Posts Tagged ‘tahiti’

Newlyweds enjoying the view from their private overwater bungalow at the Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort

Is wedding planning taking a toll on your relationship (and your sanity)? Relax, it’s natural to feel stressed out by the whirlwind of activity leading up to one of the most momentous days of your life. But once the cake has been served and your guests have left, you deserve a dream honeymoon to help unwind and celebrate. If your ultimate romantic getaway involves warm tropical breezes, sandy secluded beaches and romantic huts over the water then Tahiti (French Polynesia) is where you want to be. Here’s 5 essential tips to help you have the romantic and relaxing Tahitian honeymoon you’ve always dreamed of:

1. Leave your heavy sweaters and coats at home: Blessed with warm tropical weather year-round, Tahiti makes for an ideal destination any time of the year. The islands generally experience two seasons: from June-October when the climate is cooler and drier with average temperatures in the low 80’s and from November-May when the weather is warm and humid with average temperatures in the mid 80’s. Pack light and dress comfortably.

2. Get off the main island: The group of South Pacific Polynesian islands often referred to as “Tahiti” (though officially named “French Polynesia”) is made up of 121 exotic atolls and islands including such gems as Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and Rangiroa. After exploring Tahiti Island and its capital, Papeete, be sure to venture off the beaten track and explore some of the nearby islands for more seclusion and romance. There are seemingly endless pristine white sand beaches, underwater caves, lush waterfalls and coral reefs for you and your partner to discover together.

3. Experience something truly spectacular: What better way to kick off your marriage than by creating memories to last a lifetime? Share a new adventure together by taking advantage of Tahiti’s unforgettable activities such as snorkeling, scuba, shark-diving, surfing, mountain trekking or staying in an overwater bungalow. You’ll return home with not only fond memories to cherish but also great stories to share with your friends and family.

4. Take time to do nothing at all: Life on the islands moves at a remarkably slow pace. Make sure to chill out, relax, unwind, go with the flow and appreciate life’s simple pleasures. Awaken and indulge your senses to the breathtaking bouquet of colors, scents, sounds, textures and flavors that surround you. Enjoy having breakfast in bed delivered to your hut by canoe, sip a fruity cocktail poolside or treat yourself to a full-body massage. Lounging lazily and gazing at the sea never felt so sublime.

5. Bring a copy of your marriage certificate: Nearly all of Tahiti’s resorts, hotels, restaurants and local vendors offer extra perks and discounts for newlyweds. Be sure to bring a copy of your marriage certificate to take advantage of these exclusive discounts and free upgrades.

Don’t let a lack of preparation spoil your honeymoon in paradise. Keep these 5 simple tips in mind and your Tahitian honeymoon is sure to be an idyllic and unforgettable adventure for you and your spouse to cherish forever.

Tahitian cuisine artfully blends French culinary traditions with exceptionally fresh seafood and locally-grown tropical fruits and vegetables such as taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, coconut, papaya and vanilla beans. Poisson Cru, a refreshing mixture of diced raw fish, tomato, cucumber and onion, marinated in lime juice and coconut-milk – similar to Latin ceviche or Hawaiian poke but with the addition of coconut milk and a shorter marinating time – is often touted as Tahiti’s national dish. Although it makes for a delectable introduction to French Polynesian cuisine however, hungry travelers shouldn’t stop there. Tahiti and her islands offer a world of authentic flavors and local favorites that you won’t find on hotel restaurant menus. Here’s a few tips on what, where and how to eat like a local in French Polynesia.

A general rule of thumb when dining abroad is to eat where you see the locals eating. In the neighborhoods around Papeete, you can find congregations of food trucks known as Les Roulettes offering inexpensive meals and snacks such as crepes, Chinese food, Steak Frites, pasta, roasted pork, grilled seafood and fresh nutella waffles. Although certainly a no-frills dining experience, you can plop down in a shady spot by the harbor to enjoy your meal while people watching and taking in the sights. The affordable prices and relaxed atmosphere attract tourists and locals alike late into the night.

