Matira Pearls, Bora Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia

Advantages: Beauty beyond compare
Disadvantages: The French and the cost

...Its radioactive we were told. Don't eat it. Paradise lost courtesy of the French. Whilst the rest of the world decided to use computers to test its nuclear bombs the French in an act of outstanding arrogance raped this last Eden by exploding bombs under Polynesia. The feeling amongst the locals is tense. They feel abused and ignored by their colonial masters. The tragedy is that this part of the world posseses some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Moorea, an island a few miles from the capital of Tahiti is everybody's dream of a South Pacific Island whilst Bora Bora's scenery never fails to leave me gasping. Bora Bora is an atoll similar to the one the French test thier bombs on. It is surrounded by a coral reef that traps delicously warm sea water creating the perfect beach envirioment. On land, a massive rock... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Paradise is only a short distance away
Disadvantages: Busy, dirty & a bit noisy

...We visited Papette (the capital of Tahiti) in May 2000. We arrived on a Tuesday night after travelling there on Lan Chile from Auckland. It's worth waiting till you get to Papette airport before changing money as the rate there was better than we got in Auckland. At 11pm on a Tuesday there is NOTHING to do in Papette. The bars & restaurants are closed and the quayside food vans have all gone home. We found Papette surprisingly busy. The main road around the island runs parallel with the shore and runs past the main shopping/restaurant areas. This road has constant traffic from 8.00am till around 8.00pm so it is worth avoiding hotels on this road as they are a bit noisy. French Polynesia is (surprise surprise) French. It is well worth learning a bit of French before you visit. You can easily get by in English but you will get... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: romantic hideaway
Disadvantages: remote

...Looking out the window on this dreary Sunday makes me dream of some sunny beach somewhere in the Southern Seas. I have the most beautiful lagoon of the world in my mind, Bora Bora of the Society Islands, vulgo Tahiti. Or maybe number two - Aitutaki of the Cooks. We are sitting in a small Brazilian made "Embraer Bandeirante" cruising in low altitude across tranquil Southern Pacific waters. It is only a 50 minute flight from Rarotonga, the main island of the Cooks, to the magnificent lagoon of Aitutaki. As we approach the 3 km long landing strip, that used to be an U.S. airforce base in WW II, we can make out the white breakers on the reef and the iridescent shades of turquoise right below… There is even a nine hole golf course with fairways and greens quite differently "groomed" than the likes of Pebble Beach or Augusta... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful