This photograph was taken on our honeymoon in 2004. Located in the South Pacific, Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia. It’s 2,700 miles from Hawaii and 3,500 miles from Australia.
Travelling to Tahiti the day after our wedding probably wasn’t the best idea we’ve ever had. But we weren’t to know our flight would be grounded just before take-off due to failed air conditioning!
Our airport welcome was like no other – it was a very happy place. There singing, dancing and garlands of tropical flowers were placed around our necks. Tahitians and visitors to the country are often seen with a flower in their hair too. It’s a tradition that if you’re single you wear a flower behind your right ear and if you’re spoken for it’s the left.
Our first stop was Tikehau in the Tuamotu Islands which is described as one of the Pacific’s best kept secrets. A beautiful beach bungalow that overlooked low-lying atolls was home for the first few days. We chilled, we snorkeled and we ate. It was our chance to slow down after a hectic few weeks and the perfect start to our honeymoon.
The Society Islands, which include Tahiti itself, are lush and mountainous – a complete contrast to the tranquility of the Tuamoto Islands. Beaches are lined with palm trees and the turquoise lagoons are crystal clear. Moorea (Mo’orea) was formed as a volcano several million years ago and is the result of a geologic hotspot in the mantle under the oceanic plate.
Our accommodation in Moorea was an overwater bungalow with direct access into the lagoon. There you could feed the fish that darted about your legs with bread that was left by staff. At night you’d see fish swimming underneath your coffee table through a glass panel in the floor.
The two restaurants and bar served us well. One evening we got the opportunity to experience a Tahitian dance. A colourful show that mesmerised its audience with fast paced dancing and thunderous drums. The POD Father was one of the lucky visitors invited to join in!
One night we ventured out of the resort for dinner. During our walk to the restaurant we saw the ground was littered with numerous holes around ten inches in diameter. We didn’t know what they were so we crept really slowly for a time. They were crabs – giant land crabs. Hundreds of them would simultaneously dart into the ground when they sensed you approach. We ate on resort after that!
Swimming with sharks and stingrays was our most memorable excursion. The sharks were fed while we were in the water and although slightly nerve wracking it was amazing. Stingrays are beautiful creatures – quite calming to watch. Another trip out saw us travel by jeep up the mountains. It was a hairy journey, terrifying at times, but the panoramic views from the peak were outstanding. We were rewarded by the guide in a local brewery who made us drink c.10 shots one after the other!
Tahiti is the most amazing country and the people there are wonderful. It was a truly memorable honeymoon.
We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story?, a weekly Linky that enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. The Linky for w/c 27th January 2014 is here.
Also joining The Gallery at Sticky Fingers where the prompt for this week is Rewind.
It sounds so heavenly and relaxing and that water looks amazing. Bet it was the perfect break just after your wedding. We went to the Maldives and it all sounds really similar.
It was wonderful Tas – I’d imagine very similar to the Maldives. I must have a root around the loft and find all the photos, this one just happened to be fairly accessible!
Ooh that looked amazing – apart from the crabs!
Thank you Jeannette, it really was. The crabs were very spooky!
Somewhere I have never been but I wish I could beam myself there to enjoy that peace just for a few hours. Looks like it is full of wonderful memories for you.
It was amazing Fiona – and very expensive! I doubt we’ll ever go anywhere like this again but I guess that’s what makes it special. If you go back to New Zealand, it’s definitely worth a look 🙂
That looks so beautiful. Sounds like an amazing place and I would love an airport welcome like that!
It really was – the photo doesn’t really do it justice. Can you imagine an airport welcome like that at Heathrow 🙂
So beautiful! So jealous! We were planning on going to Bora Boa on our honeymoon but a week after we got engaged I found myself unexpected pregnant. Marriage was delayed by several years and we honeymooned in Norfolk with the kids, lovely, but not quite what we’d planned!
Aww you got a beautiful baby instead how wonderful. Norfolk is a wonderful part of the world too. I would love to go to Bora Bora one day 🙂
Wow! Beautiful shot, looks like paradise!
