2016_04_06 HOME

Well, We're back!

It took a while but we are back home as of 10:10p.m. on Wednesday night.  Started up a bunch of laundry after unpacking - the world's largest rolling duffels did the job.  Once again I am sure we brought way more to wear than was necessary given the fact that laundry facilities were available all along the way.  

Stayed as long as we could yesterday at the Hilton on Moorea.  Rich got a late checkout for one room and we got our bags out of our rooms at 11:00a.m. and piles them all into his room.  He was allowed a 3:00p.m. checkout so Connie and I hung out at the pool until around 1:30 and went back to shower up.  Couples took turns cleaning up and then went to sit in the lobby until it was time to go.  The Hilton provided us transport back to the ferry terminal (same two large vans that brought us there).

Moorea ferry terminal

Got to the ferry terminal early and waited about a half hour for the 4:45 ferry to arrive.  This ferry was smaller than the one we came over on.  Got to Moorea and Sylvia had sent her daughter Eva and son-in-law Charles to pick us up.  Sylvia took us to the airport before the cruise and Rich hired her to take us around so that we wouldn't have to lug our bags around.  Great plan.  Very nice kids - Charles is in his final year of law school and will become a barrister soon!  Eva helps her mother out with the taxi business.

Papeete street scenes shot out the window.

They took us around downtown Papeete for a while "the city tour" and finally to the Blue Banana Restaurant on the water about 20 minutes past the airport.  Interesting to see that we walked right across Tahiti's version of Lake Shore Drive when we arrived before the cruise!  Not much traffic at 1:00a.m.

Moorea across the way

Canoe racing practice!

Charles pulled over as the sun was setting for one final French Polynesian moment.  Much like Florida, a lot of people were down by the water's edge.  We got a wonderful sunset with Moorea as a backdrop!

Parking lot at Blue Banana

Rich was happy!  The worl'd's largest ice bucket!

Our table on the water.

Painting inside - Botero like!

Blue Banana Kid's Room

Nice Tiki

Afterwards we arrived at the Blue Banana Restaurant - highly recommended on Trip Advisor.  We sat at a table that was actually in a pontoon at the edge of the ocean.  There was a blue spotlight looking down into the water and we got one more fish show from the natural aquarium!  The restaurant was packed and the interior tables were pretty hot!  Good thing we had reserved the outside table with some breezes!  

Sylvia, Eva and Charles.  Very nice people.

After one last great dinner we got back to the airport where Sylvia was there to say goodbye to us all. That was really nice!  She had a shell necklace for all of us as well.  The ladies had time to go to the V.A.T. office and get their paperwork stamped to avoid paying taxes on their pearl purchases.  There was a mailbox in which to post the stamped paperwork in a provided envelope. 

One last burst of spending to rid us of the last of our French Polynesian Francs at the stores!

Rich got us all into the airport lounge where we waited to board our plane for the trip back to Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui.  Connie and I had 2 seats on one window/aisle and Richie and Bobi were in the same aisle on the other side of the plane.  2, 4 2 seating arrangement and the space was ok. Not quite United's Mileage Plus space but not really cramped.  The plane was not full and quite a few people in the center 4 section were able to lie down across the seats.  By the time I thought about it they were all "in use".   We were able to get some rest along the way and around 10:00a.m we arrived in Los Angeles.

Said our final good byes to Bobi and Richie and Gayle and Rich and walked over to our terminal - passed thru security one more time and took a bus to the Americal Eagle terminal building.  We had actually been in there before going to Palm Springs one time.  The bus took you right out near the runways!

Our bags were checked through to Chicago so we had to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas first (American never opened a non-stop flight using rewards points.  Somewhere over New Mexico.

Fayetteville terminal.  Location of first Wal-Mart and home of the University of Arkansas.

One last stop before Chicago.

A 3 hour flight got us to Fayetteville and we ate our sandwich with some chips before heading for O'Hare.  Arrived on time around 9:00 and were home by 10:10 - our taxi guy Kamal was there to get us home safely.

