25 September 2006

French Polynesia is a group of islands in Pacific, the size of Europe. We decided to see 3 of the islands in the archipelago - Tahiti, Moorea and Bora-Bora.

Tahiti is the largest island of the archipelago. The capital is Papeete and mostly occupied by the French, who work on the official positions, pushing out the local population to the second social class. Officially, French Polynesia (called also Tahiti) is a protectorate of France, in practice, nothing is different from colonization. By the fact that earnings are very high, and most products are imported from France, it is extremely expensive country.

We hitchhiked around the island (120 km), French and locals picked us up with pleasure. They were trying to show us points of interest on our route and inviting us for the night. Views are wonderful - colour lagoons and beaches, and when we looked at the interior we have seen amazing peaks, often higher than 2,000 meters, covered by intense green wild tropical vegetation.

Neighbouring island of Moorea is slightly smaller, but equally beautiful. We crossed it via centre of the island climbing the mountain passes. In this climate that wasn't too easy, huge humid and hot. After staying here a few days we become lazy, overall not able to carry out any physical or mental activity.

We get a luck to embarked on the cargo boat, which sailed on further part of the archipelago. We slept on deck which sometimes was flooding by rainy water, because the roof was leaking. But the trip was generally successful and before we reached Bora Bora, we have seen several other islands, where the ship reload the goods.

Bora Bora is a commercial island, contains lots of exclusive resorts on the beach. Such centres are separated from the local buildings with high walls, giving the impression of the "ghetto" for white man - terrible. Like usually in tourist places hitchhiking was difficult. Despite it I must say that is very beautiful here. The road around the island is only 30 km, and in the centre of the island is the narrow, vertical, never climbed pillar rock. The island is surrounded by several "motu", which are the small islets on the inner reef and could be reached on foot. The water in the lagoon is blue-turquoise, pleasant. But even the cheapest pensions are quite excessive, so we slept on the beach.

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