F P Question

chrisdurn18:19 UTC12 May 2008

Hi,

My wife and I are interested in visiting French Polynesia within the next year or so. We've spent most of our free time in the last 10 years visiting various parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Our style is not one of fancy resorts ---- more of simple lodgings for long periods - making friends with the locals - learning cultures - exploring all flora and fauna. Through a life time of reading historical accounts of FP and also a long love of Polynesia taditional music --- we've really started to think of coming. We'll always have our yearly visits to places we're part of ---- just hope for the similiar in an area further east in the Pacific. If anyone has any advice on a certain island or pension - I'd love to hear. I've been writing places and also have PM'd some folks who write much on this site. We're people who buy pigs and help schools and hospitals. Like to have fun -- but more importantly, like to make friends and make a bit of a difference. F.P. is an area that I honestly have no connections in. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Chris and Dale

newfie4322:49 UTC12 May 2008

When planning our trip to FP I found the forum at www.tahiti-explorer.com to be very helpful. You have a mix of locals and posters who have been there numerous times. You should find the information you are looking for there. I would recommend staying on the island of Huahine. Not as many people visit here and it has the charm of a small town. You might like to check out Rande's Shacks for accommodation. He is an expat American married to a Tahitian - they rent out a couple of houses on their property. From the wonderful way they interacted with us and their other guests they seem to be the type that would welcome people like yourself. We did not visit Maupiti but it is another island off the main tourist track that might be what you are looking for. Good luck with your search.

chrisdurn02:35 UTC13 May 2008

great............thanks

ejpiii02:13 UTC14 May 2008

Hi Chris,

You have email responses blocked, so this has to be open posted.

Sorry I didn't see this till now but I've been on the road for almost the entire month past.

Of course you can find "local Tahiti" places. I found local music on every island I went to, and there is much much more. On Tahiti itself I loved Pension Bonjouir's isolation from almost everything, but you could walk down the beach a few miles and get to Teahupoo which is the end of the paved road. Lots of music and stuff in Teahupoo as it is the center of Tahitian surfing, and totally world class for it, too.

Another place to look into in Polynesia is Tahaa, which has a thriving local music scene. I am told that this is equally true for several other islands but I have no direct experience so will leave it to others.

BUT, if you want something with much, much more local music than I saw anywhere in FP I'd try further east in Polynesia, matter of fact as far east as you can get, Rapa Nui. Also called Easter Island or Isla de Pascua, and actually part of Chile, the language and music are very much alive there. Also there are several hula halau (schools). Almost every week there are shows of some kind. Yes they are for the most part geared toward tourism, but remember Rapa Nui has little else except nice people, their history and culture and the moai to offer, so they're doing what they can. Plus its cheap unless you stay at one of the 2 high end places. IMHO one of them is probably world class (The Explora Rapa Nui) and can justify the prices it charges for the right kind of traveler. But there are myriad other places available and easily available-as long as you don't go during Tapati festival. Most of the island's people meet every flight to show the rooms/spaces they have to rent out. Chez Goretti had great food, nice-if somewhat spartan-rooms and reasonable prices.

If you have specific Q's feel free to write back at ejpiii (@) hotmaildotcom as I will be on the road for most of the next 5 weeks. Remove all the extraneous stuff from the email addie before using, of course.

ejpiii02:15 UTC14 May 2008

Just FYI when I say "its a walk down the beach" its a hike-through surf occasionally- of about 3 miles (5 or 6 km). The only way to Bonjouir is hiking or taking the water taxi.

chrisdurn02:42 UTC14 May 2008

Thanks. Sorry I had the thingy blocked. I have no idea about these things. I might post again just concerning "Music". So much of out time spent in Indonesia anymore revolves around music. It's so much easier to find good recordings of Polynesian music though --- and I know things are not as (forgive me) primitive - in FP. I'm realisitic, but also know there's got to be places where between church and bars/inns/hotels I could witness and support what I so much enjoy on my stereo here in Cali.........chris

1234mario09:13 UTC17 May 2008

I was in FP on october 2002. In Maupiti , also nice for walking and bike there were a 3 days Pacific Island music festival . Sorry, I don't about now.
we visited many Islands and if you 'll sleep in the Petite Pensionne it's easy meat people
FP isn't a backpacker place like Malaysia or Indonesia, I travelled there, and sometimes we were the only guest but in the evening we enjoi a beer whit a guesthouse owner and we made tiare necklaces
we like all Islands but in the tuamotu Fakarava to much .I's a Unesco protect atoll .
Bora Bora has the most beautyful lagoon . For us 2 nights was enough : many resorts and honeymoon people

Sorry, I don't speak English

chrisdurn05:48 UTC18 May 2008

thanks..........chris

raro00:01 UTC19 May 2008

If you want Polynesia but aren't wedded to the idea is has to be French Polynesia, consider the Cooks. Everyone speaks English, so it's a lot easier to meet locals than in FP. Easy access to music, etc. On the outer islands like Atiu, Mauke, etc., you'll be staying in small villages, easy to meet people.

Although I speak French pretty well, I've always found it hard to converse with locals in FP, as they prefer to speak Tahitian, and kind of resent the French.

anyway, just a thought.

I'd second Ed about Easter Island, esp. if you speak some Spanish.