A GREAT trip - Rich is already planning our next one - we believe Sri Lanka is next!

2016_04_05 SIGH........

One last day in paradise and we have to come back home later tonight.

Hoping for a later checkout this afternoon from the Hilton as Rich has Hilton Honors Diamond status.  We won't know until later.  At the worst we will check out and have access to a changing room so we can shower up.  

Hilton will transfer us back to the ferry terminal where we already have tickets back to Papeete, Tahiti.  Rich found the number for the taxi lady that took us to the ferry terminal for the cruise.  He has negotiated for her to pick us all up at the ferry terminal and take us around Tahiti for 3 or 4 hours.  Then she will take us to the Blur Lagoon Restaurant early evening and wait for us.  After dinner she will then take us to the airport for out 11:00p.m. flight.  Pretty sweet - we won't have to worry about our luggage the whole day!

There are some customs forms that we have to take care of to avoid paying taxes on our pearl purchases.  We have to physically show the customs agent our purchases.  The customs agents will then stamp our paperwork and we will send one to the pearl farm in an enclosed stamped envelope they provided.  If they receive these documents within 60 days of the purchase they will tear up the charge form for the taxes owed.  So we need to be at the airport a little earlier to facilitate this.

Just got a call from Richie and apparently Rich was able to contact Air Tahiti Nui last night and got our seat assignments on our flight from Papeete to Los Angeles. We could not do it online and no phone......  This is all working out quite nicely.  Now if we could just get American go let us fly directly home from L.A. instead of a stop in Fayetteville, Arkansas (our current itinerary due to using miles).  I looked online and there still are no direct mileage flights available.  So Fayetteville it may be.  We get to do our first Global Entry customs arrival when we land in L.A.  Short line thru customs!

Connie reading and having her coffee on our deck.

I wanted to get a shot of how close the reef is to our bungalows.  Got a couple of snorkelers as a bonus.  Really great roar of the surf crashing on the coral edge of the atoll!  

A "neighbor" reading her iPad across the way.

Room images:

Looking back to the bathroom.  Those two wood panels are mirrors.

Nice rain shower head in the open shower.

From inside the bathroom.  Me in the left mirror taking image.

Nice high ceiling. 

Ok enough writing......  It's just about 8:00 and time to go to the deck for some hot chocolate!

Breakfast around 8:30 at the Hilton (included in our rate) and then some more swimming and paddle boarding until we have to leave.  

Back from breakfast and our old friend has reappeared on Moorea!

We had group images/couples images in front but I left my SD card in the room!  Doh!

Back in the air conditioned room and Connie is trying to slog through 10 days of work emails!  No internet access the entire time on the ship unless you wanted to do things at midnight as I was willing to do.  Connie said "No way, Jose".  It's really hot here today - I may go over by the pool instead of getting in the salt water again.  We have about 4 more hours before we need to shower and leave the Hilton.

Lisa and Bobi paddle board experts?

Connie and Harvey in the Exxon Valdez kayak!

Boys, boys boys!  Richie and Cary, en garde!

2016_04_04 BACK TO MOOREA

Leaving the cruise ship this morning and taking a ferry boat from Tahiti to Moorea (30 minute ride).  We have this afternoon and tomorrow until 2:00p.m. at The Hilton Moorea Lagoon Restaurant and Spa.  We have a bucket list item reserved.  A over-the-water bungalow!

It's 5:30a.m. here right now and I am using the internet from our shared account.  We all hope to have internet individually at the Hilton.  Connie can try to catch up on a week's worth of email's from work.  No contact at all this week.

All bags taken away by ship's personnel last night.  We have to be out of our rooms by 8:00 and then off the ship by 9:30.  So we can have one last breakfast before we get our bags and walk them over to the ferry boat terminal (walking distance from the cruise ship pier).  We will take the 11:30 ferry to Moorea and Hilton will be there to transport us by van to their hotel.

Must be really cold back home.  Not looking forward to coming back to THAT.  Hope to see the Final Four championship game later.  IF they have it on tv at the Hilton.

