Polynesian Islands

The pacific Ocean is huge and the first explorers found some of the most beautiful islands in the world. There are thousands of islands that make up Polynesia. Bora Bora is paradise on earth - the most beautiful island on earth. Bora Bora is made up of tiny little islands called motu. The water taxis are expensive and the whole area is made up of five star resorts that will send you broke. But you can stay on a hut over the water for about one hundred dollars a night for the cheap ones. Sometimes you need your own transport to get to your bed. They look after you very well on the posh resorts and you can even swim underneath your own private hut on the water. Breakfast will be delivered by outrigger canoe. The cruise ships stop here so if you want you can make this a stopover on your polynesian cruise.

The only way you can afford it is to get your own little fare on a deserted island and camp out for the night. Bring your own water and food. But make sure you remember to get someone to pick you up after your stay is finished. There are coconuts which will supply you with food and drink, rope, and roofing materials. You can even burn the husks to keep the mosquitoes away. For about fifty dollars you can try a lagoon wildlife tour to go and feed the stingrays. There are hundreds of stingrays and they come out of the water. You can feed them by hand and even kiss them. Stingrays can grow up to twenty feet across and are friendly unless provoked. If you are single avoid the honeymoon resorts. It is great for couples who are just married or who are planning to have the wedding at Bora Bora. It is a perfect honeymoon place, it is romantic and gorgeous. At the markets you can buy the local cloth and woven hats.

The largest island of the Austral islands is Tubuai. In 1788 Captain Bligh was set adrift from Tahiti and was the basis for the famous story of Mutiny of the Bounty. The mutineers landed on the island of Tubuai. The shore where they landed was called Bloody Bay. The islanders re-enact the landing of Fletcher Christian and the mutineers on Tubuai Island. The crew brought gifts of domestic animals in may 1789 and they stayed for months and left with a number of women. The mutineers left Tubuai and sailed for Pitcairn Island.

Rangiroa is an area known for black pearls and nuclear bomb tests. The islanders dive for the oyster shells but mainly grow them in farms after being artificially inseminated in the pearl factory. They are worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Moorea is a great place for feeding sharks. The tahitians believe that the souls of their ancestors live on in the sharks. The sharks are not dangerous at all and you can put on the scuba diving gear and feed them yourself. Diving in the oceans around Moorea you can also see the manta ray and turtles. Manta Rays are the largest rays but are also one of the most gentle creatures of the sea. After the sea, you can visit the interior and trek to the mountains. It takes a full day of walking to get to the top. You will see the waterfalls and lava tubes. You will be in pitch black for over two hours. Crawl through the tunnels and then you have to go by rope to get down in some places. It is certainly an extreme sport just to get up the mountain. Devil's Rock is the toughest part of the climb with a sheer drop on each side. You can stay overnight in the refuge at the top. You can get up at dawn to see the magnificent sunrise above the clouds.

.