Island Hopping Day 18: Raiatea, French Polynesia

My fever broke during the night.  As long as I was on medicine, I felt okay; not great but well enough to get out. During the night, I looked at the cruise social media page and there is a flu outbreak!  Of course some people are like me and continuing with their plans and some are saying we are being selfish and exposing others.  Oh well! 

I knew there was a pharmacy near the dock so I was off early to go see what I could get.  I tried to buy some more cold & flu medicine but you needed a prescription which meant I needed to see a doctor so that wasn’t going to happen.  We as Americans are used to being able to buy most medicines easily.  Most countries in the world, do not have over the counter medicines just out and easy to buy like in a grocery store.  I had to talk to a pharmacist and tell her my symptoms and she suggested what she could let me buy.  

This is what $16 gets you.  I wasn’t thrilled that all I could get was ibuprofen and cough drops but knew I would have to rest and hydrate as much as possible.  I also would make me hot water with honey and lemon through out the day and at night would get hot water with salt to take to my room to gargle . . . should have seen the looks I got when I prepared this in the buffet restaurant.

 

I knew being outside would do me good.  At the last minute, I booked an excursion for the Taha’a Cultural Experience.  Our first stop was known as Vanilla Island.  The smell of vanilla as we walked up was amazing!  I found it resourceful that they use coconut husk at the base of the vanilla when planted to keep in the moisture.

The island of Taha'a produces about 80% of all vanilla in French Polynesia.  We were given a introduction to the farm and the process of how vanilla beans are grown and harvested.  I think I heard him say they plants are hand pollinated due to lack of bees.  The pods take at least 9 months to mature followed by 3 months to sun-dry.  I had no idea they looked like green beans until they dry in the sun.

There are 2 types of vanilla in world:  Tahitian Vanilla and Madagascar Vanilla

Next stop was to a pearl farm.  I thought it was just going to be another one of those shopping grabs but it was educational only!

Takes 2 years for the first pearl to form.  I did not take notes and just listened so not much to share on the process.

I never really understood the difference from a cultured pearl and an uncultured (natural) pearl.  I never knew that cultured used human intervention . . . and there was a thing called pearl farms.  It was a very informative talk on the process.  We had a local lunch; I have no idea what it was except for the fresh fruit . . . yes, I was one of the first people in line and it was very good.

With time at the beach.

Our final stop was a motu.  I didn't even bring a swimsuit but enjoyed walking the island and wading in the water.

There were rays that would swim right by you and reef sharks too . . . that's my shadow.

 

It was a good excursion.  Sometimes those last minute decisions turn out to be a good thing.  When I arrived back to my cabin, I had my first (and only) towel animal.

And ended the night still sick . . . so looking forward to a day at sea tomorrow!