PARADISE ISLAND - MOTU TAUTAU

FRENCH POLYNESIA - SEPTEMBER 2004

LE TAHA'A PRIVATE ISLAND - FIRST DAY

One late evening, we left Easter Island airport at Mataveri with Tahiti as destination. After a six hour-flight we landed, shortly before midnight, at Tahiti airport, twelve years later. The smell of the tiare, the heavily scented gardenia that is the national flower, was already in the air when we got our traditional arrival lei necklaces.
Tahiti is mythical, and deservedly so; however, that we'll be the subject of a future post. This one is dedicated to one of the other paradise islands that we can find in French Polynesia: Motu Tautau!


"LADIES ROOM TAHITI AIRPORT- After one night sleep at the Tahiti Beachcomber Intercontinental Hotel, we left the bulk of the luggage there and headed to the airport again to take a smaller Air Tahiti airplane to get us to Raiatea. At the airport, ladies were surprised by the amazing decoration of Ladies' room and by the unmistakable aroma of the tiare"


"BOAT TRANSFER - On arrival at the Raiatea airport, a boat - Le Tahaa II - was waiting to transfer us to Le Taha'a Private Island. The weather was not favourable - clouds were a bit darker than they should - but the trip was anyhow excellent"


"MOTU TAUTAU - After a thirty five minute trip by boat from Raiatea Airport we were approaching our destination. We could then see the traditional Polynesian style of the fare, the over water suites"



"IA ORANA - WELCOME to Paradise. Le Taha'a resort, located on Motu Tautau on the coral reef, opened in July 2002 with the intention to become the most exclusive resort in French Polynesia! And the sun was somehow shinning to greet us on arrival..."


"BEACH VILLA - There are forty eight fare and twelve beach villas. The villas have more than a hundred square meters in size..."


"BED - Long haul flight? Tired? Take a nap!"



"BATH - But first enjoy a relaxing bath at the open air bathroom with bath salts"



"POOL - Or, if you prefer, just dive into the small private pool"



"BEACH - No, you want a direct access to a private beach! OK!"


"RELAX - Tired? No problem!"


"BAR - Pre-dinner cocktails: Chichi, Daiquiri, whatever..."


"RESTAURANT - Just before people start arriving..."


"DINNER - «Perroquet Fish».
Another possible menu:
Foie gras parfumé à la vanille de Taha’a, gelée à la fleur de Tiaré et chutney d’ananas/Vanilla-flavoured semi-cooked foie gras, Tiaré-flower aspic and pineapple chutney;
Vanilla INTERLUDE
Granité épicé au gingembre / Ginger and spices granité;
Médaillons de langouste grillés à la noix de coco, risotto au safran et à l’anis étoilé, infusion à la vanille de Taha’a et son cappuccino à la noix de coco/Grilled lobster medallions with coconut, saffron and star aniseed flavoured risotto, creamy Taha’a vanilla infusion and its coconut cappuccino;
Parfait glacé à la noix de coco de Taha’a, bananes rôties à la vanille/Iced coconut parfait with roasted bananas and vanilla.
Wow! What are all those pens for?"