French Polynesia
French Polynesia
includes more than 100 islands in the South Pacific and stretches for more than
2,000 km. Divided into the Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, La Sociedad and Tuamotu
archipelagos, they are known for their coral-lined lagoons and their bungalow
hotels on the sea.
Characteristics of the
islands include black and white sand beaches, mountains, uneven fields,
towering waterfalls, and turquoise lagoons. Sultry French Polynesia is a place
to take it slow and experience warm, laid-back island culture.
Culture & History
French Polynesia is a French overseas country.
Although it has its own government, it depends on France despite being between
Oceania and America. Its inhabitants have European citizenship and can
participate in European elections.
Tahiti:
just the word conjures up centuries’ worth of images: hibiscus flowers; bronzed
dancers in grass skirts; a humid breeze over the turquoise sea. The islands of
French Polynesia became legends the minute the first European explorers reached
their home shores with tales of a heaven on earth where the soil was fertile,
life was simple and lust was guilt-free.
The tamure is the traditional dance and contemporary
music is the kaina porinetia, which is danced by all the villagers. His dances
have an erotic and provocative charge. When the missionaries arrived in
Polynesia, they were very surprised by these dances, especially the timorodee
and the upaupa couple dance. Her clothing stands out for being in vibrant
colors and accompanied by a typical accessory, the intertwined flower necklace.
Flavors
Traditional cuisine is a balanced mix of French,
Chinese and Polynesian influences: béchamel, soy sauce or coconut milk are just
as present.
Fish from the open sea (tuna, bonito, wahoo,
swordfish and dolphinfish) and lagoon fish (parrotfish, horse mackerel and
pike) stand out in traditional cuisine. The poisson cru (raw fish in coconut
milk) is the most popular local dish, although fish is also served grilled,
fried, or cooked.
Maa Tahiti, a traditional Tahitian stew, is a
consistent mix of starchy yam and uru (breadfruit), raw or cooked fish, pork
fat, coconut milk, and a few vegetables. On special occasions, the whole is
prepared with care and placed in a himaa (cooking hole) where a layer of stones
and banana leaves separate the food from the embers.
Urban Experience
An incredible tourist
option is to walk through Papeete, the capital of Polynesia, where you will
hear all the ancestral stories of the island. Papeete's large, teeming market
is also a wonderful place to examine tropical foodstuffs as well as to buy
handicrafts. It's especially busy before dawn on Sunday.
The Musée de Tahiti et
Ses Isles/Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands recounts the geology, history,
culture, flora, and fauna of French Polynesia. It's worth a stop just for the
outstanding view of Moorea from its coconut-grove setting.
Also, the great French
painter Paul Gauguin lived and worked on Tahiti's south coast from 1891 until
moving to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands. The Musée Gauguin/Gauguin Museum
has a few of his original works, but is best at tracing his adventures in
French Polynesia.
Outdoors & Adventure
Upon arrival you can see how the white of the
ground melts with the blue of the sea until it ends gently on the horizon; with
a beautiful reddish sky. And when you think it can't get any better, you dive
into the sea and you find fantastic coral beds and great biodiversity, with
millions of colorful fish and even sharks.
Most high islands are surrounded by fringing
reefs that create a protected swimming pool of the most intense aqua
imaginable. Coral atolls have this same caliber of lagoon minus the big island
in the middle. Fish, dolphins, rays, sharks, turtles, and more inhabit these
clear-water coral gardens that are as excellent for snorkeling as they are for
diving and swimming. Surfers ride glassy wave faces at reef passes while
kitesurfers fly across the water with the trade winds.
In Papeete you can take a boat excursion
through the Tahiti lagoon, or perhaps visit Taehupoʻo where you will see the
greatest surf waves, waterfalls and archaeological treasures. All this while
surrounded by the warmth and friendliness of the islanders.
Bora Bora is the island paradise that is
home to the most beautiful lake in the world. A tour of Bora Bora transports
you to a dreamlike landscape that mixes the green of the vegetation, the
turquoise color of the sea and the red of the sunsets. In Moorea, the most
tropical island in French Polynesia and the third largest within the
archipelago, you can find the most exuberant vegetation and an incredible
contrast of colors.