Tahiti Day 3 (1 April 2018)
What a glorious day! We headed out before the roosters even woke up. 😊 Yesterday, we passed an LDS church and went in to see what time Conference would start this morning. We happened to be in our bathing suits and cover ups, but at least we found out that you’ve got to be dedicated in Tahiti with a 6 a.m. start time!
After chatting with the missionaries, we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. Let it be known I have voluntarily tried raw fish for breakfast two days in a row now. There was a large buffet, and I figured I’d never prepare it for myself. Although it wasn’t the only thing I tried, it was pretty good! There’s something to be said about catching and serving it within a few hours. Sadly, the bread and breadfruit was covering it up. However, I do have witnesses!
After breakfast, we went on a hunt to find the LDS temple. Alex turned on her data to help us out. Although there is only one main road that goes around the island, Papeete is a decently sized town. We did find it, and it’s super cute and small! That was a surprise to me. I love how all the LDS church buildings have signs in both French and Tahitian.
From there, we headed out to drive around the whole island. I read about an opportunity to see a natural blowhole, called Le Trou de Souffleur. Since we don’t have a GPS in the car, we turned around the car a few times. Finally, we resorted to asking the locals who were walking down the roads for directions. They are an incredibly friendly people! There are no sidewalks on the roads, so they just walk beside the cars. Since Dad and Mom don’t speak French, we rolled down the windows so I could ask.
We then walked up the hill to the blowhole. I would definitely recommend visiting it if you’re on the island. It sounds like a dragon is breathing before it shoots out water. It startled Alex enough for her to scream. 😁 Here’s a picture from the other side of where the blowhole is located, as well as the view walking back to the car:
It seems like there is a bright filter on every picture, but in reality, it really is that bright here. I’m pretty sure my dream destination is actually better than what I envisioned.
It seems like you could plant a stick here, and a tree would sprout overnight. 😁 Or maybe plant an orange rind, and voilà, oranges within a day or two! Oh, let’s just talk about the fruit for a second. It is all pretty delicious. I feel like everyone would consider themselves professional gardeners if they lived in Tahiti. Granted, it seems like there are fruits and vegetables growing every place you look. It’s all so fresh and scrumptious.
Also, because it is Easter, several of the churches decorate the outside with flowers and beautiful decorations. It is touching to see how much love the people here have for Easter!
When we made it back to the hotel, we sat in the lobby and visited together. The lobby is pretty incredible. I love that it is so open, which allows you to appreciate the beauty around you!
It was a fantastic evening to top off our experience here. What a joy it has been to discover Tahiti! It it rare that your dream destination exceeds your expectations, but it definitely has done so. I love the French influence on the Polynesian culture. When you add in stunning views, gorgeous beaches, beautiful people, and delicious food, it’s easy to imagine how I can live my life here. I’ve waited nearly half my life to get here, and I LOVE IT. If I decide I need to become a vanilla bean farmer, hopefully you’re understand why. 😊.
After chatting with the missionaries, we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. Let it be known I have voluntarily tried raw fish for breakfast two days in a row now. There was a large buffet, and I figured I’d never prepare it for myself. Although it wasn’t the only thing I tried, it was pretty good! There’s something to be said about catching and serving it within a few hours. Sadly, the bread and breadfruit was covering it up. However, I do have witnesses!
After breakfast, we went on a hunt to find the LDS temple. Alex turned on her data to help us out. Although there is only one main road that goes around the island, Papeete is a decently sized town. We did find it, and it’s super cute and small! That was a surprise to me. I love how all the LDS church buildings have signs in both French and Tahitian.
From there, we headed out to drive around the whole island. I read about an opportunity to see a natural blowhole, called Le Trou de Souffleur. Since we don’t have a GPS in the car, we turned around the car a few times. Finally, we resorted to asking the locals who were walking down the roads for directions. They are an incredibly friendly people! There are no sidewalks on the roads, so they just walk beside the cars. Since Dad and Mom don’t speak French, we rolled down the windows so I could ask.
I don’t believe you can take a horrible picture at any stopping point in Tahiti!
We found the right spot! It only had a few parking stalls, so we asked a local, who told us to park in the bus lane. These people approach life differently than I. Dad left the car in the bus lane for a few minutes, but moved it when a spot opened up. Look at this delightful beach next to the blowhole!
We then walked up the hill to the blowhole. I would definitely recommend visiting it if you’re on the island. It sounds like a dragon is breathing before it shoots out water. It startled Alex enough for her to scream. 😁 Here’s a picture from the other side of where the blowhole is located, as well as the view walking back to the car:
It seems like there is a bright filter on every picture, but in reality, it really is that bright here. I’m pretty sure my dream destination is actually better than what I envisioned.
We then drove over to the ‘3 cascades’ (or three waterfalls), and took a leisurely five minute hike to see them. It kind of felt like we were in the land of the giants, with palm trees and exotic flowers on the walk in. Also, there were more like 10 small warerfalls, and one enormous one.
It seems like you could plant a stick here, and a tree would sprout overnight. 😁 Or maybe plant an orange rind, and voilà, oranges within a day or two! Oh, let’s just talk about the fruit for a second. It is all pretty delicious. I feel like everyone would consider themselves professional gardeners if they lived in Tahiti. Granted, it seems like there are fruits and vegetables growing every place you look. It’s all so fresh and scrumptious.
I feel like the island life would encourage you to just slow down and simplify your life. No one seems to be in a hurry, and everyone is interested in appreciating life. I think I’d enjoy living right in the middle of these palm trees....
Also, because it is Easter, several of the churches decorate the outside with flowers and beautiful decorations. It is touching to see how much love the people here have for Easter!
When we made it back to the hotel, we sat in the lobby and visited together. The lobby is pretty incredible. I love that it is so open, which allows you to appreciate the beauty around you!
After relaxing for a bit, we made reservations at one of the restaurants on the property. We were brought to our table on the deck adjacent to the beach, right at sunset. What a pleasant way to end the day! The food was good, though different from how I imagined it. I ordered the duck with sweet potatoes and cabbage. When it came out, the sweet potatoes were green, and in a purée with vanilla mixed in. I thought I was eating cauliflower, but it was cabbage. However, the duck was delicious!
It was a fantastic evening to top off our experience here. What a joy it has been to discover Tahiti! It it rare that your dream destination exceeds your expectations, but it definitely has done so. I love the French influence on the Polynesian culture. When you add in stunning views, gorgeous beaches, beautiful people, and delicious food, it’s easy to imagine how I can live my life here. I’ve waited nearly half my life to get here, and I LOVE IT. If I decide I need to become a vanilla bean farmer, hopefully you’re understand why. 😊.
Tomorrow, we are off to Moorea for a new adventure. 💕
So beautiful!
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