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Bora Bora 2016 - A day and a half in January

Spent a day and a half on Bora Bora on an Oceania cruise in January 2016. Bora Bora, part of Society Islands in French Polynesia, is a very beautiful place, with Mount Otemanu dominating the landscape at every turn. We did "Le Truck" and "Aquasafari" (helmet dive) excursions, and I explored the town of Vaitape on my own. I met someone who took me up the hill a way to show me the view from there. Saw the most fabulous sunset I've seen in my life, but my camera battery had just died and I had no spare. By the time I got back to the ship, the show was over. I'll remember it for a long time, though. Mauruuru, Bora Bora, for making my day and a half in the Society Islands one of the highlights of my cruise.

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Photos by Ruth and Howard Rosenthal; all images are copyright Ruth & Howard Rosenthal Jan. 2016
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Got out of the ship's medical center (raging sinus infection) just in time to see gorgeous sail in (bungalows & colorful water)
Got out of the ship's medical center (raging sinus infection) just in time to see gorgeous sail in (bungalows & colorful water)		 Mount Otemanu from ship as it sailed into the lagoon
Mount Otemanu from ship as it sailed into the lagoon		 We anchored in the shadow of mighty Mount Otemanu
We anchored in the shadow of mighty Mount Otemanu		 Vaitape's Protestant hat church with flowers wasn't far from tender pier
Vaitape's Protestant "hat" church with flowers wasn't far from tender pier		 Took Le Truck excursion, which circled the island with 4 or 5 short stops.
Took "Le Truck" excursion, which circled the island with 4 or 5 short stops.		 Tour stopped at a batik store for about a half hour for demo
Tour stopped at a batik store for about a half hour for demo
Batik demo on Le Truck tour 1st day
Batik demo on Le Truck tour 1st day		 Beautiful pareos ($25-35)
Beautiful pareos ($25-35)		 Bathrooms at batik store. Drawings were confusing but we figured out which represented men & which women
Bathrooms at batik store. Drawings were confusing but we figured out which represented men & which women		 French Polynesian petroglyphs
French Polynesian petroglyphs		 Beautiful scenery with (as always) palms and mountain
Beautiful scenery with (as always) palms and mountain		 Typical scene
Typical scene
Crabs make holes everywhere - here they're dragging flowers into hole
Crabs make holes everywhere - here they're dragging flowers into hole		 CeCe mugging for Howard up the road a bit
CeCe mugging for Howard up the road a bit		 Beautiful water, palms, bungalows on/near Matira Beach ($500 and up per night)
Beautiful water, palms, bungalows on/near Matira Beach ($500 and up per night)		 Howard's postcard shot
Howard's postcard shot		 Saw Dominic & CeCe down the shore a way
Saw Dominic & CeCe down the shore a way		 Welcome to Bora Bora, Ruth & Howard!
Welcome to Bora Bora, Ruth & Howard!
Main town is Vaitape; here's Catholic church
Main town is Vaitape; here's Catholic church 		2nd day, full moon over BB early AM
2nd day, full moon over BB early AM 		Early AM sun, 2nd day, hitting mountain
Early AM sun, 2nd day, hitting mountain		 Mt Otemanu early AM from ship near Baristas
Mt Otemanu early AM from ship near Baristas		 Boat ramps always caught my attention
Boat ramps always caught my attention		 Belltower near Catholic church
Belltower near Catholic church
Vaitape Catholic church glass. If church is open, be sure to go in!
