Return to Moorea,
This is our second stop in Moorea and this time we have a booked tour. It is through Cruise Critic and we are going for a 6 hour Lagoon tour with lunch. There is some joking about this not being like a Gilligan’s Island adventure.
We are tendered over to the island and before the tour I am able to get my pearl earrings.
Soon we are met by the tour organizer and after a bit of a wait we are taxied over to Cooks Bay from Opunohu Bay. It is a short scenic drive and soon we arrive at the waiting launch. It is full and we learn that they almost left without us.
We board our covered launch and away we go.
Our guide is an unusual looking fellow. He has long dreadlocks and there is some white in his short stubbly beard. He is short with a large chest and small hips and legs. He begins to welcome us on board by speaking in French, Tahitian, Italian, Japanese, German and English.
We are very impressed. He tells us all about what we are about to do and points out the features of the areas we are passing.
At one point they stop the launch and he dives into the water and swims underwater for what I thought was a long time. He retrieves 2 large shells the he called seven fingers.
He passes them around and points out the animal inside. I am surprised by how heavy the shell is.
After we all have had a good look and taken pictures he returns the shell to the water.
Our next stop is in an area of very shallow water. The stairs are lowered and most enter the water. Here there are sting rays and pencil fish and black tip sharks. Our guide Sic See gets into the water and proceeds to feed the rays and to escort them to each of us so we can pet them and feel how very soft they are.
I am shocked by the number of sharks in the water. At one point Ken was surrounded by a school of at least 30 of them. They told us that these sharks are not dangerous but somehow I was still nervous. They were sharks after all. I was in the water but I did not try to snorkel. I just walked and petted the rays.
At one point Sic See lead the group to a spot where he knew there would be a Morey eel. I didn’t go but apparently he was a rather large specimen.
After everyone has had their fill we return to the launch and off we go again. After a bit of a tour we arrive at the motu. There are many motu around the lagoon. A motu is a small coral or sand islet. They are well trees and have beaches of coral. Water shoes are necessary because the rocks and coral are very hard on your feet.
The launch pulls in quite close and we have to wade in the water to get to shore.
Within 5 minutes of our arrival it is happy hour. They are serving rum punch, beer, juice and water. I get a rum punch and claim a spot at one of the tables. The table is under a shelter with a thatched roof and it looks out onto the lagoon. I can’t believe how beautiful it is. It is very hot and I am glad to have a shady spot.
Son it is time to eat but first we are treated to a food preparation demonstration. Sic See prepares a local special dish called “Poison Cru”. It is actually tuna that is cooked in salt and lime juice and coconut milk. It also has tomato and onion and cucumber. He picks one of the ladies to help and of course makes it lots of fun...
Normally I do not eat raw fish but I did try this. It wasn’t bad but I am not yet a sushi convert.
Our meal also includes cooked tuna, chicken, rice, corn, and rolls. There is also fresh pineapple and bananas. Of course there is more punch. This time I have water.
After dinner there is time to play in the water. Some people snorkel.
The final event is a demonstration of coconut husking. Again he makes it fun by having a husking competition between 2 men.
I got picked on for the demonstration of shredding and making coconut milk. I am still combing coconut out of my hair 2 days later even though I shampooed. It is almost like dandruff in the way it sticks to your hair.
Soon it was time to head back. This time we were taken directly to Opunohu Bay and we did not have to have a taxi drive back to the tenders.
This was a wonderful shore excursion that will be long remembered.
We are tendered over to the island and before the tour I am able to get my pearl earrings.
Soon we are met by the tour organizer and after a bit of a wait we are taxied over to Cooks Bay from Opunohu Bay. It is a short scenic drive and soon we arrive at the waiting launch. It is full and we learn that they almost left without us.
We board our covered launch and away we go.
Our guide is an unusual looking fellow. He has long dreadlocks and there is some white in his short stubbly beard. He is short with a large chest and small hips and legs. He begins to welcome us on board by speaking in French, Tahitian, Italian, Japanese, German and English.
We are very impressed. He tells us all about what we are about to do and points out the features of the areas we are passing.
At one point they stop the launch and he dives into the water and swims underwater for what I thought was a long time. He retrieves 2 large shells the he called seven fingers.
He passes them around and points out the animal inside. I am surprised by how heavy the shell is.
After we all have had a good look and taken pictures he returns the shell to the water.
Our next stop is in an area of very shallow water. The stairs are lowered and most enter the water. Here there are sting rays and pencil fish and black tip sharks. Our guide Sic See gets into the water and proceeds to feed the rays and to escort them to each of us so we can pet them and feel how very soft they are.
I am shocked by the number of sharks in the water. At one point Ken was surrounded by a school of at least 30 of them. They told us that these sharks are not dangerous but somehow I was still nervous. They were sharks after all. I was in the water but I did not try to snorkel. I just walked and petted the rays.
At one point Sic See lead the group to a spot where he knew there would be a Morey eel. I didn’t go but apparently he was a rather large specimen.
After everyone has had their fill we return to the launch and off we go again. After a bit of a tour we arrive at the motu. There are many motu around the lagoon. A motu is a small coral or sand islet. They are well trees and have beaches of coral. Water shoes are necessary because the rocks and coral are very hard on your feet.
The launch pulls in quite close and we have to wade in the water to get to shore.
Within 5 minutes of our arrival it is happy hour. They are serving rum punch, beer, juice and water. I get a rum punch and claim a spot at one of the tables. The table is under a shelter with a thatched roof and it looks out onto the lagoon. I can’t believe how beautiful it is. It is very hot and I am glad to have a shady spot.
Son it is time to eat but first we are treated to a food preparation demonstration. Sic See prepares a local special dish called “Poison Cru”. It is actually tuna that is cooked in salt and lime juice and coconut milk. It also has tomato and onion and cucumber. He picks one of the ladies to help and of course makes it lots of fun...
Normally I do not eat raw fish but I did try this. It wasn’t bad but I am not yet a sushi convert.
Our meal also includes cooked tuna, chicken, rice, corn, and rolls. There is also fresh pineapple and bananas. Of course there is more punch. This time I have water.
After dinner there is time to play in the water. Some people snorkel.
The final event is a demonstration of coconut husking. Again he makes it fun by having a husking competition between 2 men.
I got picked on for the demonstration of shredding and making coconut milk. I am still combing coconut out of my hair 2 days later even though I shampooed. It is almost like dandruff in the way it sticks to your hair.
Soon it was time to head back. This time we were taken directly to Opunohu Bay and we did not have to have a taxi drive back to the tenders.
This was a wonderful shore excursion that will be long remembered.
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