the sessions. Some people are more flexible than others but that is the way things are. There has never been any religious aspect associated with the sessions - it has been about relaxation and stretching, and this time around - balance, even though a bit rocky!

Venus Point with its black sand beach.

It was cloudy and overcast when we docked in Pape'ete, Tahiti - no surprise to us because the sun has been struggling to peep out from between the clouds over the past few days.

I'm watching you!

I joined my assigned tour group on the bus and we headed off in an anti-clockwise direction around the island, stopping at Venus Point in the northern part of the island. This was the landing point for Captains Cook, Wallace and Bligh. The point, surrounded by a black sand beach, is also where Captain Cook observed the transit of the planet Venus. There was a lighthouse designed by Robert Louis Stevenson, the Bounty Monument and other commemorative monuments to navigators who made it to the island and created a historic impact there. Near the beach there is also a memorial to the first London Missionary Society Protestant missionaries who made their landfall at Point Venus.

Gaugin Restaurant.

According to our guide, Lydia, there are usually arts and craft stalls but today there was only one open which I visited briefly then took a walk around the grounds/gardens. Part of the waterfront path was undergoing a face-lift but the parts that were re-done were nice. Whilst walking near a flower bed a movement caught my eye but I missed what it was. However I saw a nice hole in the ground and took a peek. There was a crab, and I think that is what I had seen when it darted to its hole. It was too shy to come out even after I remained still for a bit so in the end I left it in peace.

Spring Garden of Vaipahi.

We headed southwards down the east coast and stopped on the south coast at Gaugin Restaurant where we had refreshments. It was a lovely big restaurant on the edge of a bay, surrounded by a nice garden.

Heading up the west coast our next stop as at the Spring Garden of Vaipahi, a beautifully landscaped garden with exotic plants and trees; streams and ponds with lots of water lilies. There was a waterfall but with not much rain recently - it was not as spectacular as it could be. Sod's law - it started to drizzle towards the end of the walk around the gardens. But I didn't mind - the cool rain was a welcome change from the oppressive heat. Thank goodness we were travelling in an air-conditioned bus!

Taharuu black sand beach.

We had a brief stop to see the Taharuu surf beach near a river mouth. There were a few surfers in the water, having a great time. I was very tempted to have a quick swim in my shorts and T-shirt but decided against it. I would not be popular if I got back on the bus dripping wet!

Maraa Sea Grotto.

The final stop on our tour was Maraa Sea Grotto. A fern-lined path led to the grotto inside of which there was a nice natural pool with clear water. Some locals appeared and went in for a dip. How I envied them!

When the tour arrived back at the pier Janos from Shore Excursions handed me a diving gear bag from another bus. Someone had left the bag behind so I took it to the ship's reception to add to their lost property collection. It was noted down in a book and a corresponding ticket was attached to it. Hopefully the guest will collect his bag otherwise he won't be going snorkelling or diving!

The food market.

The shops and markets in town were still open and I felt like going for a walk. Paul couldn't go ashore because the Captain and his wife and gone so I decided to stay on the ship and enjoy the cool cabin. Later on, when the Captain came back, Paul and I took a walk through the small nearby market at the port entrance and wandered a bit around town. Unfortunately, by that time, most of the shops were closed for the day. Near the port gates, alongside the promenade, there was an evening food market - catering vans had parked up on the square and 'opened up shop' for the evening. Tables and chairs were set up around the vans, and menus were
on display. Types of food sold was mainly Chinese fayre or French crepes and pancakes. We decided to have a savoury crepe. It was nice sitting outside in the balmy evening, watching life go by on the promenade and also on the square. The crepes were very filling but delicious. It was a nice treat from the ship's standard menus.

A short sail to Mo'orea

As we headed back to the ship guests and staff were heading off out to explore Papeete's night life and seek out restaurants and bars/pubs. We have an overnight stay in port until 4am tomorrow morning (yes Paul will have to be up at "sparrow's fart"!) and then the ship will head to and anchor in Ōpūnohu Bay just off Mo'orea, which is a short distance from Tahiti.