Vaitape Catholic church glass. If church is open, be sure to go in!		 Church glass with mountain visible outside
Church glass with mountain visible outside		 Vaitape typical house - usually modest but colorful
Vaitape typical house - usually modest but colorful		 Vaitape, little south of town - boat hangers on shore
Vaitape, little south of town - boat hangers on shore		 Old outrigger canoe on shore
Old outrigger canoe on shore		 It was Sunday afternoon & this group of women passed me with beautiful music blaring from a radio
It was Sunday afternoon & this group of women passed me with beautiful music blaring from a radio
Vaitape boat hangers & buoys
Vaitape boat hangers & buoys		 Detail of buoys
Detail of buoys		 These local girls asked me what time it was
These local girls asked me what time it was		 Vaitape fish walls near a house
Vaitape fish walls near a house		 Vaitape house with fish wall
Vaitape house with fish wall		 Mighty Mt. Otemanu with palms
Mighty Mt. Otemanu with palms
I couldn't stop taking pictures of it. If you've seen South Pacific you'll recognize it.
I couldn't stop taking pictures of it. If you've seen "South Pacific" you'll recognize it. 		Guy in outrigger canoe getting a nice ride in the wake of our tender boat
Guy in outrigger canoe getting a nice ride in the wake of our tender boat		 Mountain from window of tender boat
Mountain from window of tender boat		 4 palms
4 palms 		Award-winning show Tama Nui in Ori Tahiti was presented on MV Marina by local troupe that night
Award-winning show "Tama Nui in Ori Tahiti" was presented on MV Marina by local troupe that night 		Main singer
Main singer
I don't go to many shows, but I really enjoyed Tama Nui in Ori Tahiti
I don't go to many shows, but I really enjoyed "Tama Nui in Ori Tahiti" 		Tama Nui dancers - all
Tama Nui dancers - all		 3 members of troupe
3 members of troupe		 Tahitians sure are beautiful!
Tahitians sure are beautiful!		 Cruise Director Ray Carr (he was great) with dancers
Cruise Director Ray Carr (he was great) with dancers		 Some passengers were brought up to dance with the troupe
Some passengers were brought up to dance with the troupe
Solo dancer with singer
Solo dancer with singer		 Next day took Aquasafari - AKA helmet diving. (Ruth coming down ladder. Ears were killing me - ouch!)
Next day took "Aquasafari" - AKA helmet diving. (Ruth coming down ladder. Ears were killing me - ouch!)		 Ruth at bottom of ladder. Air is blasting in from tube from tank above. No water gets in despite gap at bottom of heavy helmet.
Ruth at bottom of ladder. Air is blasting in from tube from tank above. No water gets in despite gap at bottom of heavy helmet.		 Manta ray would play around us, then bury himself in sand for few seconds.
Manta ray would play around us, then bury himself in sand for few seconds. 		Ruth holds bag of bread attached to helmet
Ruth holds bag of bread attached to helmet		 Howard's new, inexpensive camera yielded some GREAT shots. Here's fish & coral.
Howard's new, inexpensive camera yielded some GREAT shots. Here's fish & coral.
Out of focus, but love this fish and undulating coral.
Out of focus, but love this fish and undulating coral.		 Hi there, fish!
Hi there, fish! 		Now I have the camera. Howard points out ray. Hard to turn head 10 feet down, but I did - slowly!
Now I have the camera. Howard points out ray. Hard to turn head 10 feet down, but I did - slowly!		 Howard surrounded by fish
Howard surrounded by fish		 8 pax go in boat & water at a time Helmets weigh 100 pounds on land and 35 in water. We're walking on sand 10 feet down.
8 pax go in boat & water at a time Helmets weigh 100 pounds on land and 35 in water. We're walking on sand 10 feet down. 		Manta ray
Manta ray
Photographer showing Howard a shell
Photographer showing Howard a shell		 Ray buried in sand - watching Howard! (I'd watch Howard, too!!)
Ray buried in sand - watching Howard! (I'd watch Howard, too!!)		 The coral was undulating coral - very cool!
The coral was undulating coral - very cool!		 Photographer showing Howard the underside of the ray
Photographer showing Howard the underside of the ray		 After half hour the 8 Nemos had to go up to the safety of the boat
After half hour the 8 Nemos had to go up to the safety of the boat		 Miche/Michel & son approaching ladder
Miche/Michel & son approaching ladder
You wanted to see them; here they come!
