Island Hopping Day 12: Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora!  Y’all we have arrived in paradise!  All I can say is what you see in the photos is actually what it looks like.  I am taking a tour around the entire island today . . . it is only about 20 miles to circle the entire island!  I saw someone say to rent a bike and do it but not that adventurous yet.  First stop was Matira Beach.  So blue . . . so clear . . . so quickly we had to leave!

And then you turn around to go back to the bus and this is the view across the street from the beach.  No matter where you look it is beautiful.

Our tour guide was full of great information.  I found it interesting that when women are in the 8^th month of pregnancy they must leave the island as they are not allowed to give birth on the island because there is no hospital.  There is a midwife for emergencies.  So this means that no one (or very few) are actually born on the island of Bora Bora.  I sometimes found myself not listening to the guide and gazing at the views.   

We pulled over to the side of the road and the guide threw out some red hibiscus flowers.  We were all a bit puzzled but in no time the tupa crabs came out and started eating the hibachis flowers and dragging back to their holes.  It was funny.

 

While it was not a super exciting excursion, the guide was excellent and gave good information about the island of Bora Bora and the people.  It’s so lush and beautiful between the vegetation and crystal clear water!
 
There are no cemeteries on the island.  Families bury loved ones in the garden near house. As a result, this makes sure the family does not sell the land and a family member always lives on the land.  Family is forever even if they are six feet under.
 
There are American coastal defense cannons around the island that were built in case needed during WW2.  They were off the main road so was a bit bummed did not get to see any of them but did stop by this old bunker.

Bora Bora is a very popular location for overwater bungalows . . . you know the ones that cost hundreds or thousands per night.  I was shocked at how many were closed and in disrepair.  I guess most people can’t afford to pay that much for one night. 

I walked around the town at the port . . . that was about it as far as shops on the island.  I was amazed at how little there is to do.  I guess most people come to relax and stay at hotel resorts with views like this.

Guess what?  I will be back in a few days!