Rich figured out we could take another ferry boat to Moorea earlier (9:45) so we ate our breakfast and headed to the ferry pier.  A bit of a mixup with bags but eventually we boarded and set sail.

Talking with the "Packer People" at the ferry terminal.  These people from Milwaukee were on the cruise and seemed to be around us on all our excursions.  Now they are going to Moorea for three days at the Bali Hai resort.  More bungalows.

Aremiti Ferry unloaded vehicles and people and we boarded for the trip to Moorea.

Leaving Papeete Harbor

Reef break off Tahiti

Connie looking tan and relaxed!  Her beautiful green eyes are spectacular.

Inside Hilton lobby with a carved Tiki.

Swimming pool.

On the beach with greeting flowers.

By 1:15 we had reached the Hilton - they had 2 vans there to take us and it went flawlessly.  Checked in and had a shared room to dump out stuff in while we hit the beach for a bit.  It's pretty hot and the coral right outside out bungalows not the greatest but......  If we hadn't seen all the other corals we would think this was great.  And guess what - it is.

Connie swimming off our balcony.

Looking towards Cary and Lisa's bungalow.

Inside our bungalow.  Bathroom off to the side.

Rich under our bungalow thru that glass panel.

And some pencil fish?

Not exactly the Auckland Sky Tower plexiglass but pretty cool to look down at the fishes!

Connie on the bungalow deck.

Around 2:00 we were able to move into our individual bungalows.  Rich booked for three of us and we are all in a row facing out to the reef.  Bungalows  99, 98 and 96 (us).  Pretty awesome views.  Cary ind Lisa booked their own and they are also looking to the sea in bungalow 79.

A short while ago room service knocked on our door with a ice bucket and a bottle of champagne and Evian with a box of cookies compliments of Hilton Diamond Honors program.  

We all got a bucket and went over to Richie and Bobi's deck for a party.  Of sorts.

I jumped off their deck into the water for a refreshing dip.  Pretty shallow there - just had to be careful to not step on the coral as I had no flippers or water shoes.

Look how clear the water is here!  Too bad the coral is in such bad shape. 

Dinner tonight at a crepe restaurant.  Not sure if it is just across the street or part of the Hilton.  Maybe a birthday cake for Lisa Claver?  No cake and a interesting dinner of crepes.  We shared a couple of large crepes amongst us for the dinner part and 2 dessert crepes afterwards.  The restaurant WAS on the Hilton property, literally a hundred feet from our bungalow.

Sunset - nice cloud line!

Man, what a difference good internet makes.  Lightning fast here.  I'm just sayin'.  Uploading images in seconds - took 1 1/2 hours to upload 10 or 12 images on the cruise ship.  Starting at midnight to boot!  I hope people enjoys these blogs of mine.  I enjoy doing them!

2016_04_03 HUAHINE

Last excursion didn’t look very good this morning as it was POURING!  Some discussion amongst the group as to if we should even bother.  Never a doubt in Rich Rediker’s mind and we decided to bring rain gear and see what happened.  

Took the tender to the pier in Maroe and eventually found John-Pierre a local Huahine guy with his boat Poetina I.  Jean-Pierre has been on Huahine the last 35 years doing these day boat tours.  His company name is a combination of his two daughter’s names.  Today his niece had come over from Raitea last night on a speedboat to help on the boat.  I bet she got here way faster than we did!  We asked one of the crew what the ship did all night as Huahine was in sight from Raiatea.  They said they went way out to sea to dump waste and replenish water for the ship before docking this morning.

Huahine is actually two islands, Huahine Hui and Huahine Iti with a bridge the road passes over to go from one to the other.  We were on the water most of the day so it isn’t matter to us.

Hilo!  On one of the islands.

Female body shape - face on the left side of the other island.

Local lore has it that a Polynesian guy named Hilo came to Huahine and his “member” id prominently displayed on one island.  150 feet high!  The other island has a female shaped mountain and the legend was that they were forever separated and Hiro’s tears created the lagoons in the middle.

