Bora Bora
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Tue 14 Aug 2012 21:18
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This is the last major island in French Polynesia,
claimed (by the French) to be the most beautiful lagoon island in the world. But
I don't like it much. The town is a dump, choked with traffic (ridiculous for
such a small island, but none of the locals will walk anywhere - and many have
the physique to prove it) and with lots of litter and rubbish everywhere. The
place has clearly fallen on hard times, dependent as it is almost entirely on
tourism. Many of the hotels have closed and people are out of work.
Here is the classic view of BB, taken from
Taha'a:
 The island is about 17m years old, so the land has
sunk and a fringing reef is growing enclosing a large lagoon. Seen from above
(we climbed the peak) it really is beautiful:
   The picture above is looking out to the reef with
the motus. Right in the centre you can just make out the curving lines of
the St Regius hotel's huts, built on stilts out over the lagoon. The motu hotels
are really top class, and contrast with the poverty visible on the main
island.
As usual the walk up the 700m hill was steep
requiring fixed ropes (many of which were too short!) but rewarding. It remains
a thing of mystery to me why the authorities do not properly maintain these
tracks and produce a decent walking guide. I think it is because the locals
simply do not understand walking for leisure; they don't do it, and don't see
how it could generate money. Sad.
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