French Polynesia has never been on my bucket list – a bucket that honestly only has a couple of names in it, not because I’ve been everywhere I ever wanted to, but because I never really have a destination in mind when I start planning my next adventure. Bora Bora and Tahiti now belong to the list of places I never thought I’d visit, along with many others that I visited on a whim and absolutely adored.
(“Slowly, but surely”, seems to be the way for islanders all around the world)
The first few months of 2023 have been riddled with gloom – literally and metaphorically. Travel planning felt like a heavy task, along with most fun things. I admit I lost myself a bit during those months.
Waking up from that slumber thankfully did not take long (raise your hand if you’re grateful you’re into therapy!). Once awaken, there were two things I immediately knew I had to do: move away from my current place, and go traveling. Both things are most surely accomplished, both in the easiest, most comfortable ways possible. And both leading me to sunny, colorful destinations.
(Sizzling my white skin since the 80’s, what’s your super power?)
I did a lot of research before booking my tickets to Tahiti and Bora Bora, and by that I mean those were the cheapest tickets I could find for the timeline I was wanting to travel. Worried about the rumor of how expensive these two destinations can be, I looked up accommodation options and there were some pretty affordable ones, walking distance from points of interest (i.e. the beach). And that’s all I needed to make up my mind.
Cue a few weeks later, I am sitting on a white sand beach with turquoise waters licking my feet, blood red hibiscus in my hair, glad to have taken another solo leap of faith. A bit sunburned, sure, however my skin is familiar with the sensation, if not welcoming it.
(When the ocean and your butt wear the same turquoise color)
I spent a couple of days in Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia. I very immediately learned that that’s the place to buy some very special and unique pearls, and smiling as I remember Kavafis’ poem Ithaca, I indulged. A busy place both with locals and mostly transit travelers like me, it’s worth spending some time people-watching.
(Bora Bora loves fulling around with all 5 senses at once)
I decided to spend the majority of my time in Bora Bora, an absolutely breathtaking destination and absolutely worth the hype. Although this is not my first time swimming in beautiful, clean, turquoise waters (Porto Katsiki in Leukada, Greece, Paje in Zanzibar, Tanzania and now Matira in Bora Bora sit snuggly on the top of Lina’s best beaches list), this never gets old. Bora Bora is colorful, it is alive with all kinds of creatures (from stingrays to crabs to wild orchids to baby chicks to ocean birds), it’s full of trees heavy with within-your-hand’s-reach fruits, and it is welcoming and safe. The locals will go out of their way to assist even if they don’t speak English, and they always spare a Lo Orana! (hello in Tahitian) to anyone crossing their path.
(Eating a mango offered by a lady sitting next to me, adding Bora Bora to the list of places I’ve teared up because of the locals’ kindness)
As with all other places I just happened to travel to because it fit my path, I am very happy that Bora Bora was the place I chose to offer me my first swim of 2023. And as with every other place I’ve been, I hope my path brings me back one day. However, the thing I am the happiest about, is seeing the clouds finally dispersing.
(My green thumb, and my heart, ache seeing this wild orchid thriving on the side of the road, just because she can)