Thank you very much – it was incredible. Probably because it’s somewhere I’m never likely to visit again!
So beautiful. I now want to book a holiday to Tahiti…!
It is amazing there Jocelyn but expensive although we did have that honeymoon mentality! Beautiful most definitely 🙂
Oh my goodness it looks amazing! I’m going to pretend that’s the view from where I am now ;o)
What a wonderful thought Kate, wouldn’t that be nice 🙂
Ah… looks amazing and warm! Oh to be somewhere warm and sunny right now 🙂 My husband didn’t have much time off from work after we got married… So instead we chose a place where we both would love. Went to Hay-on-Wye and went home with a car load of books. Hahaha. Hey, that’s my What’s The Story post for next week! 🙂 xx
Brilliant I look forward to reading all about it Dean. Yours sounds lovely and peaceful – I bet it was great too. How wonderful to see sunshine now, wish it would hurry up and come back 🙂
This has given me a whole different take on What’s the Story? As I read this I was reminded of a trip we took to the Maldives, and I’m thinking I should share some of the stories of our lives before the children. If my blog is a legacy for my kids (and that was the original idea!) then they ought to have the chance to understand their parents a little better, and know something about life before they were born. Epiphany!
Hehe I love doing What’s The Story? posts on our travels before POD arrived. It’s so nice looking back on them as well. Definitely get writing Mrs, would love to hear about the old days 🙂
Love reading your posts so much and what a fab honeymoon this must have been. Those crabs sound a bit scary though……………… #whatsthestory
Thank you so much Cathie, what a lovely thing to say. Those crabs were rather scary – worse probably because it was dark!
OOOh what an amazing place
Thank you Claire, it was fabulous *dreams of being there*
What an amazing place to honeymoon! It looks so beautiful.
It really was – the view of the lagoon was something else. I must find the photos, they’re in the loft somewhere!
I love to read about your travels. Wow looks amazing in Moorea.
I would of loved to have seen food piccies!
I wish i could go there – for now i will just look at your pictures!
Thank you very much – it was wonderful there. Now I would take photos of everything but then I didn’t. Too busy eating and drinking 🙂
It looks and sound amazing, we could do with some of that sun over here.
Wouldn’t that be nice – come on sunshine! Fabulous place *dreams*
Wow, what a totally beautiful photo with a great story behind it!
Thank you very much Kate 🙂
wow – I would love to go to Tahiti! One on the bucket list for sure… so beautiful xx
It is amazing there and the people were so nice – definitely pop it on your bucket list 🙂
It looks so peaceful there. It’s on my wishlist when the kids are older – not that they would be coming mind you 😉
It was just fabulous there, there’s something rather lovely about the sunshine and a lagoon. Perhaps we’re all just hoping for better weather!
A proper adventure! Overwater bungalows – amazing. I would have loved to see all the fish. Looks gorgeous.
It really was Sam, just fabulous. Loved the overwater bungalow, everything was so pretty 🙂
Oh my that looks amazing-it’s one of my ambitions to stay somewhere like that. Maybe one day! You’ve certainly had sone amazing travelling experiences.
Thank you Iona – it was an unforgettable honeymoon that’s for sure. Get it on your bucket list 🙂
Sounds heavenly……..never been on a holiday like this or without the children, would love to go one day
I’m sure you will Kara once they’re bigger. We did lots of travel before POD arrived, just one holiday since 🙂
beautiful picture! it sounds amazing
Thank you Anna, was wonderful 🙂
Oh my word, this sounds idylic – apart from the crabs – ahhhh! Beautiful pictures x
Thank you Vicky – it really was (apart from the crabs!)
You have such wonderful memories – good job I know my left from my right as we intend to visit these sorts of places when the children are bigger.
You definitely should one day, such an amazing experience. We just need to find a way to create some with POD 🙂
I don’t know if I’d be very ken on those crabs! The rest sounds incredibly beautiful and special though 🙂
The crabs were spooky Jenny, quite scary in the dark! A wonderful place though – inside the resort!
