My Dream Island
I share my time between the islands of Tahiti & Moorea (say Mo-o-re-a, “yellow lizard”), staying in Tahiti from Monday to Friday, and going to Moorea nearly every week-end: it’s a great getaway, located only 20 miles north west of Tahiti. If I could, I would spend 100% of my time over there, because it is the place where I am happiest.
I fell in love with this island, although I don’t really know why; I’ve always found it hard to answer this kind of question… I guess that’s because love cannot be explained, no matter how hard you try; it goes beyond reason and understanding, despite what some people may think. But I’ll try anyway…
There’s only one road going all around the island, with the mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other. The drive to go all the way to my place is the very first thing that makes me feel good when I get there: I love to look at the mountains and valleys, to check the different surf spots on the way home, to watch the colors in the sky (especially in the late afternoon) and, above all, to say hi every 10 minutes to someone I know, either driving or riding their bikes. It feels like home, way more than Tahiti, even tough I was born and raised on the latter.
Moorea is beautiful, with deep-green mountains, beautiful colors, white sand beaches and clear water everywhere you look. I love the south west side of the island even more, probably because it is so green, with fewer houses (great, that’s where I live!). It is a peaceful and relaxing place (if you’re looking for big parties and city lights, definitely NOT where you want to go): it is just great to have a drink on the beach with my buddies while watching the sunset, or to walk all the way to the same beach in the morning in my PJs with my glass of cold water to check the swell and the wind, and make plans for the day from what I see (“surfing or kiting?? Hmm, both I guess!”).
For sure, the reef breaks the island offers are great: you can find pretty much everything you want: rights and lefts, mellow or hollow… I especially love the one located 5 minutes away from my place, which is a great, long rippable left where most of my friends surf. Depending on the tide and swell direction, you can get barreled really deep or just shred the wave, turn after turn
I even enjoy the 30 minute paddle it takes me to reach the waves; even though it’s a fairly long one, I take advantage of this “me time” to look at the fish and stingrays swimming underneath my board, to appreciate the fresh air and clear water and to watch the mountains facing the break. I try not to look too much at the waves though, especially when they’re perfect, because then the paddle seems twice as long: “What? Nobody on this one? OMG, it’s soooo perfect! I’m not paddling fast enough, it’s going to be crowded when I get there! Gotta go faster, quick, quick!!!” You know what I mean?
As for the kite beach, it is probably one of my favorite places to hang out, and I usually stay there all day long: it’s a beautiful white sand beach with small coconut trees and a turquoise lagoon; there are kites flying everywhere (duh!) and easy going people laughing, chatting, cheering on each other, and playing ukulele between 2 kite sessions. I love to rest in the shade of “my tree”, talking with the girls, drinking water and snacking on cookies, while watching my friends doing mind-blowing tricks, before going back in the water for my second or third session (yep, up to 4 sessions a day!)…
I also love to ride my bike to the north shore of the island, all the way to the bays where I get to see the sailboats & catamarans anchored in the lagoon. When I reach the first bay after a 35 minute ride, I usually turn right and keep biking inland, following a narrow road that goes up in the mountains, where I end up having a great view over the 2 bays with Mount Rotui in between.
The island also offers a great variety of trails to go hiking, from very easy to incredibly challenging, from 30 minutes to more than 3 hours. It’s a great workout, and a nice change from being in the water all day (but to tell you the truth, I only do that when there’s no waves and no wind). I love to walk and run uphill in the tropical woods, to cross the rivers, to look for wild pigs’ traces (although I wouldn’t be very happy to face one) and to admire the view over the ocean and the island when I reach the end of the trail.
Wow… I’ve just realized that writing these words helped me understand why I love this island so much: because when I’m in Moorea, my life is all about fun & friendship, in breath-taking surroundings.
Hhhmmm, interesting… I guess that love can be explained, after all…
Vainui
Photos by: Fabrice Chiausa
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