F. P. Question Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tahiti & French Polynesia
chrisdurn18:19 UTC12 May 2008	Hi, My wife and I are interested in visiting French Polynesia within the next year or so. We've spent most of our free time in the last 10 years visiting various parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Our style is not one of fancy resorts ---- more of simple lodgings for long periods - making friends with the locals - learning cultures - exploring all flora and fauna. Through a life time of reading historical accounts of FP and also a long love of Polynesia taditional music --- we've really started to think of coming. We'll always have our yearly visits to places we're part of ---- just hope for the similiar in an area further east in the Pacific. If anyone has any advice on a certain island or pension - I'd love to hear. I've been writing places and also have PM'd some folks who write much on this site. We're people who buy pigs and help schools and hospitals. Like to have fun -- but more importantly, like to make friends and make a bit of a difference. F.P. is an area that I honestly have no connections in. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Chris and Dale
newfie4322:49 UTC12 May 2008	When planning our trip to FP I found the forum at www.tahiti-explorer.com to be very helpful. You have a mix of locals and posters who have been there numerous times. You should find the information you are looking for there. I would recommend staying on the island of Huahine. Not as many people visit here and it has the charm of a small town. You might like to check out Rande's Shacks for accommodation. He is an expat American married to a Tahitian - they rent out a couple of houses on their property. From the wonderful way they interacted with us and their other guests they seem to be the type that would welcome people like yourself. We did not visit Maupiti but it is another island off the main tourist track that might be what you are looking for. Good luck with your search.	1
chrisdurn02:35 UTC13 May 2008	great............thanks	2
ejpiii02:13 UTC14 May 2008	Hi Chris, You have email responses blocked, so this has to be open posted. Sorry I didn't see this till now but I've been on the road for almost the entire month past. Of course you can find "local Tahiti" places. I found local music on every island I went to, and there is much much more. On Tahiti itself I loved Pension Bonjouir's isolation from almost everything, but you could walk down the beach a few miles and get to Teahupoo which is the end of the paved road. Lots of music and stuff in Teahupoo as it is the center of Tahitian surfing, and totally world class for it, too. Another place to look into in Polynesia is Tahaa, which has a thriving local music scene. I am told that this is equally true for several other islands but I have no direct experience so will leave it to others. BUT, if you want something with much, much more local music than I saw anywhere in FP I'd try further east in Polynesia, matter of fact as far east as you can get, Rapa Nui. Also called Easter Island or Isla de Pascua, and actually part of Chile, the language and music are very much alive there. Also there are several hula halau (schools). Almost every week there are shows of some kind. Yes they are for the most part geared toward tourism, but remember Rapa Nui has little else except nice people, their history and culture and the moai to offer, so they're doing what they can. Plus its cheap unless you stay at one of the 2 high end places. IMHO one of them is probably world class (The Explora Rapa Nui) and can justify the prices it charges for the right kind of traveler. But there are myriad other places available and easily available-as long as you don't go during Tapati festival. Most of the island's people meet every flight to show the rooms/spaces they have to rent out. Chez Goretti had great food, nice-if somewhat spartan-rooms and reasonable prices. If you have specific Q's feel free to write back at ejpiii (@) hotmaildotcom as I will be on the road for most of the next 5 weeks. Remove all the extraneous stuff from the email addie before using, of course. Ed	3
ejpiii02:15 UTC14 May 2008	Just FYI when I say "its a walk down the beach" its a hike-through surf occasionally- of about 3 miles (5 or 6 km). The only way to Bonjouir is hiking or taking the water taxi.	4
chrisdurn02:42 UTC14 May 2008	Thanks. Sorry I had the thingy blocked. I have no idea about these things. I might post again just concerning "Music". So much of out time spent in Indonesia anymore revolves around music. It's so much easier to find good recordings of Polynesian music though --- and I know things are not as (forgive me) primitive - in FP. I'm realisitic, but also know there's got to be places where between church and bars/inns/hotels I could witness and support what I so much enjoy on my stereo here in Cali.........chris	5
1234mario09:13 UTC17 May 2008	I was in FP on october 2002. In Maupiti , also nice for walking and bike there were a 3 days Pacific Island music festival . Sorry, I don't about now. we visited many Islands and if you 'll sleep in the Petite Pensionne it's easy meat people FP isn't a backpacker place like Malaysia or Indonesia, I travelled there, and sometimes we were the only guest but in the evening we enjoi a beer whit a guesthouse owner and we made tiare necklaces we like all Islands but in the tuamotu Fakarava to much .I's a Unesco protect atoll . Bora Bora has the most beautyful lagoon . For us 2 nights was enough : many resorts and honeymoon people Sorry, I don't speak English	6
chrisdurn05:48 UTC18 May 2008	thanks..........chris	7
raro00:01 UTC19 May 2008	If you want Polynesia but aren't wedded to the idea is has to be French Polynesia, consider the Cooks. Everyone speaks English, so it's a lot easier to meet locals than in FP. Easy access to music, etc. On the outer islands like Atiu, Mauke, etc., you'll be staying in small villages, easy to meet people. Although I speak French pretty well, I've always found it hard to converse with locals in FP, as they prefer to speak Tahitian, and kind of resent the French. anyway, just a thought. I'd second Ed about Easter Island, esp. if you speak some Spanish.	8

F. P. Question