Moorea
Review
When I went to Moorea in 1995 with my sister, it was
the best vacation I had ever had in my life up to that
time. There is practically nothing to do there except
relax and restore yourself. It was just exactly what
I needed at that time in my life.
What we did:
1. Stayed at Cooks Bay Resort (I think it is no longer
there).
2. Snorkeled from shore (this was 5 years before I
became a certified diver). Just off shore from the resort
where it faces on to Cooks Bay is a wall which made
for incredible snorkeling. It was like swimming in an
aquarium. Beautiful.
3. Went for a hike in the rain forest to find a waterfall.
We didn't find it, but had a blast trying.
4. Rented a "car" for the day to drive around
the island and do site inspections of resorts. (This
was my one day of real work on the trip.)
5. Went to the distillery where you can sample liquors
from almost fruit juice to knock-your-socks-off alcohol
content. We started at the low alcohol end and worked
our way up to pretty potent.
6. At the bottom of the hill where the distillery is,
we stretched out on the grass next to the ocean and
took a nap in the shade of palm trees.
7. Ate amazing French food at small restaurants within
walking distance of the resort. The owner would drive
us back to the resort after dinner. Very casual. Quite
affordable considering that the seafood was fresh and
varied. Lobster for 2 with wine was about $20 each.
8. Bought bottles of French wine for a few bucks each.
Had so many that on the last day we shared them with
resort staff & guests who brought out snacks and
other drinks. It was a spontaneous pool party.
9. Bought bread, fruit, cheese, crackers at local open
air markets to have for breakfast & lunch. Really
helped keep down vacation costs...
10. Swam with dolphins at the Intercontinental Moorea.
It was a lifelong dream come true.
11. We swam with sharks. I can't believe it but we
did! Our guide took us out to the opening in the reef
where the ocean rushes thru the gap and anchored there.
He tossed his 2-yr old son in a life ring in the water
(to reassure us of the safety) and then, while we hung
onto the outrigger with our legs dangling in the water,
he fed the reef sharks by hand. The sharks were huge!!
When all the food was eaten, we put on our fins, ducked
under the outrigger, and let the current sweep us into
the lagoon and towards shore. We were past the sharks
in seconds and flying past coral heads and brilliant
colored fish. When we were slowed enough, the boat picked
us up and took us back to the resort. It was amazing!
