Catching Up

Well, life catches up to us, even in paradise. Today I decided to sit tight,
and take care of some internet chores - submit my HST return, pay a few
bills, and look into our airline ticket refund. Since we have lighting fast
internet here (weird), I decided that this is as good a time as any. Most
things went well.

Here's my favorite part: While I called the airline (via gmail), and waited
patiently on hold...I took advantage of the down time, and loaded up a heap
of blogs that I don't normally get the pleasure to read, since our internet
time is pay as you go around here. I was thrilled to learn of our cruising
friends who have had a safe passage to the Marquesas, or who are almost
there!! (Ceileih, Adios, Southern Cross) and to get a glimpse into the
awesome blogs of friends [sonseastars.wordpress.com] - congrats! Now...if
only I can convince Mark [52weeks52eats.blogspot.com] to cook up a dish that
is made entirely from canned goods. No fresh ingredients, and a limited
spice cabinet. A challenge to you, my friend!!

Here's my least favorite part: the airline didn't receive the fax I sent two
days ago. The same fax that cost about $42 dollars to send 6 pages. Hmpf.
Since they are holding my $3200 hostage, I didn't feel as though we had a
lot of options. Still - just a bit disappointing.

Camera woes

Well, we have bad news on the camera front. I dropped the camera yesterday,
and broke the lens. It was our work-horse lens. The go-anywhere, wide range,
kind of lens. We now have only our super zoom lens. Oh dear. Needless to
say, the captain has relieved me from camera duty. And, if that wasn't
enough. Our little computer does not seem to want to read our SD cards. So
even though I can still take photos with our little camera, I can't seem to
upload them onto our the computer. Bleh. So...that is a long way of
saying...we have no photos for today's blog.

SO... In your mind's eye. Imagine. Cereleun blue lagoon. Lots of wee
fishies. Locals paddling their va'a (outrigger canoes) through the
anchorage. Oh yeah...about 5 charter boats that have anchored within 100 ft
of us. REALLY? In this HUGE space. Oh well. It normally wouldn't be so bad.
But since some french guy made a joke to John yesterday about Canadians who
only speak one language, our intrepid captain is pretty ticked off by anyone
hailing from the land of wine and cheese. In fact, John tells me that he
responded with a bit of german, with a touch of international sign language
to amp up the classiness factor.

On a side note, my french is getting better. I seem to be able to have a
very basic conversation, and ask for the things we need. Sadly, when the
locals answer me too quickly and I give myself away with that look of *DUH*
on my face, they usually switch to english, foiling any hopes I may have had
to use them as my practice victims. Even though we're almost moving on from
this french-speaking country, I continue to torture John with my daily
morning podcast of coffee break french.

We continue our leisurely circumnavigation of this island. We have noticed
that huge resorts have sprung up here in recent years...since the
publication of our guide books. Sadly, most of them are almost empty, as
tourism numbers are very depressed. The tour boats we see are almost private
cruises, and huge resorts have only a couple people on the beach or lounging
on their lagoon balconies.

Yet, we still revel in our cleverness in being able to anchor in a beautiful
lagoon, shared with a huge resort hotel, and enjoy the same snorkelling and
swimming, yet escape from the $500/night price tag.

We are currently anchored in about 12 feet of water at 016 31.98S, 151
42.32W.

Bora Bora

Here we are...in the land of honeymooners. If you've seen the movie "Couples
Retreat" - you've seen Bora Bora. It really is beatuiful. The lagoon is
clear blue, with small islets surround the main island.

We've been out on the sandbar, and saw many small manta rays, but have not
yet been able to snorkel with them. I think they know that we don't have
tuna to give them (like the tourist boats), so they aren't interested in
sticking around to play with us! I have mixed feelings about feeding the
wildlife to encourage encounters with us, but have to admit that they look
to be having heaps of fun out there.

We're so far ahead of the fleet of cruising boats that there is only one
other cruising boat here - Lady Meg - from Canada! But there are also
several charter boats around, so we're not completely alone. Yesterday, we
anchored with one other boat in 30 feet of clear water, with fish all around
the boat, in an area that would have 50+ boats in July and August!

We've been laying low here. Just hanging on the boat. A swim and snorkel
here and there. Yesterday we snorkeled an area near our anchorage, and while
there weren't many fish, we were pulled with the current so quickly,
swimming.

Today, we're heading to the main town here to check in with officials, and
do a bit of paperwork. Then, around the island. We may not have internet for
a few days over there.

The pics were taken on a small motu, with a great view of the main island,
and where a fisherman was giving some local youth a demo on de-scaling some
small fish they had caught with their net.

Current Position: 016 30.99S, 151 46.37W