Tahiti

Tahiti is part of French Polynesia. French Polynesia includes Tahiti, Moorea, Tetiaroa, Maiao, Mehetia, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Tupai, Maupelia, Manuae, Motu One. The island of Tahiti appears to be two large islands (land masses) connected by narrow and natural bridge. The entire island is surrounded by reefs. You can see large waves breaking about ¼ to ½ mile from shore.  There is one major road that goes around most of the island.  There is a potion of the Tahiti coast that does not have a road.  There is also a road that goes through the center of the island but you need a tough 4x4 vehicle to travel it.


Genuinely friendly people. Everyone wears flowers in there ear.  A famous Tahitian flower is called the "Tiare".  In many parts of the island you will see young men "spear fishing".  The spears are made from tree branches and will have a thinner sharper tip.  In some cases the tip will be made from a piece of metal.  Wood carving, painting, traditional dancing and other artistic expressions are popular.  The weather is always warm in Tahiti.  There are times that you will need a light rain coat or umbrella for short periods of rainfall.  In some parts of the year, it rains nights and morning to then clear up for a sunny afternoon.  In other parts of the year it may tend to rain late in the afternoon.  The hotel season is between December and April.  The Dry season is from April to June and again from October to December. 

Bicycles are a common form of transportation and fun for locals.  Although high performance surfboards are a commodity and expensive to purchase, you can purchase basic surfing and other water sporting goods at local food markets.  Tribal tatoos and tatoos of aquatic life are common amongst native men and women.


Europeans did not land in Tahiti until 1767, starting with Wallis.  Tahiti was colonized by the French thus French is official language of the country. Like most colonized nations, the language became a hybrid of the native Tahitian language mixed w/French.  Many Tahitians speak "Reo Mao'hi" at home. By 1842 France imposed a "Protectorate" status on the Tahitian Islands.  In 1996 Tahiti gained "Internal Autonomy" political status which led to its own government.  The local currency is The Polynesian Franc which is based off of the French Franc and the Euro.  In 2007 there are approximately 254,000 people living in the Tahitian Islands and 170,000 of them living on the main island of Tahiti.  The Capital City of Tahiti is called Papeete (pa-pe -e-te). The phone country code is 689. 220 volt vs 110 volt are the standard electrical outlets provided. Also be cautious of un standard entry way steps. There may only be a 1to 2 inch difference in floor heights, that are almost un-noticible.

Tahiti as a vacation spot is most popular amongst the French. You will also find Australians, New Zealanders, and Americas traveling to Tahiti. The approximate flight/travel time from Lax (LA, California) to Tahiti is 8hours.  Tahiti and neighboring islands have accommodations such as The Radisson on Tahiti and the Intercontinental on Moorea.  Travelers can enjoy tours, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, swimming, fishing, and sight seeing just to name a few activities.


There are many white and black sand beaches commonly called “plages”.   You will tend to find clear water beaches having white sand and scattered sections of reef. Some of the famous surfing spots located in Tahiti include Teahupoo, Papeno, Supinas, LaFayette, and Beach Combers. 


Teahupoo is a world famous surfing destination and host to major surfing competitions. Famous professionals incuding Thierry Vernaudon, Mark Occhilupo, Mike Stewart, and cory lopez have surfed this location. Teahupoo is located in the south east part of the island where the road ends. There is a small café that serves fish, hamburgers, and ice cream made from poi (Taro Ice Cream).


Tahiti is a great pacific destination.  Warm weather, exotic culture, and fun activities for all to enjoy.

Bahamas

The name "Bahamas" comes from the Spanish baja mar, which means "shallow sea". The azure waters which lap these islands are as warm and calm as the people who live there. Throughout the over seven hundred islands which make up the Bahamas, the locals abide by island time - a term of affection which describes the laid-back and slow moving all inclusive Bahamas vacation lifestyle. It isn't that hard to fall into this mode of living. Many of the Bahamas' islands are uninhabited or are sparsely populated, so it's easy to get away from it all and relax on beautiful beaches strewn with seashells. On the other hand, for those seeking excitement, Bahamas has something to offer everyone from shopping in the busy straw market to golfing on world championship courses to diving amongst coral reefs and ship wrecks. You can parasail and windsurf all day long, then dance the night away to the rhythms of calypso, goombay, and Junkanoo music. Bahamas may be laid-back, but it's never boring.

The Bahamas is made up of seven hundred islands most of which are islets (keys or cays) and rocks. The archipelago of Bahamas extends 500 miles southeasterward from the Florida coast, and is surrounded by clear blue water. The soil is too thin for most agriculture, but on the larger islands exotic flowers grow and there are areas of pine forest as well as rocky and swampy areas; and of course miles and miles of unspoiled beaches. Most of the islands in the Bahamas have escaped tourists' notice. The larger islands offer a high standard of tourist resorts in the Bahamas and a wealth of leisure facilities. Nassau, located on New Providence Island, is the capital of Bahamas. It is noted for its bustling straw market, where local craftsmen make unique straw items right on the spot. There are also sophisticated boutiques and shops catering to the discriminating crowd on Bay Street. A magnificent view of Nassau harbor is afforded from the battlements of Fort Charlotte, and eighteenth century fort with a moat and dungeons open to visitors. Nearby, the Ardastra Gardens feature pink flamingos and tropical flowers. Another scenic vista is afforded by climbing the Queen's Staircase (located at the top of Elizabeth Avenue), which is a 102 foot climb up steps carved into the rock which leads to Fort Fincastle and then to the Water Tower. Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 and is shaped like the bow of a ship. The Water Tower is the most elevated point on New Providence Island, reaching 216 feet above the level of the sea. Visitors take an elevator to the observation deck on top for panoramic views of the island. Another must-see attraction is Cable Beach, with its many restaurants, bars, and discos located on two and a half miles of golden sand. Paradise Island is noted for its all inclusive resorts in Bahamas located on beautiful beaches, and also boasts the largest gambling casino in the Caribbean as well as a fourteen acre aquarium and beautifully landscaped gardens. So there are plenty of things to see and do if the sunbathing, boating, diving, and fishing get too boring

A Bahamas cruise vacation is a perfect way to experience the islands from the comfort of a fun, activity-filled cruise ship. A cruise vacation is a perfect means to get a good tan, feel the sand between your toes, watch hundreds of unique species of Bahamian birds, animals and plant life, tour a pirate's museum and taste exotic island dishes. Some cruises also provide adventurous water sports like snorkeling, diving and windsailing. A traveler can choose from an array of cruise vacations to Nassau, Freeport or Lucaya, according to his budget and leisure.
Some of the major cruise lines operating in the Bahamas are Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruises, Holland America Line, Imperial Majesty, NCL and Royal Caribbean International. However, one should also be aware of a few cruising tips, like making reservations for restaurants, the spa and any shore excursions you plan to take as soon as you board and find your stateroom on the ship. It is advisable to buy snacks and sodas from a supermarket before you get to the ship; these can be stored in the fridge in your stateroom. One can also take these snacks along while visiting places ashore. As far as tipping is concerned, a traveler should make it a point to give an extra tip to the staff in case the services provided in the cruise are up to their expectations; tips are a major source of income for most of the crew members.
Some of the islands that a traveler can explore during a cruise are Nassau, Freeport and Lucaya, along with Miami, Florida. While on a cruise, a traveler can also undertake shore excursions, indulge in boat trips, snorkeling or diving, golf, swim with dolphins, or explore on a submarine.
The Bahamas is a picturesque place of white sand beaches lined with palm trees, and is a perfect place to just sit back and soak up the warm sun on a cruise line.