In Search of Tahiti Travel Suggestions - Tiki Travel

RT Rev. Tiki Member St. Louis, Missouri Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 43	RT Rev. Tiki Posted posted on Sat, Nov 13, 2010 6:59 PM Hi All - Enjoyed a fabulous Tahiti adventure in September aboard the Paul Gaughin. Seven day cruise, everything included. The ship is beautiful and carries only 332 passengers so everything was easy and not crowded. My bill at the end....$33! Tahiti's raw beauty was beyond my imagination, any movies or photos. I was struck by the distinct line marking the change in water depth at the reefs. The color changed abruptly from a deep royal blue to an amazing turquoise set against the emerald green backdrop of the mountains. The outer islands are very primitive, a welcome sight. Dolphins escorted our ship through the harbor entrance. The people are pleasant, beautiful and gentle. There is no crime to speak of and a genuine sense of community and sharing. I look forward to going back, this time for a 14 day cruise to visit the Marquesas and more of the outer islands. There were many wild tiki sightings, and I especially enjoyed snorkeling and a tour of the Marae's on Raiatea by Mark Eddowes, an extremely passionate and knowledgeable archeologist. Tikis were expensive on every island...$800 for a 2-3 foot carving, and shipping I'm told is cost prohibitive. I managed to find a heavy 18" fellow for $250 just before departure and it fit in my carry-on. While all shopkeepers say their Tikis are from the Marquesas, some at the Papeete Market looked to be of questionable/Bali heritage. Outside of Papeete, the Tikis I saw appeared to be Marquesan. A truly amazing experience. Go, do, see, now while it is still primitive and pristine. It is the trip of a lifetime for this Tiki lover.

Hi All - Enjoyed a fabulous Tahiti adventure in September aboard the Paul Gaughin. Seven day cruise, everything included. The ship is beautiful and carries only 332 passengers so everything was easy and not crowded. My bill at the end....$33! Tahiti's raw beauty was beyond my imagination, any movies or photos. I was struck by the distinct line marking the change in water depth at the reefs. The color changed abruptly from a deep royal blue to an amazing turquoise set against the emerald green backdrop of the mountains. The outer islands are very primitive, a welcome sight. Dolphins escorted our ship through the harbor entrance. The people are pleasant, beautiful and gentle. There is no crime to speak of and a genuine sense of community and sharing. I look forward to going back, this time for a 14 day cruise to visit the Marquesas and more of the outer islands. There were many wild tiki sightings, and I especially enjoyed snorkeling and a tour of the Marae's on Raiatea by Mark Eddowes, an extremely passionate and knowledgeable archeologist. Tikis were expensive on every island...$800 for a 2-3 foot carving, and shipping I'm told is cost prohibitive. I managed to find a heavy 18" fellow for $250 just before departure and it fit in my carry-on. While all shopkeepers say their Tikis are from the Marquesas, some at the Papeete Market looked to be of questionable/Bali heritage. Outside of Papeete, the Tikis I saw appeared to be Marquesan. A truly amazing experience. Go, do, see, now while it is still primitive and pristine. It is the trip of a lifetime for this Tiki lover.

Post #564928 by Rev. Tiki on Sat, Nov 13, 2010 6:59 PM