Bora Bora - By Land and Lagoon!

This morning we have a 7:50 a.m. Star Theater meeting time to catch our tender ashore so we hung out our Room Service breakfast order last night. We both pretty much like our preferred hot beverage, me tea and Carol coffee, first thing each day. Carol and I each ordered a selection of fresh melon which arrives as a pretty arrangement of thinly sliced honeydew, cantalope, and watermelon with a raspberry and a blueberry centered as though the whole thing was a flower on a very large white plate. Carol had a blueberry muffin and I had pain au chocolate as other sweet rolls are not offered this way. It was the perfect start to our day. Our first tour was a Glass Bottom Boat which held about 16 guests. The captain and guide were super nice, also in their blue guide Hawaiian shirts. Our guide To'oa had his ukelele so we knew what was coming. All of our guides have been lively and tell good stories. He was as well. We had booked this as a back up in case no snorkeling happened. Just so you know, Viking includes one tour in every port. In some places this is all we do and then wander around on our own. Or we make our way to something specific one of us really wants to see or do. Here and on some other trips we go with Viking offered tours. Over time we have learned that their tour price is very competative and sometimes even less that outside companies like Viator. As long as what the tour is showing us or taking us to we are happy to go with them. Makes life easy and now, with COVID restrictions across the world, they are extra safe! This boat had windows at the bottom that were thick plexiglass and really quite clean. The row of glass was different from when there is one big window, everyone had to sort of lean forward and hang over the top of the box. The fish were maybe not awake yet but we did float our lightweight wood-clad foam boat over the reef and saw many of the same things we had seen when snorkeling. But, of course, not with the same excitement. When we got near to where others were doing the shark and ray swim we edged closer and closer so that we too were seeing Lemon Sharks and Manta Rays. A difference between Manta and Sting Rays is that stingers are bottom feeders eating worms, clams, and shrimp from the reef and near by. They live about 15 years. Manta's eat plankton and krill and live to be 50! There is maybe a lesson there for us. During our float-about To'oa played You Are My Sunshine. People in other countries often choose this to sort of honor the Americans. I guess it is easy and surely has been in many movies which, by the way, is where many learn English or practice it. As another guide once said, he learned "in the school of Netflix." To'oa then began to play one of my favorite island songs, Over the Rainbow, as sung by the Hawaiian Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He had a very similar sound and I really enjoyed hearing as we glided over the blue waters. When our nearly two hour tour was over we returned to the dock with enough time to have lunch, touch base with our friends who did not seem to enjoy their tour choices as much as we did. We then returned to the shore to do a Le Truck tour. Sounded a little goofy but turned out to be a lovely scenic ride around the island. Since it is so small, it was easy to stop at the best viewing places and even had time for an optional drink at Bloody Mary's! We opted out. But it was fun to see even though it is a direct steal from South Pacific since it wasn't established until 1979. The restaurant has a long pier since most transportation is by private boat. Inside, the polished rosewood log tables were set with bright red napkins at each place. A large Tiki was only partially visible until you went out back. It was not a serious one, of course. Everyone kept saying go to the restroom...so we did. The sink was a stone fountain. When you pulled the overhead chain, water flowed for washing up. In the men's room, I was told, the handle of the chain was a penis. Maybe that should have been reversed! After all, if you are going for drinking humor - go for it! We did learn on our tour that the children go to one of several church affiliated schools. Until only a few years ago the high school age kids had to go by boat to the distant Tahiti or one of the other islands. They stayed there Monday through Friday (some days I would have voted for that) but it is all government sponsored by France since it is, indeed, French Polynesia. We also learned that all medical care is also free and also government funded. The only hospital is on Tahiti. Each island does have a clinic for first aid, regular health care, and vaccinations as needed. About 75% of the islanders opted for the Covid vaccine, whereas in the more buisness conscious Tahiti itself, the number is 97%. Each of the smaller islands does have a government medical helicopter in cases of serious or emergency care. However, most births are given at home. Probably a good idea since putting a woman in labor on a helicoper for any length of time could be dangerous to her and the crew! We saw land crabs. The guide lured them out of their holes by tossing bright red hibiscus to them. The flowers were hanging from the wooded interior walls of our 'school bus.' It was wood inside and out but built on a truck bed. The windows were plastic that simply raised and lowered by pulling on them. To keep them closed during the rain shower we had, you pulled them up, pushed the bottom outwards to rest on a slat on the outside portion of the wood. You could easily see that the two brightly painted sides of the truck were nailed to cross pieces to look cohesive. I thhink it was all simply plywood! The weather was beautiful despite the fact that we are here mid rainy season. More sun than sprinkles for us. Our trip has not been hampered by the weather at all. Partly thanks to the fact that there are not many cruise ships sailing the South Seas and we were easily able to change landing dates. Thank you Captain! Dinner upstairs but in the AquaVite area of the cafe where you can dine AlFresco, and enjoy the sunset. We often have breakfast or lunch there. It was a very busy and really speacial stay here in Bora Bora. We finished the evening with a performance by Master Ventriloquist Don Baylor and Noseworthy! Carol was not a fan and left early but Helen and I found his jokes corny and slightly blue. He was amazing, I thought, with his ability to change his dummy's voice from his own and then also easily identify his female character's voice. Bringing Assistant Cruise Director Michael on stage boosted the laughter level as Michael played into the dummy role perfectly. Carol and I travel well together even though this is our first time sharing a cabin. Most times we are moving in the same route and share interests. We each also will go our own way when we want to do different things. We each try to give the other some space and private time and are happy to turn off the light at the same time in the evening after reading for awhile. If we don't match up we don't worry about it. May I end this post by inviting all of you to experience the South Pacific and especially Bora Bora as soon as you are able!