It sounds like a wonderful trip! And a belated Happy Birthday as well :-) Will come back later and view pics, have to set up a snapfish account (although I actually thought I already had one, apparently I don't).

Beautiful! Love the booby chick photo.

I wonder if your friend/cat sitter Lee is female. If her middle name is Margaret then it's a small world...

Thanks everyone, glad you liked it!
Carolyn: I think a French Polynesian cruise would be excellent! I've never been on a cruise but I'd like to do one here.

Placename: yes, 1 week. HawaiianAir flies in on Sat. night and leaves the following Sun. early am. I'd have liked 3 more days but due to the airline schedule it wasn't possible. I didn't have any difficulty with the language and kind of enjoyed hearing something other than English.

panecott: since it was my first trip, I don't know what it used to be like on Bora Bora,but as far as being built up, it didn't seem to be. Some of the hotels are on other motus around the lagoon, not all in one place like say Waikiki. Down the road from my hotel was the IC and the Bora Bora hotel which was getting refurbished. The only crowd of people I ever saw were at Bloody Mary's for dinner.

uhoh_busted: I'm partial to Hawaii but Tahiti wins hands down in beautiful scenery. Rarotonga/Cook Islands are up there in beautiful scenery/people also.

Toucan2: Thanks

sassy_cat: I'll have to ask her what her middle name is.

Sassy, no , not Margaret. I think it is a small world many times but not this time !

Great report, Mat. Nice to get a good snapshot of Tahiti as we spent all our time on the islands.
Nice way to spend your big BDay. Glad you enjoyed. Hard not to ;)

I saved reading this for a calm day - which is today! I loved reading it & seeing your beautiful photos! Esp. loved the Booby chick as well. Thanks for the report!

Happy belated birthday! What a great way to spend it. We were there almost exactly 12 years ago. Brought back nice memories.

Mat, I really, really love your photos! Now I want to go there, too!

Patty tipped me off to your trip report. really enjoyed it. just booked a trip there for November, can't wait.

bookmarking for leisurely read

joeyi~you've got mail.

bookmarking

I want to take this trip!

I'm currently vacationing in Hawaii -- North Shore of Kauai. It's so beautiful here. If Tahiti is that much more impressive ... WOW!

Hawaii is so beautiful to me that it also impressed me that you find Tahiti a step up in beauty! I am adding Tahiti to my list that grows longer every day!

Just reading this. Great trip report

thanks starrs.

Seahag, yes a step up. I loved Rarotonga also, another beautiful island. I'd move there if they'd let me.

songdoc, Kauai is beautiful, but Tahiti is a WOW.

Thank you so much for such a FANTASTIC report. I am going in a few weeks for my 50th birthday. I will definitely do the jet skiing in Moorea. I'll be in Bora Bora for my birthday. Do you have any suggestions on what to do exciting in Bora Bora?
Thanks again for such a thorough report.

Matnikstyn: It sounds like you stayed in a Beach Bungalow at the Intercontinental Moorea, I have a few questions for you. On Trip Advisor someone posted that the bungalow isn't completely closed, thus your A/C has to work very hard to keep cool & that the A/C is over the bed & blows on your heads, is that true?? Do you remember what # bungalow you stayed in? Would you recomend it?? We are looking to stay in one that may be on the quiet side, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much, Shari

ShariG, sorry I just saw this. The beach bungalow is completely closed, there is doors out to the lanai and steps down and then the sand. The A/C is above the bed but I didn't turn it on, I prefer fresh air. I had bungalow 408, on the right almost to the end if I remember correctly. One suggestion, do the jet ski adventure!