Winds whisper legends through narrow valleys;
Shadows glide along jungle-clad hillsides;
Shades of green climb steep slopes to volcanic spires.
The "Yosemite" of Polynesia, where harmonious voices
drift across the bay, lulling one to sleep.
Cook’s Bay, Moorea—The 10-mile passage across Sea of the Moon delivered us from the chaos of Papeete in Tahiti to this blue-green lagoon where only nine sailboats lay at anchor. Snorkeling the reef by the pass refreshed us after a morning of chores and projects. Neon angel and parrot fish zigzagged among the purple and pink coral garden. We floated within its silence.
Next day a “supposedly” easy hike morphed into a 4-1/2 hour expedition. We clambered up and slid along a twisting, muddy mountain trail, dwarfed by humongous ferns and moss-coated tree trunks, using banyan roots for steps and handrails. Red dabs of paint sporadically marked the path, more imagination than reality. The great adventure terminated in the tiny town of Vaiare where coconut ice cream cooled our sweat-soaked bodies. We were blessed to catch a ride back to the boat on Le Truck, the local bus.
One day we rowed ashore bringing fold-up mountain bikes. Fragrant frangipani, white tiare bushes, and multi-colored hibiscus lined the paved road along the island’s perimeter. Guava, mango, and coconut palms grew amidst the splendor around every curve. The cerulean sky provided a backdrop for craggy peaks and tranquil bays. Wandering the grounds of a resort, we discovered a “Yellow Submarine”! It was used for tourist excursions around the reefs for those adverse to getting wet. Enjoyed a dolphin show, but empathized with these playful mammals held captive instead of swimming free in their beautiful ocean, just yards away.
Belvedere Lookout, on one of our final days, presented an enchanting view of Cook’s and Opunohu bays, both encircled by lush mountains on three sides. The hike was 14-kilometers, but partially-paved streets graced us with a gradual ascent, plus a kind islander drove us a short portion.
On Moorea, as at most previous stops in French Polynesia, we are continually greeted with “Ia Orana” or “Bonjour” by friendly locals. Life is simple and slow on this Society Island, tempting us to linger a few more days or weeks. But there are more islands to explore and a limited time before hurricane season hits. Also, Polynesian melodies rising from the church remind us that La Fete is drawing near. The 14-day holiday celebrates Bastille Day. People gather from all over French Polynesia for singing and dancing competitions. Our plan is to be in Bora Bora for the festivities.
I glimpsed a small slice of heaven on earth while in Moorea. Yet our heavenly home will be so much more—beyond our limited imaginations. In the meantime, I hope each of you discovers your own piece of paradise here, while awaiting our eternal home…where the true adventure begins.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelations 21:1-2
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