Tahiti Eclipse

Rangiroa. (Copyright: Philippe Bacchet)

The largest of the Polynesian archipelagos includes 76 islands and atolls extending over more than 20000 square kms. Asleep for many years, now it has come back to life through the establishment of some 250 pearl farms and tourism based on rich scuba diving sites which make it a winning destination.

The very basic houses of the Tuamotu islands are charming with their typical whitewashed walls. The islanders tastefully decorate their rooms with “tifaifai” cushions, shell necklaces and shell art work.
Close by, it is not unusual to see the family fish park, where shoals of cavally, “duckbills” and parrotfish are swimming around. Children can choose a playmate from amongst the small sleeping sharks.

Motu (Copyright davidkirkland.com)

On the surface of the vast lagoons of the atolls you can often see the outlines of little jetties and pearl farm structures which are usually included in sightseeing tours for visitors curious to see how they work and to admire their pearls. Being far away does not mean isolation and lack of comfort. “Green” solar energy provides electricity and hot water and all the modern means of communication are available in these atolls.

On the other hand, water remains a precious commodity and every method of collecting it is employed, rain water storage tanks in particular. Far from the bustling city, the Tuamotu offer a lifestyle that the Robinson Crusoe in all of us only dreams of stepping out of your normal home environment into harmony with nature’s great ocean, between the sky and the sea, you soon learn how to live beyond the normal constraints of time.

Copyright: Jordi Chias

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