19 March -- Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

We entered the only gap in the atoll that surrounds the island of Bora Bora this morning at 6:00am.  This is the reason that the U.S. Army established a strategic supply base here in WWII.  

Sunrise entering the Gap of Bora Bora

We started the morning with a short walk around Vaitape before we met our tour.  An interesting fact is that there are 2 of every kind of shop with a 6 block stretch of Vaitape.  And again, a majority of the businesses are owned by Chinese. However, the influx of the Chinese was created because of the Opium War.

The coral reef atoll isolates the Pacific Ocean from the intercoastal deep water channel that circulates around the island.  This creates the variety of colors in the waters that is absolutely amazing!  The white line you see in the picture are the waves of the Pacific Ocean hitting the coral reef and filling the lagoon

Mt. Pahia and Mt. Otemanu are the 2 ancient volcanoes that form the uniqueness of the island this was another reason that the U.S.Army located here as the mountains were visible from a long distance.  It's rumored that they are decreasing in height about 6cm.per year

One stop on the tour was to see a demonstration of hand crafted beach wraps for women, and men too. This is a big "cottage industry" on this island. They tie-dye the cloth (from China!!) and spread it on large racks in the sun. The sun sets the dye and after they put stencils cut from linoleum on the drying fabric to create the designs.  The sun's light and heat draws the color from the cloth leaving pale images

The population is around 10,000 for the whole island, with a 1/3 live in the towns, 1/3 live rurally, and 1/3 live on the water.  A good supply of water is becoming a concern and desalinization is very expensive, but their only option at this point.  Gas is $9/gallon!!

We really enjoyed our guide and the compltete tour around the island finishing off at the famous BLOODY MARY'S Tiki Bar, one of the last of its style in French Polynesia.