Bora Bora 1st Bimble
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 19 Sep 2013 22:37
Our First Bimble to Vaitape,
Bora Bora
For most people Bora Bora’s
lagoon is one of the most beautiful in the world. It would be to us too
had we seen it the first time flying in for a holiday. We have been so spoilt
coming up on so many beautiful islands in the Societies that Bora Bora looks in
many ways very similar, the reef collar, the lagoon and the mountain in the
background. We came in on the other side to where the above picture was taken.
The smoke from the fire, no sun and the heavy, heavy wind gusts didn’t help in
the least. Still very thrilled to be here though.
This according to the skipper is ‘my island’ so
therefore a bit of research and compare the brochure with reality and see what
we come up with.
A 4x4 tour is a great way to see the island. The
internet suggests a price of around $89. I email Patrick Tours and got a quote
of $241 for the two of us, so perhaps a hire car for four hours then.
Snorkeling and scuba diving in and around the
lagoon of Bora Bora are popular activities. We found a submarine tour from $264
per person. Snorkeling in a helmet from $108. Stand up surfing from $109 for one
and a half an hour (each). Kite surfing from $223. Parasailing from $299.
Premium prices eh.
Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the
surrounding body of water. There are a few dive operators on the island offering
manta ray dives and also shark-feeding dives. Boat trip for two hours from $387
(Baby Beez it is then).
Fishing for half a day from $491. Sport fishing
from $837. Honeymoon picture tour from $365.
In addition to the existing islands of Bora Bora,
the new manmade motu of Motu Marfo has been added in the northeastern corner of
the lagoon on the property of the St. Regis Resort. A picnic on a motu for six
hours from $707 per couple.
Helicopter ride, the romantic way to see the
island. Helicopter ride for fifteen minutes from $305, add $107 if you want to
be picked up from your hotel. For half an hour from $659, add $85 for pick up.
Give him his due, we think it’s himself who is currently putting out the fire.
So all praise to him.
Right then. Shanks's Pony it is then. We leave Baby Beez on the dock outside Maikai Restaurant and walk into Vaitape to explore. Fire still going. Great paint job and Bear pointed out a wonderful car port.
We found a 50% off shop, mostly tut, but I did get Bear to check out a particularly ugly tiger. His varnish was all crazed and his original price was $450, now $390 (maybe he’s half that now). We still cannot see anyone racing in and snatching him up.
We bimbled around the Super U and found it to be well stocked.
In the alcohol aisle, naturally. Gentleman Jack was £52.86. Absolut £35.30. Moet £79.30 and Baileys £26.01 (the small size that MOTH and I can fell at a single sitting, so not here then. I did find a rose Gris at £7.74 and Bear found a Corbiere at £6.10, both for our all day party tomorrow. We have hatched a plan to cob a squat tomorrow as a day off, with treats.
Bear went off for a nozz. I continued comparing. Uncle Ben auto rice has been exquisitely expensive since Panama, funnily enough the plain long grain was £2.90, Basmati £2.97. Compared with the fancy flavours which came in at £2.79. A MUST HAVE, I found Bear’s Christmas sprouts at £1.77, for the big tin. Oh how wonderful, thank you. You’re on your own if they are as squidgy as last years tin. Mmmm.
Off along the road again, Bear loved this front
garden.
Chaps everywhere,
reeking havoc with their inappropriate hole digging. We waited patiently while
this ferry was pulled out from its service
bay.
A village to our
left. Amazing how this hibiscus has taken on
the exact shade of the bougainvillea it is climbing
through.
On the right was a ‘shopping centre’, but if you took out the pearl shops,
there was only a tiny café, an electrical store and a tee shirt
shop.
A lovely church.
A little way passed, we turned to see our
little friend was still busy in the
helicopter.
We bimble around the Artisanal. Must be Zzzzz’z time.
Definitely Zzzz’z
after lunch then. Time for a snack in a clean, little
eatery.
Saint Pierre
Celestin, has got to be the church with the prettiest, most awesome
backdrop ever.
A darling little place of humble worship.
I asked Bear to
pose by a lady, of course he did. Then the sun came out. Time for an ice
cream. We found a chirpy
Frenchman with an electric scraper. The thinnest slivers of ice were
patted down and up to three flavours added. Bear had a
medium with Strawberr and cherry. I saw the size of his and plumped for a
small with just strawberry. We went and sat by the
town quay and watched the world go by for a time before visiting the
Information Centre. We learned from the lady, that the Club Med (closed for
three years) site has been bought by an Australian to use as his own private
vacation venue. He also plans to build a new Titanic ???? Our final touristy
shop for the day was quite painful in regard to prices, clearly the place that
those who don’t need to budget feel at home in. A tiny spoon carved from a shell
was $39. The exact shirt I bought for Bear’s birthday, which cost me $29, the
lady proudly sashayed in front of me for $99, without a glimmer of guilt. “Duty
free prices” she said gaily. Let me out. I’m right
behind you. The tiny but well equipped fire
station. Don’t ask, I
didn’t. Crossing a tiny inlet, we looked down to see
an eel sunning itself (only half as wide as the
beasts we saw on Huahine. Thousands of shrimp wiggled
in the shallows.
Time to bimble back to Super U, shop, deliver
back to Beez and be out in time for happy hour and date night at the Maikai
Restaurant. ALL IN ALL A LOVELY
BIMBLE
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