You wanted to see them; here they come!		 The smile says it all. I may be sick but I'm having a great time.
The smile says it all. I may be sick but I'm having a great time. 		Ruth from side with fish
Ruth from side with fish		 Miche & Michael examining the coral
Miche & Michael examining the coral		 Ruth is in there somewhere
Ruth is in there somewhere		 Ruth was picked up by the photographer....
Ruth was picked up by the photographer....
.... given to Howard & then photographed by the vendor's photographer
.... given to Howard & then photographed by the vendor's photographer		 Howard, taken by Aquasafari photographer
Howard, taken by Aquasafari photographer		 Photo by Aquasafari photographer
Photo by Aquasafari photographer		 Aquasafari photographer's picture of the ray
Aquasafari photographer's picture of the ray		 The water around where we dived (no Photoshop - real color!) & ominous weather back near Vaitape. (Cleared up.)
The water around where we "dived" (no Photoshop - real color!) & ominous weather back near Vaitape. (Cleared up.)		 Aquasafari boat stopped near Bloody Mary's to leave tanks to be refilled for next group
Aquasafari boat stopped near Bloody Mary's to leave tanks to be refilled for next group
One half of the welcoming committee at pier where tanks were dropped off.
One half of the welcoming committee at pier where tanks were dropped off.		 Hello!
Hello!		 A number of us were missing our dogs at home after 2 weeks
A number of us were missing our dogs at home after 2 weeks 		After aquasafari & lunch on ship, went back over to town. Here's chapel beside Catholic church
After aquasafari & lunch on ship, went back over to town. Here's chapel beside Catholic church		 Was walking near the Catholic church when I heard, Hello! It turned out to be pearl shop owner Wendy from Arc En Ciel.
Was walking near the Catholic church when I heard, "Hello!" It turned out to be pearl shop owner Wendy from Arc En Ciel. 		She took me up the hill to see the view from her driveway - wow! She & daughters had just spent Sunday fishing on an islet.
She took me up the hill to see the view from her driveway - wow! She & daughters had just spent Sunday fishing on an islet.
The beautiful mosaic seen from back of church. Glad I spent time here- lots of secrets to discover!
The beautiful mosaic seen from back of church. Glad I spent time here- lots of secrets to discover!		 CDs hang above this statue on the back of the church - not sure why or how they got there!
CDs hang above this statue on the back of the church - not sure why or how they got there!		 Lighthouse or aid to navigation - don't think it still works.
Lighthouse or aid to navigation - don't think it still works.		 Roulotte (food truck) in Vaitape 6 PM. They are popular on French Polynesian islands.
Roulotte (food truck) in Vaitape 6 PM. They are popular on French Polynesian islands.		 Outrigger canoe riding wake of tender boat
Outrigger canoe riding wake of tender boat		 Went in foot of water to cool down. Figured my 25 year old Bass sandals could take some water.
Went in foot of water to cool down. Figured my 25 year old Bass sandals could take some water.
Fooling around: Self portrait thru window on Marina (reflection)
Fooling around: Self portrait thru window on Marina (reflection)		 Love these Polynesian outrigger canoes!
Love these Polynesian outrigger canoes!		 Boat holder or whatever they're called
Boat holder or whatever they're called		 Taken from one of my favorite spots on Marina - near the mosaic, up top!
Taken from one of my favorite spots on Marina - near the mosaic, up top!		 Overwater bungalows during sailaway from Bora Bora
Overwater bungalows during sailaway from Bora Bora		 Sailaway
Sailaway
Meanwhile, Snowzilla had DC grinding to a halt with 2 feet of snow accumulating.
Meanwhile, "Snowzilla" had DC grinding to a halt with 2 feet of snow accumulating. 		Shelby and Joe trudging up the hill on path made by fabulous neighbor Peter. Street got cleared 3 hrs. before we got home.
Shelby and Joe trudging up the hill on path made by fabulous neighbor Peter. Street got cleared 3 hrs. before we got home.
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