After a day at sea, we returned to the Society archipelago to visit Motu Mahaea and Bora Bora. Motu Mahaea was a small island where  Windstar grilled American food and offered water sports. I finally stood on paddle board, fell in water 5 times but always got back up only to fall down again!Went in kayak but mostly snorkeled around the small motu.

Approaching the island of Bora Bora by sea is enchanting. I have approached islands of French Guyana, Caribbean, Hawaii but Bora Bora’s peaks are majestic.

Snorkeling with black tipped sharks, sting rays and spotted a camouflage eel was the highlight of my trip. It is possible to travel by ferry, then taxi to hotel. But lodging is high end and expensive.

Walking around Vaitape, capital of Bora Bora is eye-opening. Unlike Hawaii, these islands are authentic. From the one lane paved road, there is an abundance of local fruit: bananas, mangoes, papayas and groves of pineapple too. Many of the houses have corrugated roofing, but they all have a boat landing if they’re on the waterside and many have cars or scooters, reflecting resources. The dogs, cats and chickens cross the road, always one dog is limping. From the one lane road, I passed a dentist, an eye doctor, & vet medicine, likely visiting services. You see everything on the road. A young man pulling a wheelie on his motorcycle, a two year-old fast asleep in mother’s lap on scooter, a tourist filming from back seat of scooter, a Mother and 2 kids riding a scooter. A bicyclist with baguette in the basket. Everyone wears helmets, likely French law. And dead crabs dot the road. If you want to find the market on Sunday look for the cars and you’ll find Chin Lee, a general store similar to Hasegawa in Hana, Maui.

Shopping in town of Bora Bora is fun! Maybe one block, mostly French run greeted in French but Polynesians selling too. Tahitian pearls in every setting imaginable and home made dresses and shirts available at high prices $150 for a shift without pockets. Tahitian pearls come with diamonds marking up prices but we found more reasonable pearls set in beads.