Day 10 - Sunday 14 January 2024

Awake with the alarm at 05:00 to give myself time to check that I had everything packed and ready for my 07:00 departure from the Hotel Kaveka. I glanced at my watch, and that said 04:00, so I guessed that I set the alarm wrong. So, I packed up my stuff and as I had an extra hour I decided to read a bit. I then thought that I’d pay a last visit to the end of the pier; on passing reception I was asked whether I was ready for breakfast; odd I thought because it’s ages before breakfast time, so I checked the time ….. my watch was an hour out, and I had 45 minutes to departure! Mother of all f**k-ups averted.

A quick breakfast taken, and back to reception at 06:45, and as I started to check out my taxi arrived early; it all felt a bit rushed in the end. Into the taxi, and the 20 minute transfer to the ferry port. Baggage dropped off, and I found where I needed to wait for the ferry. 

The ferry arrived, I boarded, and we left at 08:10 on the dot. I decided it would be good to find the top outside deck, and I reached the front of the boat just as we cleared the reef out into the rolling Pacific Ocean. It was definitely a case of holding on as I moved around the boat and took video footage.

Arrival at Papeete ferry terminal was unremarkable, and once I’d reclaimed my luggage I took a taxi to the airport. Straight into check in, and when I advised that I had overweight baggage I was asked whether I was a scuba diver and had my PADI card. I did have this, which was a blessing because it entitled me to an extra 5kg of baggage, saving me an extra charge. I wonder whether this is a thing for other airlines as well?

A 2 hour wait until I could go through security to the departure lounge 40 minutes before departure; when the Bora Bora flight came up on the gate I joined the line near the front, and was somewhat amazed for the scrummage behind me with much jostling for position.

I had asked a check in which side was best, and they suggested left, so after a walk across the apron to the plane I managed to get a window seat on the left towards the back of the plane. Away a little early on our 45 minute flight, I had the GoPro out to take some footage. We had some fantastic views of another island as we commenced our descent, and then Bora Bora came into view …. and it looked stunning.  

We flew along the side and past the airport before turning back and coming in to land; Captain Kangaroo bounced us a couple of time before sticking us to the ground, and we were safely in Bora Bora; a place I’ve seen on countless vlogs, and now I’m replicating those steps.

Into the small terminal building, and luggage reclaimed in what must be a record time; I had it within 5 minutes of landing. Another record as I walked 10 meters and handed it to the crew of the transfer boat into the Bora Boran capital of Vaitape. The boat trip was magnificent; the views were brilliant in the early afternoon sun, the temperature was warm, with a stiff breeze taking off the edge. Truly conditions where getting sunburned is easy!

We arrived at the dock, and I reclaimed my luggage for the last time today, and found the transfer to the Maitai Polynesian; there was myself and two couples arriving. We drove for 15 minutes counter-clockwise around the island in what felt like a throwback small hippy bus to the 1960’s …. I spotted it coming into dock, and thought that it would be amusing if that were the transfer vehicle! Totally gobsmacked by the colour of the lagoon, we soon arrived to be greeted with a lei and fruit juice while we checked in.

I was then given a wrist band, which is my room key and I suspect the method to be used to track what I’ve eaten and drunk. Happy hour is 17:30 to 18:30, so I suspect that I’ll make use of that (especially since I have no wi-fi in my room, and the bar is one of the locations where I can get online)

Then onto my room (which my luggage had beaten me to), and I’ve definitely landed on my feet here; it’s an overwater bungalow, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. What I had on Moorea and what I have here really is like chalk and cheese. I have a balcony that looks out onto the lagoon, and tonight I’ll go to sleep to the sound of the waves.

It’s been a varied travel day; Taxi to ferry to Taxi to Plane to Boat to a kind of hippy bus from the 1960's! I'm looking forward to staying put here for a few days.