What a long and excellent day it has been. I can only barely believe we are in Tahiti. We arrived on Bora Bora this morning and are staying in an overwater bungalow with a glass-bottom coffee table. The snorkeling here is even better than Aitutaki- if that is possible. Le Maitai Polynesian is the name of our hotel.Today we tried SNUBA, a.k.a., AquaWalk. We went to a part of the lagoon called, "The Aquarium," and put on diving helmets like the old brass divers' suits had. This enabled us to walk on the bottom without coming up for air. We spent 40 minutes feeding frenzied schools of fish by hand. It was awesome!! We also spent a good deal of time enjoying one another and praising God for the absolute beauty of this place. I believe Bora Bora could convince even the most jaded atheist that there is a God. Unfortunately, we are so tired from our busy day and jet lag that we are both going to sleep now, even though it is only 8:30 at night. God, be with our children and help us rest unto renewal. Amen.
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6-11-02 Bora Bora, Society Islands, South Pacific
Well, its 8:30 again, and Mandi and I are almost ready for bed, again. We went on an all day excursion that took us all around the lagoon. We began by snorkeling @ the Aquarium, then went out near the outer reef and watched while our guide fed Black-Tipped Reef Sharks by hand. I thought I might be nervous, but I wasn’t at all scared watching them glide past us. Later we picnicked on a motu, but the highlight of the trip was feeding the stingrays. The water was shallow enough to stand in, and the ‘rays were plentiful. They’ve been trained to expect free fish. One went so far as to wrap itself completely around waist. It was amazing to watch them move gracefully among us as we floundered about trying to touch them. In fact, there were so many it was difficult not to step on one from time to time. The neatest part for me was two-fold: first, it was amazing to feel them nuzzle up behind you, two beings both wanting something from the other, literally bumping into one another in the crowd. Second, after the guide called us all back to the boat I thought to myself how neat it would be to touch just one more before going in. That’s when about 5 ‘rays decided I was their last chance for a meal. As I walked back to the boat a series of ‘rays came alongside me and glided past with my hand on their silky-smooth backs! Awesome!!
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6-12-02 Bora Bora, Society Islands, South Pacific
Today was much more relaxed but still full. Mandi and I ate a leisurely breakfast and toured the island on a motor scooter. Even now, our third day here, the scenery is breathtaking.
We also had great fun snorkeling here at the hotel. We swam out about 40 yards from shore and saw dozens of varieties of tropical fish. In fact, I think we saw more types today than at the aquarium. At first we just watched them hover near coral heads, but soon they came out to watch us. It was amazing-even better than the Aquarium because of the variety and depth of the water (we were in much deeper water today at the hotel). I took a picture of Mandi from under the water, I hope it turns out well.
One of the main reasons for this trip was for Mandi and I to rediscover God and one another. We pushed so hard for the last three years that our relationship to one another and to God was suffered- that is the bad news. The good news is that we are aware of our problem and are here to fix it. I love Mandi so much I want nothing more than to help her draw near to God. Lord, help me to do that. Help me to lead by example and help her to follow close, and help us both to be filled and engulfed, overwhelmed and submissive to your will and your Spirit. Help us to love you and lean on you and use us to help eachother in our daily walk with you. Amen. Please also bless the remainder of our trip to that end.
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6-14-02 Moorea, Society Islands, South Pacific
Yesterday we ate at a restaurant called La Lunareva, which means, “The Floating Boat.” It was a stormy night, so the rain blew in sideways through the windows and the boat rocked all through dinner. We ate with a newlywed couple we met at the hotel- Robert and Angie. Between the four of us we had barracuda, shark, tiger prawns, parrotfish and cuttlefish. (The Cuttlefish was a mistake.)
Today the fun continued with a 4X4 tour of the island- which was nothing special- and an hour of swimming with dolphins. Our 4X4 tour was less than stellar since the drought here has dried up the waterfall everyone wants to see. Still, the guide- Bubba- was very good. The dolphin show was excellent, meanwhile. We stood in about 3 feet of water and played with an Atlantic Bottle-nosed Dolphin that is trained here at the hotel by DolphinQuest.
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6-17-02 Moorea, Tahiti
We definitely stayed one day too long. We have had fun, but this place is extravagantly expensive, and yesterday I got bit by a large Parrotfish, and today it is supposed to rain all day. We are essentially stranded for nine hours in our hotel. Still, everything is beautiful and relaxing.
[I don't actually remember it as relaxing. I remember the last day as highly stressful. The fish bite wasn't serious, but probably could've used a stitch, and it hurt like like Hell. It happened on an island tour we took that left us snorkeling on a motu where we ate lunch. I was feeding the fish with a bread roll when this vicious sucker just comes along and bangs my thumb at full throttle. I sought first aid frim the guide, but all he did was squeeze a lemon on it. It killed the germs, but I nearly passed out from the pain. All I could do was apply direct pressure until we got back to the hotel and dress it properly. Wow, that hurt!] Adding insult to injury, it was there that Mandi lost a nice ($200) watch.] Our gift to the island. I won't go back to Moorea.]
