LUXURY CRUISING
TAHITI TIPS The islands
themselves are the MOST MAGICAL THINGS OF ALL, topped by a series of DRAMATIC MOUNTAINS
Wear the highest protection sun factor and a T-shirt when snorkelling to avoid a sun burned back. The sun is hotter than you think – don’t be fooled by the cooling Trade Winds. Buy local pareos (Tahitian
sarongs) in the market – the perfect cover-up for men and women. If you’re not sure what to do with them, go to the Gauguines’ pareo tying demonstrations and find a dozen ways of wearing one. Don’t touch the coral when snorkelling, it is easily damaged and takes a long time to grow back. Don’t take coral and shells home, unless you’ve bought them with an export permit as many are prohibited. If you’re feeling like a major
mountains cloaked in densest green. Moorea is, if anything, even more dramatic in its volcanic silhouette of saw-tooth mountains (including the one James Michener made the legend of Bali Hai in his Tales of the South Pacific). Taha’a produces the finest vanilla in the
world and its scent infuses the island. Out in the lagoon it shares with Raiatea stand lonely-looking little thatched huts.
T
hese are the pearl farms that produce the flawless pearls generally referred to as black but that come in
silvers, greys, pinks, greens and blues of such luminescence they could only have come from such a lagoon as this. This extraordinary beauty does, though, come at quite a price. A necklace with a
single perfect pearl can cost £4,000, while whole strings can be tens of thousands. These shimmering lagoons play a major role in the cruise, of course. The Paul Gauguin has its own tiny islets – motus – within the lagoons and we disembark regularly to spend a day with a decidedly castaway feel, wading the last few feet from the tender through bath-warm water on to the white sand, tiny transparent fish darting around our ankles. Crabs disappear into holes at the sound of a footfall. The ocean rolls endlessly against the nearby coral reef, a constant faint thunder. The crew set up a bar in the water and a barbeque begins to waft enticing flavours along the beach. We swim, snorkel, kayak or just laze under the palm trees listening to
splurge, go for black pearls. The most dazzling and perfectly matched are in the onboard shop. But, if you don’t mind the odd
imperfection, go to the top floor in the market in Tahiti’s downtown Papeete and don’t forget to haggle.
The Monoi Tiare Tahiti range of soaps, oils, shampoos and skin care uses a coconut oil base scented with that heavenly gardenia – a good way to remember the trip. Try the drinking coconuts – stick in a straw and enjoy the most refreshing natural drink in the world. No need to take a tie – the dress code is very relaxed (but no shorts and jeans for dinner).
Winter 2012-13 I WORLD OF CRUISING 79
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