April / May 2017
After a flight from Easter Island across the Pacific Ocean I landed in Papetee, the capital of French Polynesia.
French Polynesia and especially the islands Tahiti and Bora Bora stand for paradise on earth. At the latest in Bora Bora I had to realize that this is only a clever marketing strategy. Many families cannot benefit from tourism due to a lack of education. Houses and cars would have to be repaired. On many islands the theft rate is high. Only on remote atolls is the world still in order. Because of French Polynesia’s remoteness the goods are expensive and the choice is modest.
As the photos show, I still experienced two impressive months.
Island of Tahiti
In the Botanical Garden
Up to 2,241 meter high mountains cause frequent cloud formation in the interior of the island.
Moorea
I liked Moorea very much.
“Three Pines” viewpoint
To the left the Opunohu bay from the “Three Pines” viewpoint, which can be reached on a four-hour circular hike
“Magic Mountain” vantage point
The view from the “Magic Mountain” vantage point
Opunohu Bay
The Opunohu bay shortly before sunset
Sunset over Opunohu Bay
After sunset, the sky is littered with stars.
Moorea ist der grösste Ananas-Produzent in Französisch-Polynesien. Der intensive Geschmack einer frisch geernteten Ananas ist unvergleichlich!
Moorea also has a lot to offer underwater: Sharks …
…and rays
Bora Bora
The famous stilt bungalows in crystal clear water
An island in the lagoon
The sharks love Bora Bora as well
Maupiti
Maupiti is a small Bora Bora, but without any tourists.
Election campaign in French Polynesia
Sunset over Maupiti, pictured from the Motu Tiapaa’a. A Motu is a small coral island that forms part of the atoll that surrounds the main island.
The Motu Tiapaa’a in two different weather conditions
You can meet manta rays in the lagoon of Maupiti
Taha’a
The island of Taha’a is known for its vanilla plantations.
… but also underwater there is a lot to see
Tikehau
Tikehau is – like the following destinations Rangiroa and Fakarava – an atoll. This means that the volcanic island in the atoll has already been ablated by erosion.
The water is crystal clear
My favorite picture with two sharks in the foreground
… the sharks love Tikehau, as do I.
Rangiroa
Rangiroa can also boast beautiful landscapes and a abundance of fish.
French Polynesia is world famous for its pearls. Here a mature pearl is taken from the shell.
The Rangiroa Atoll
Fakarava
A Napoleon fish
… and of course sharks
A lonely beach on the Fakarava Atoll
And this ends my seven-month journey through Indonesia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Chile (Easter Island) and French Polynesia.
This text is an automatic English translation from the German original by deepl.com