LE TAHAA PRIVATE ISLAND - DAY TWO

STILL IN PARADISE - SEPTEMBER 2004

FRENCH POLYNESIA - PART II


"TAHA'A Island is one of the Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent) of the Society Islands archipelago (Îles de la Société), part of French Polynesia. Together with Raiatea, they are both enclosed by the same coral reef. Taha’a is known as the Vanilla Island, given that the local farmers grow a full 80% of all Tahiti's Vanilla production in its valleys, and the aroma lingers heavily in the air. At around 5:30 a.m. – awaken by the early sun (after all these years travelling, the jet lag doesn’t affect any longer) – the view from our over water suite at the motu Tautau towards Taha’a Island was absolutely fantastic! Absurdly, the photo was taken only some time later, when the clouds were already preparing to cover the Island. That’s why the picture cannot equal the one from Pico, in the Azores. Of course, 2351 meters from sea to top without a single cloud, it’s difficult to match!"


"MORNING BATH - By 7:30 a.m. was time to take a bath. The open-air bathtub was vast: in the picture, like Vergilius would say «apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto»! However, the fight between light and darkness that would last for the whole day had already started..."


"BREAKFAST - If you're staying at the over water bungalows, breakfast may arrive by canoe: tropical fruit and everything else you're entitled to!"


"OTHER BREAKFAST for the fish in the lagoon. Like in the Portuguese saying: «the sun, when it shines, is for all...»"


"A «FARE» just for two, with a huge private pool!"


"DOOR of our over water suite. Let's go out!"




"PARADISE - Why is it that Paradise seems always so empty?"



"PALMS in an island within the Island"


"POOL BAR - I always questioned myself: why do you need a Pool in such a place? The right answer is: to be able to sit at the Bar while in the water"


"BORA BORA - Looking in direction of the outer sea, we'll see Bora Bora in the distance"


"TAHA'A - Looking towards the lagoon, we'll see the Taha'a"


"FARE - And looking along the coast, we'll see the over water bungalows that have a beautiful view towards Bora Bora..."


"FAREWELL PICTURE in front of the beautiful bamboo high ceiling of the reception, which is full of carved wooden furniture and has curved staircases that lead upwards to the bar and restaurant high up amongst the tree tops. See you back soon..."



"DEPARTURE TIME - Coming close to the dock from where we would embark to get back to Raiatea and Tahiti"


"GOODBYE - This is how you leave the resort, with the memories of fine living at its very best!"


"CHURCH - Before getting to Raiatea, we came close to one of the churches in Taha'a. The sun was finally luminously shinning..."

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?"