For a traditional Tahitian dining experience, attend a special Ahima’a (earth oven) feast, which rural households typically prepare for large family gatherings on Sundays. Preparation of the oven begins with a wood-fire, which is then covered with porous volcanic rock and left to heat until glowing red. Fish, chicken, pork, taro, breadfruit, sweet potato and other ingredients wrapped in coconut-leaf baskets are placed on the stones and covered with layers of banana leaves and sand to trap the heat. The meal is left underground to grill, braise and steam for 3-4 hours before being served on traditional wood plates and eaten with bare hands. For dessert, Poe, a sweet taro pudding flavored with banana, vanilla, papaya or pumpkin and topped with coconut milk is typically served.

Interestingly, one food that you’ll find in most local households but not on restaurant menus is Punu Pua’atoro, canned corned beef or the Tahitian equivalent to Spam. It’s typically pan fried or grilled with onions and served with roasted breadfruit. Crisp, salty and fatty like bacon or sausage, Punu Pua’atoro certainly isn’t the healthiest option but it’s widely enjoyed and deeply revered by the locals. Another French Polynesian specialty you won’t often find in restaurants is, Fafaru, thinly-sliced raw fish marinated in mitiafafaru (fermented seawater) and served with mitihue (fermented coconut milk sauce).

Whether you prefer fine dining, family feasts or street foods, one thing’s for sure: French Polynesian cuisine is best enjoyed in a casual setting by the sea amongst friends and family.  Bon Appetit!

*Check out our 9 Days in Bora Bora package which includes FREE breakfast and dinner daily!

French Polynesia is made up of 121 pristine atolls and islands located in the tropical South Pacific, including popular destinations such as Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine – each one ringed with vibrant coral reefs and overflowing with exotic marine life. Visitors can explore underwater caves, caverns, lagoons and shipwrecks – while swimming alongside friendly dolphins, manta rays, eels, jellyfish, barracuda and tuna. But for those seeking the ultimate thrill, French Polynesia is also home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of great hammerhead, whitetip, blacktip, silvertip and gray reef sharks. Here’s our top 5 places for getting up close and personal with one of the sea’s most magnificent creatures and revered predators.

5. Tahiti: When it comes to shark diving, Tahiti island is the place to get your feet wet. The area’s calm waters and abundant marine-life, which includes small reef sharks, nurse sharks, friendly moray eels and countless schools of dazzlingly bright colored fish, provide a safe yet thrilling experience for beginners. Even novice divers can experience a shark feeding frenzy at the Shark Cave, explore sunken shipwrecks and seaplanes or peer into the deepest depths of the ocean from a sheer cliff located on an underwater plateau at the famed Tahiti Wall.

4. Bora Bora: Renowned worldwide for its stunning topside beauty, Bora Bora also offers some of the world’s best dives. Beginners can swim easily among groups of giant Manta Rays at sites including Anau and the Teavanui Pass, be shadowed underwater by ‘torpedoing’ gray reef sharks at Muri Muri (The White Valley) and feed lemon sharks by hand at Tapu Dive.

3. Huahine: The island’s sleepy, beach-town vibe, modest prices and authentic Polynesian style make it perfect for travelers wanting to get off the beaten track. You can find plenty of reef life surrounding Huahine including leopard rays, tortoise, big napoleons, jacks, eels and barracuda. Dive in at Avepeihi (Fitii’s) Pass for one of the world’s best places to witness gray sharks feeding in their natural habitat.

2. Fakarava: Perhaps the newest and least explored sport diving destination, Fakarava (a designated UNESCO reserve) is one of the world’s best places for viewing big fish and large pelagic animals (tuna, shark, mantas) and for drift diving. Advanced divers can literally flow along with the current at the 2/3 mile wide Garuae Pass and see great hammerhead, whitetips, manta rays and marbled grouper. Intermediate divers can have less challenging yet equally rewarding experience at Tumakohua Pass.

