Arrived in Papeete at last! I've wanted to come here for like 20 years. We got in at 4am and layed in a cement alley until the pension opened. I was awoken in the night not once but THREE times by a creepy old french man with a foot fetish. He was tickling, stroking and generally touching my toes without permission. Luckily I speak fluent body language and communicated that if he did it again I would kick him in the neck.
On a brighter note, we had great luck hitching around Papeete - the first car stopped about 7 seconds after the thumbs went up. Got a ride to the music festival in Arue. French rap, Brazilian bateria, super good time. Also saw angelic church singing the next night at the cathedral. Went out dancing and managed to woo a couple Tahitian boys despite the language barrier, they were fun, but ended up being COPS! yipes a roo.....
Took off for Moorea where we camped, drank Hinano, hung out with our new Swiss and Italian buddies, swam, played gin rummy, snorkeled to a tiny island and napped. It was really stressful. We also watched a dance troupe practice every night. Currently reading: The Constant Gardener
Back to Tahiti Nui to get groceries, cold Hinano and flowers to make welcome leis for Seren and Belle. They turned out nice and we added shells. Took them to Faa'a at 5am and was really really happy to see two of my beautiful sisters. We had a mellow day in the city walkin around, browsing music, eating, visiting the Pearl museum to see the largest pearl in the world and watching the canoe races. Slept soundly at Chez Myrna despite Belle's cockroach screams.
The next day I rented a car for us to see the whole circumference of Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti. It took most of the day and was a good time. Met the Knights, relatives of the Koenigs, picked up our peanut butter ; ) and watched Step Brothers, aka Demi Freres. TeeHEE! Rent it.
The next day we had a delightful breakfast with lattes and pain au chocolat, and hitched to the airport to fly to Fakarava, courtesy of Seren. Thanks didi! We joined a family on their sail boat for about 5 days - Sofie, Didier, Chloe, Nino and his friend David. Immediately went snorkeling - when we got back there were 6 hot sailors from Brazil and Denmark on our boat! We partied all night on several vessels, went for a night swim and drank far too much rum. The rest of our stay involved eating, scuba diving, paddle boarding, seeing sharks while we snorkeled in the most epic coral reefs in the world, fresh fish 24/7, cocktails, good books and island romps. It was so pretty here it looked like a mirage - one of those posters with turquoise water, white sand and a leaning palm.
After visiting a pearl farm we went back to Tahiti where Kavika kindly took us in for a couple days. He drove us up to a valley to play in the river with Manoa and Hanalei, his kiddos. Very pristine place to have a picnic. Ran into our sailor boyz back in the city and a long tipsy lunch with them at our favorite brewery, Le Trois Brasseurs. Went to their boat, Destino Canela, for Hinanos and giggles, and back again that night for more partying. These guys are funny as.
Went back to Moorea to stay at a family friends home in gorgeous Opunohu Bay. Prettiest place I've ever seen. We made friends with some Marquesan workers who were cutting trees and partied with them the whole time. Our host Georgina was weird and delightful. Went swimming and kayaking, bbq'd and relaxed.
Sad to see the girls go but we had a great last night at the Brewery - the waitress knows our order by now. I ran into my old Tahitian dance teacher JoAnn! That was a trip. She was here for Heiva also, the big dance festival we went to for our last night all together. It was incredible choreography and costumes, and the drumming was beyond amazing.
After the girls left Koos and me went back Moorea again and stayed on Kavikas other property. Hung out with the grounds keeper Jimmy, who used to roll with Marlon Brando. Funny man. Rode bikes around, snorkeled and saw lion fish! Threw some sea cukes at Koos' head. Just for a laugh. Soaked up the relaxation before heading back to Papeete for one more night of eating, drinking and flirting at the brewery.
After a loooong flight we got to LA and had a burrito right away. Then we caught up on our goss with the celeb mags. I can't believe Jon and Kate plus 8 broke up. And RIP MJ. It was a grand adventure, this trip. Learned a lot, made friends and bonded with the one and only Koos even more. Can't wait to see everyone I missed at the reunion party! I'm home and settling down and starting to work again. Next up: Eurotrip 2010! Thank you Boondoggle Gods, for blessing us once again.
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