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Thomas on Islands | profile | all galleries >> == Tahiti Islands == >> Bora Bora tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

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Bora Bora

==Tahiti Islands==
< Bora Bora > < Huahine > < Mo`orea > < Tahiti >
Bora Bora, January 2006
Bora Bora Airport is located on Motu Mute, one of the outlying coral islands called motu in Maohi language. From there the first attraction is a ferry ride to your hotel. If you stay on the "main island," the ride will mostly take you to Vaitape, the capitol of Bora Bora.

Bora Bora is probably one of the most fabled places of the South Seas, playground of the 'Rich and Famous,' praised for extraordinary surroundings. The lagoon is beautiful indeed. With the Motu's as a backdrop, the turquoise waters and safe swimming are a joy to experience.

Other than that, the reality is a bit different. Even the "over the water bungalows" look very mundane from up close. Unless you are enclosed in one of the obscenely expensive resorts, some of which do not even let visitors in, you might be confronted with filth, run down places, construction ruins, loose packs of dogs running after you, and even offensive smells on one side of the island.

Think of it as "paradise is a state of mind, rather than a place." This saying is sure valid for Bora Bora! Would we return to Bora Bora? Probably yes, there are things which we have not found or have not done on the island. We would, however, strictly advise you to avoid places charging you $300-$600 per night. In our opinion, it is definitely not worth it! We recommend that you stay at a pensione instead and spend your money on other things.

Our preferred corner of the island is the Matira Peninsula. Our preferred restaurant: ...well, ahem, take a baguette rather than spending $40-$50 for a miserable meal, and we got our share of sub standard food. A very pleasant place for breakfast was Moi Here, Matira Beach, run by a nice Tahitian family and frequented by locals and tourists alike.

0319 Bora Bora upon arrival
0319 Bora Bora upon arrival
0340-Papeete to BoraBora in an  ATR 42
0340-Papeete to BoraBora in an ATR 42
0341 The terminal building
0341 The terminal building
0344 Arrivals
0344 Arrivals
0345-Catamaran to Vaitape
0345-Catamaran to Vaitape
0347 Sculpture at the airport
0347 Sculpture at the airport
0348 Fascinating!
0348 Fascinating!
0355 Departing from Airport
0355 Departing from Airport
0358 Motus across Lagoon, Taha'a on horizon
0358 Motus across Lagoon, Taha'a on horizon
0370 One of the Motus
0370 One of the Motus
0373 Lagoon of Bora Bora
0373 Lagoon of Bora Bora
0378 Overwater Bungalows on Tevairoa
0378 Overwater Bungalows on Tevairoa
0385 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort
0385 Bora Bora Lagoon Resort
0402 Marina in Vaitape
0402 Marina in Vaitape
0406 Vaitape
0406 Vaitape
0405 Friendly locals
0405 Friendly locals
0407 Art Gallery in Vaitape
0407 Art Gallery in Vaitape
0412 Suroundings at Matira Point
0412 Suroundings at Matira Point
0413 Suroundings at Matira Point
0413 Suroundings at Matira Point
0419 Suroundings at Matira Point
0419 Suroundings at Matira Point
0420 Bungalows of Le Maitai
0420 Bungalows of Le Maitai
0425 Our most welcomed cohabitant
0425 Our most welcomed cohabitant
0424 Rough sand on our beach
0424 Rough sand on our beach
0455 Sofitel on a Motu
0455 Sofitel on a Motu
0458 Group of locals
0458 Group of locals
0427 Restaurant in a Van
0427 Restaurant in a Van
0434 Typical local home
0434 Typical local home
0446 Typical local homes of Bora Bora
0446 Typical local homes of Bora Bora
0443 Floral spendor of the tropic
0443 Floral spendor of the tropic
0440 Le Maitai Hotel
0440 Le Maitai Hotel
0438 Le Maitai Restaurant
0438 Le Maitai Restaurant
0442-Bungalows at Le Maitai
0442-Bungalows at Le Maitai
0460-Beach at Le Maitai
0460-Beach at Le Maitai
0588 Vaitape: main place, main parking
0588 Vaitape: main place, main parking
0469 Grave of Alain Gerbault
0469 Grave of Alain Gerbault
0470 In memoriam of Alain Gerbault
0470 In memoriam of Alain Gerbault
0479 Our Billion Dollar Rental
0479 Our Billion Dollar Rental
0480 Local fruit stand
0480 Local fruit stand
0483 Native life
0483 Native life
L309 Native Life
L309 Native Life
0485 Petroglyph
0485 Petroglyph
0492 Marine Museum, closed...
0492 Marine Museum, closed...
0490 The only museum on Bora Bora
0490 The only museum on Bora Bora
0494 A Vahine fishing
0494 A Vahine fishing
0504 Local fruit stand
0504 Local fruit stand
0508 Customer Service
0508 Customer Service
0501 Bora Bora
0501 Bora Bora
L330 Fisher Pier and Resort on a Motu
L330 Fisher Pier and Resort on a Motu
0511 Pictoresque Bora Bora
0511 Pictoresque Bora Bora
0516 Wild Dogs charging at you
0516 Wild Dogs charging at you
0520 Sofitel Motu seen from Matira Beach
0520 Sofitel Motu seen from Matira Beach
0522 Commotion and Construction
0522 Commotion and Construction
0529 Shoreline at Matira
0529 Shoreline at Matira
0537 One of the Motu Taxis
0537 One of the Motu Taxis
0542 Local Live
0542 Local Live
L280 Walking along Matira Point
L280 Walking along Matira Point
L281 Our preferred breakfast place
L281 Our preferred breakfast place
L300 Madame from Moi Here
L300 Madame from Moi Here
L265 Best deal in town: Baguette
L265 Best deal in town: Baguette
L267 Matira beach
L267 Matira beach
P406 A Vahine at the Matira Beach
P406 A Vahine at the Matira Beach
L266 Protection against erosion at Moi Here
L266 Protection against erosion at Moi Here
L401-Visit of a Manta Ray
L401-Visit of a Manta Ray
0567 A Vahine and a Dog
0567 A Vahine and a Dog
L283 Restaurant Faremanuia
L283 Restaurant Faremanuia
0572 Fun Car, a Boxter
0572 Fun Car, a "Boxter"
0578 Noisy but fun to drive
0578 Noisy but fun to drive
0581 No reverse, push back if you must
0581 No reverse, push back if you must
L371 Us
L371 Us
0582 Typical Bora Bora
0582 Typical Bora Bora
0586 Cruise Ship at the entry to Lagoon
0586 Cruise Ship at the entry to Lagoon
0587 Memorizing
0587 Memorizing
0590 Bloody Mary
0590 Bloody Mary
0595 Bloody Mary
0595 Bloody Mary
0597 Long list of celebrities
0597 Long list of celebrities
0599-Family graves
0599-Family graves
0607 Gallery Alain Linda
0607 Gallery Alain Linda
0608 Gallery Alain Linda
0608 Gallery Alain Linda
0611 Just a name, inside are t-shirts and such
0611 Just a name, inside are t-shirts and such
L352 Catch of the day
L352 Catch of the day
L366 Sunrise on Bora Bora
L366 Sunrise on Bora Bora