1. Rangiroa: For one of the world’s ultimate diving experiences, come to Rangiroa (the world’s second largest atoll). With exceptionally clear visibility (commonly exceeding 100ft), exhilarating currents and and massive amounts of sharks, rays, turtles, eels, tuna, barraduca and dolphins, divers are in for the thrill of a lifetime. The Pacific Ocean connects with Rangiroa’s gigantic lagoon at the Avatoru Pass and Tiputa Pass, creating an in-and-out flow that results in an unbelievably high concentration of marine life. This area is also one of the best places for spotting great hammerhead sharks and huge numbers of gray reef sharks.

Do you have your own shark diving experience to share? Where are your favorite places to dive in French Polynesian?

Click here to find out what’s included in our 9 Day Diving in Bora Bora, Rangiroa and Fakarava package

Pearls have infinite colours!

            In the past Tahitians only found pearls in oysters that they had originally collected for many different purposes. Inhabitants of Tahiti and her islands collected these oysters so they could use it shells for buttons and if they were lucky it would be gifted with a unique find, a fine pearl. These pearls were of a high rarity and so were very costly.

            The legend goes that Cartier, at the end of the 19th century, bought the building in which it is located currently on 5th Avenue in New York, by selling a single necklace of black pearls. It shows how high valued Tahitian Black Pearls were already 200 years ago.

            Adventure novels are awash with stories that speak of pearls and their mysterious charms … Jack London, Hermann Melville, John Steinbeck, Robert Louis Stevenson, Henry de Monfreid, Albert Londres, have all written captivating stories about pearls.

The symbol of elegance and beauty througout the world: The Tahitian Black Pearl

            If numerous legends attribute mysterious origins to the pearl, a teardrop of a rose that fell into an open shell the night of a full moon, or tears of a goddess … the reality is a little more mundane, its is more likely the intrusion of a grain of sand that the oyster tries to isolate by creating a layer of mother of pearl around the intrusion or that of a little worm that perforates the shell thus creating a pearl.

            In any case, it is often stated that you would have to open 15 to 20 000 oysters just to find a single natural pearl.

As promised, French Polynesia and its 118 marvelous islands will proudly be represented during the Universal Exposition of Shanghai, China. This event will be held from May 1^st to October 31^st and will brighten the topic “A better town for a better life”.

The local government has gathered incredible resources (finances and logistics) for this exhibition that will act like a real “showcase” for Tahiti and her islands. The Shanghai Exposition will allow 200 nations to be represented. More than 70 000 000 visitors and “prospective travelers” are expected during this worldwide event. The logo chosen by the Ministry of Tourism is “steeped in traditional values” it “represents the soul of French Polynesia”, says the Tourism Minister. Tahiti and her islands will even enjoy a “double exposure” through its presence in the pavilion of the Pacific nations and also in the French Pavilion. A 3D picture of the “future” French Polynesian pavilion  has already been presented at a media conference on March 9th. The famous dance group “Tiki Village” of Moorea Island will charm visitors with its demonstrations of traditional Tahitian dance, carving, tattoo and how to wear a “pareo” (traditional piece of fabric used as a dress). This exhibition will not only allow French Polynesia and its “futures” tourists to meet but it will also give the chance to Tahiti and her islands to make new networks in business.

A 3D picture of the "future" pavilion of French Polynesia

“French Polynesia, The Pearl of the Pacific” is finally the metaphor chosen by the local government to be in line with the topic of the World Expo, including the issue focuses on sustainable development. Moreover, Shanghai is called “The Pearl of the East”, an excellent strategic gathering with Bora Bora “The Pearl of the Pacific”, perfect reference of Tahiti and her islands in China. It is finally important to know that the pearl is a symbol of purity in the Chinese culture. Putting the black pearl of Tahiti on the light shows once again that this jewel is symbolism of elegance all around the world. If you don’t want to wait for the exhibition in Shanghai, play with us and win a sublime necklace of black pearls from Tahiti offered by Tahiti Pearl Market.