Oh my goodness, that sounds idyllic! I have to go there… In about 20 years when all the kids are off my hands (in as much as they ever will be!).
I think that’s when we’ll probably go away again! It’s much nearer to you too 🙂
Oh I loved reading this post and seeing the beautiful blue sea on this grey day at home. What a wonderful honeymoon. You’ve inspired me to share some old memories in future What’s the Story weeks 🙂
You really should Sarah – love reading posts with old photos. Have done quite a lot of pre-POD travel ones but people write posts based on history too. Fascinating!
Oh that looks so beautiful x
Thank you 🙂
i love your travel photographs! that looks amazing!
Thank you Sarah – just goes to show how technology has changed though doesn’t it!
How wonderful and what a perfect place for a honeymoon.
Thank you very much 🙂
Wow, that looks gorgeous. We went to the Cook Islands a few years ago which was also beautiful. I would love to jump into that water right now!!
Oh how fabulous, I bet the Cook Islands are wonderful. Shame the UK doesn’t have these views and temperatures 🙂
I would love to experience swimming with sharks – I hope one day I will
I’m sure you will – it was memorable I’ll say that much 🙂
That looks beautiful. I stayed in a water bungalow in the Maldives, it was great for a no swimmer to just peer over the side and see loads of colourful fish without even needing to get wet!
That sounds utterly divine Mary – it’s quite similar I’m sure. I’d love to do the Maldives one day 🙂
Oh I wish I was there right now. It sounds heavenly!
You and me both 🙂
That looks SO gorgeous… *sigh*
Would love to escape the winter by going there! 😉 xx
It really was Katia – a truly unforgettable place *ponders lottery win*
Wow! That’s gotta be tough to beat!
Not sure we’ll ever be able to Aisha – I guess that’s what makes it special 🙂
It looks beautiful! I must admit I like the ‘crab’ story because it is something that you will never forget!
Very true Helen – the crabs will never be forgotten!
Oh Charly that sounds awesome. You really should write a travel book you know? I have seen images like yours in brochures and always wondered what it would be like in real life! Those crabs sound interesting! xx
That’s a lovely thing to say but I really don’t that would sell! It was an amazing place, if we ever go anywhere like this again it would be amazing 🙂
Wow, it looks and sounds amazing! xxx
Thank you 🙂
That looks like a fantasy honeymoon. You can bet it hasn’t changed a bit. Gorgeous!
I do hope it’s the same Helen, would be such a shame otherwise 🙂
I’ve never been anywhere like that. It looks absolutely stunning and a perfect place for a honeymoon.
I’m sure you will Emily – wonderful experience 🙂
Looks amazing! I’d love to stay in one of those overwater bungalows one day.
If you ever get the opportunity Erica then do, amazing 🙂
Take me there – immediately! This looks like my idea of heaven 🙂
I wish! You would love it there Suzanne *hopes for lottery win*
wow what a paradise! it looks like a page from a travel/holiday brochure. i would have loved ot have enjoyed a holiday in a place like that – i remember dreaming about it in my 20’s but nowadays my idea of a holiday is Butlins lol! i bet it still looks a tranquil now 10 years later x x
It’s funny how things change when you have children isn’t it. I’d be quite happy with any kind of holiday now to be honest! I do hope its the same 🙂
Wow. That looks absolutely stunning! The huge crab holes sound rather scary though!
The speedy crabs and their holes were quite possibly the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen! Beautiful resort though 🙂
What great pictures and story x
Thank you Susan 🙂
such a relaxing photo and the perfect honeymoon, love it! x #thegallery
Thank you Louise 🙂
How amazing – what a gorgeous place to visit for your honeymoon, just beautiful. We went to the Maldives for ours, a holiday of a life time, it was fantastic. X
[…] enjoy writing the travel posts from those carefree days before we were parents – the look back at our Tahitian honeymoon was wonderful. It’s always good to mix it up though so this week we’re exploring a […]