Ready to go under the bridge.

Jean-Pierre at the helm.

First stop was a bit of snorkeling off of a small motu after crossing under the bridge.  We were told to stay on one side of the island as the other side was “dangerous”.  No fins - I tried for a bit but the current was really strong so I got back in after a short look at the coral and fish.  Not really too impressive compared to the other islands.  

Back in the boat and headed towards the river and the sacred blue eyed eels.  On the way we passed a pearl farm and stopped for some shopping.  I got a inexpensive black pearl necklace strand, we got a small set of black pearl earrings for Mackenzie and a mounted drop black pearl for Connie.

The pearl farm in the middle of the lagoon.

Decorative shells on the wall of the pearl farm.

Explaining the pearl making process.

Clam shells are placed in the water like this for 18 months after the clam has been readied for the process.

Getting off the Poetina I heading to see the blue eyed eels.  Jean-Pierre on the left.

Local school.  Quite colorful.

Went quite a way to the river, passing Jean-Pierre’s house along the way.  Walked up a road for a bit passing a local school (closed on Sunday).  Jean-Pierre bought a can of Mackerel and threw it into the water when we got to the spot where the eels stay.  They thrashed around pretty well - hard to see their blue eyes and ears in the glare.

The group in front of the sacred eels sign.

Sacred eels in the muddy river.  Really big suckers!

Closeup of a sacred eel.

Making my Maori face with zinc lip gloss war paint. 

Connie says I would scare no one.

Off to Jean-Pierre’s summer house on another motu where we had our local food lunch.  Quite the operation - he owns a large piece of land with palm trees.  Our lunch was served buffet style on a picnic table in the water.  Bobi and Richie “cooked” the raw tuna ceviche, adding lime juice lettuce, cabbage, carrots and onions and cucumbers.   Cary helped by squeezing coconut “milk" out of raw coconut shavings with a coconut husk.  All tossed togethers for a delicious salad.  Chicken with mushroom and beef stew served over basmati rice.  Dessert was banana and shaved coconut with optional chocolate sauce!  Delicious.  Beef, fruit juice, rum punch and water to drink.

Cary Claver squeezing coconut milk onto our raw fish salad.

Buffet line, motu style.

Lunch!

Eating our lunch in the water!

Posing with Jean-Pierre's family.  They played and sang and danced for us at lunch.

As we finished out lunch Jean-Pierre’s 18 year old son pulled in with his Dad’s second boat Poetina II with 40 or so persons on it.  They were to have a meal of the same food we had further up the beach.  

Jean-Pierre's niece and Lisa Claver on the beach (reef) side.

Connie and Bobi collecting coral pieces on the reef side.

Gayle walking ahead back to the lagoon side of Jean-Pierre's property.

We walked across some land to the sea side edge of the motu and did a bit more snorkeling in shallow water with swift currents due to the waves crashing on the reef.  Coral pretty desolate but people saw quite a few fish.  Since you could pretty much stand I “swam” around for a bit as well trying not to be hurled onto the coral by the waves.  Headed back to the boat and set sail into the harbor.

Last snorkeling in a really fast current.

Rich asked if there was some better snorkeling available and Jean-Pierre took us into the middle of a channel.  The current was REAL strong so everyone just got in a floated down stream.  Gayle and I stayed in the boat looking down and the boat and the snorkelers were really cruising along.

Jean-Pierre basically floated behind the snorkelers and picked them up after a while before we headed back to the ship.

We have been packing in the room as we have to have bags ready by 10:00 tonight if we want the crew to collect them for us tonight.  We have to get off the ship tomorrow back at Papeete at 9:30 so one last dinner tonight at the Red Ginger Asian Restaurant and a breakfast tomorrow until 9:00.

Hard to believe the cruise is almost over!

We will lug our luggage to the ferry terminal (very close) for a 11:30 ferry to Moorea.  Rich has arranged for the Hilton to transport us to our over-the-water bungalow room!  We are all pretty excited to see our rooms!

Last sunset from the Oceana Marina!