October 6, 2017
The ship stayed overnight at the dock in Papeete, Tahiti then left very early in the morning to anchor near the neighboring island of Mo’orea in the French Polynesian chain. The Golden Princess slowly approached the butterfly-shaped island at sunrise and set anchor in one of the protected harbors. We were told that Mo’orea means “yellow lizard” in the Tahitian language.
Several people said Mo’orea was the island that inspired the paradise legend of Bali ‘Hai in the story of South Pacific. As the ship’s tender drew closer to the island, we saw the jagged mountains carpeted with lush green foliage. A woman carried a huge freshly caught fish along the tender dock:
Jeff and I signed up for a photographic excursion to see several scenic locations on the island. Our small group of 15 people boarded two 4X4 vehicles and we set out to explore. Our first stop was an exquisitely beautiful white-sand beach.
The Golden Princess floated peacefully at anchor while we took pictures.
We drove to a botanical garden to photograph beautiful tropical plants and flowers. There was also a greenhouse where vanilla plants were growing. The guide said vanilla was very difficult to grow. At a small cafe in the gardens, we sampled jams made from a variety of fruits.
We drove along and admired the beautiful scenery. Coconuts, mangoes, pineapples, breadfruit, papayas, bananas and other fruits grow all over the tropical island. We held on tightly as our 4X4 vehicle climbed a steep mountain to get a good view.
Mo’orea is an extinct volcano and the sides of the mountains are the sides of the original caldera. As we stood on top of the mountain we could see the magnitude of the volcano all around us. After a few hours, we returned to the tender dock.
The local people set up a market for the cruise ship passengers to buy souvenirs and trinkets. One enterprising woman cut a hole in the top of fresh chilled coconuts and inserted a straw for drinking. The coconut milk was cold and refreshing. If a purchaser brought the coconut back to the woman, she removed the coconut meat with a special tool so we could eat it easily.
The locals dressed in beautiful floral print garments. I took a photo of a young woman looking at her cell phone in the shade of a palm tree. Many Tahitians wore interesting tattoos.
We reluctantly returned to the ship, after falling in love with Mo’orea. It was the most incredibly beautiful place we had ever seen in our lives. On board the Golden Princess, we went to the aft deck to have our final views of the island.
Jeff and I sat on lounge chairs as the ship maneuvered through the coral reefs surrounding Mo’orea. We watched the island fade away as the sun set on the Pacific. It was an unforgettable experience to visit the island.
