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Island Fever
G
overned by the Southern Cross, a myriad
of stars hangs in the balance as the cover
of night fades into a pastel wash of morning hues. A mile out to sea, floating on my
surfboard between heaven and earth
above one of the most secluded reef
passes known to man, I see a set rise on the horizon,
though not a drop of water moves out of place on the
reef. Volcanic peaks masked in verdant jungle pierce
illuminated clouds in the pre-dawn light. When a
monolithic silhouette breaks the ocean’s morning glass
a mere 25-yards away, I’m awestruck as a fully mature
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humpback whale and her baby calf glide effortlessly
within shouting distance, their billowing gasps for air
startling me out of my personal séance. It is one of the
most satisfying moments I’ve ever had.
Arriving in Bora Bora at our over-water bungalow at
The Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa under the
clarity of a full moon, the thought of actually leaving
our luxurious accommodations became a stretch, especially when we returned there in the following days
after sybaritic spa treatments and occasional blue
lagoon walk-abouts. Maybe it was the bathtub and bedside tables with glass table tops that offered aquarium
Text and photos By Geoffrey Ragatz
Tahiti is the dream of dreams, and to arrive is to cross
into a fantasy world of beauty defined by natural order.
views into the lagoon, or the coffee table that slides
open to feed the fish below, or the outdoor terrace with
breathtaking views of the majestic Otemanu Mountain,
or the freshwater shower on our lower sundeck with
steps right into the lagoon. It was a relief when I eventually found an activities list of things to do.
Interested in witnessing the infamous Tahitian shark
feedings or diving with manta rays? Does a romantic
picnic for two on a distant sand motu sound appealing?
Or perhaps a natural history hike about the jungle
confines of the main island, or an all day cruise?
Horseback riding on the motu Roa? A Mount Pahia
hike? Those daily spa treatments at the Manea Spa
under serene thatched roof pavilions set on stilts
above a lake in a lush tropical garden also make it difficult to leave the property. But we did, moving onto
another gem in the Pearl necklace, Le Taha’a Island
Resort & Spa, located on Motu Tautau on a coral reef
facing the island of Taha’a and Bora Bora. While the
five-star experience of Pearl Resorts was everything a
love- induced couple could dream of and then some,
an outer island visit local-style opened the doors to an
experience otherwise not attainable at any of the bigtime resorts.
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From Pearl Resort, a short 10-minute boat transfer to Bora Bora’s outer reef pass provides
a memorable experience: open-ocean shark feeding in an uncontrolled setting. Not for the faint of heart; With unrivaled views like this from my over-water bungalow at Pearl Resort, it’s no wonder Bora Bora’s claim as the Pearl of
the Pacific remains unchallenged the world over; Surfing in Tahiti is a world-class experience second to none. Here,
Magnum Martinez enjoys the fruits of his travels at Taapuna, Tahiti.
Clockwise from top left
Personal watercraft, Huahini, French Polynesia. There is no place on earth more alluring
than the Society Islands, its simple pleasures and tropical vignettes an inspiration to artists the world over; A testament to Pearl Resorts’ focus on the intimate experience of its guests is the Manea Spa at Le Taha’a. Complementing
the natural surroundings, their indigenous Tahitian beauty treatments and holistic methods of healing are a main
attraction; A romantic dream getaway on the private island of Le Taha’a is but a 15-minute helicopter transfer from
Bora Bora and a must-do.
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The Tahitian way is dedicated to a simple lifestyle
centered on the community and its ties to the natural
world. Ancient Polynesians were the first to navigate
the Pacific, following the stars and creating numerous
civilizations along the way. From New Zealand’s Maori
population to the native Hawaiians, the Marqueses and
the distant Easter Island, theirs was a culture of gods
and goddesses, kings and queens, and they celebrated
their life through the art of dance, tattoo, handicraft,
and storytelling.
Traveling about the archipelago is actually quite
easy, and given that each island has its own special fla-
vor, from the northern atolls of the Tuamotu
Archipelago in the north, to the more off-beat islands
the likes of Huahini, Raiatea and Taha’a, it was on a tip
from a well traveled friend that I ended up at Randes
Shack, a shabby-chic pension, fronting yet another
picturesque lagoon.
A four-day stopover turned into a week, and a week
into two. Catering to ourselves, the sparse yet complete
bungalow allowed for an extended stay as we cooked
our own meals, rode bikes into town to buy supplies
and completely unloaded any care in the world on the
white sands of the lagoon. My rented skiff allowed for
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Clockwise from top left
Room service à la carte, Pearl Resort-style – attention to
detail and indulgence an adage to live by; Experiencing Tahiti is about experiencing its people, its culture and the carefree life; To define Tahiti is to relish in its
intrinsic beauty, color, light, and form. There is no more beautiful place on earth.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
Sunday social hour at the sandbar, Tapuna, Tahiti; It’s no surprise
the women of the Society Islands have been worshiped for years as being the most
seductive the world over; a twilight view of the bungalows from the water.
roundabout tours of the island without the hefty price
tag and the lagoon, with its life-aquatica environment
resembling the Tropical Oceans display at Long Beach
Aquarium, became our daily open-water ritual.
Life experience stripped to simple elements reveals
so much more when balanced with the universal properties of time and place. Experiencing the mystic sensuality of an island paradise so refined, it’s easy to lose
oneself in all things tangible – be it a high-end romantic getaway or an intimate, grass roots approach. But
the appreciation remains the same: Falling in love with
Tahiti is an easy thing to do.
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Getting there
From Los Angeles, Air Tahiti Nui flies direct to
Tahiti. Bora Bora is a 50-minute flight on Air Tahiti
Nui. The Bora Bora Pearl Island Resort & Spa is a
10-minute boat ride. Helicopters are available to
transfer from Bora Bora to Le Taha’a. Air Tahiti flies
to other islands.
Contact Pearl Resorts for rates and more information
about other island locations. pearlresorts.com
For Air Tahiti Nui, go to airtahitinui-USA.com.
For other information on Tahiti tourism go to
tahiti-tourisme.com.
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