Mr. C’s Adventure to French Polynesia and Fiji

My journey started off with elegance and luxury at its core. When you think of an overwater bungalow, you think Bora Bora right? Superb, because that was what I wanted to experience primarily. I needed that picturesque, iconic landscape of blue skies, with mountains in the background, and in the foreground clear blue-green waters with an overwater bungalow that would be my habitat for several days. Enter Le Bora Bora, part of the Pearl Resorts by Relais Chateaux.

I was absolutely blown away by the pristinely manicured beaches. They were so spotless; I did not want to even weep with joy for fear of adding any kind of blemish to the land in front of me. The colors of the water; how to even describe the spectrum of blues, turquoise, and everything leading into the sea? I can only say that this is something that needs to be experienced by all. You need to stay at least once in your life.

I do need to take a quick pause to mention that I also stayed at the Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts as well. This sister property to La Bora Bora had one of the most memorable meals of all time. So, Taha’a is secretly known as Vanilla Island, so they put it in everything including mashed potatoes. As good as the mashed potatoes were, even better was the most delectable vanilla pumpkin soup. It was simply phenomenal.

The overwater bungalows were indeed as amazing as they are rumored to be. You can jump them off and into the water, as it is only about 4 feet deep. I loved the side excursion where I could swim with the sharks and manta rays. I already familiarized myself with the manta rays at my bungalow. I had a private little dining area with tables and chairs in the water. It was shallow enough that periodically, manta rays would come by and in their curiosity, occasionally, they would nibble at my toes!

Believe it or not, there was even AC in them! Not that I needed it with that natural ocean breeze coming in, but listen, if you are the type who needs AC to relax, it is there. Speaking of sleep, let me tell you about those clouds they plucked from the sky and strategically placed into the room. Talk about comfort! I slept so well! Some people get a little bit of sleep here and some rest there when they travel. In Bora Bora, I was able to sleep and rest!

After Tahiti, I went to Fiji. It should be noted for those unfamiliar with travel between the 2 countries, that there is a weekly limitation on the number of flights between Tahiti to Fiji. In my case, that meant I had to fly into Auckland, New Zealand, then turn around and check into Fiji. I had a private greeter, and she handled everything. When I entered the Fijian village I stayed at, I was welcomed by the whole tribal community. They went out of their way to welcome me into their community. I had a warrior’s welcome upon my arrival and some of the woman there gave me the grand tour. It was such a warm welcome, and the perfect introduction to such an amazing culture. This was greatly enhanced by my snorkel buddy. If you decide to snorkel, you will have a Fijian by your side the whole time to guide you, and assist. The place I stayed at was huge and had intricate beadwork and art, with my own plunge pool. It was just incredible; an excellent way to end my 3-week adventure.

Stay tuned for my next trip!

Hi! I’m Mr. C! Full-time solo world-traveler. I spent a lot of time indoors working, so I had a vision and a goal once I hit retirement: I would see beaches all over the world, and whatever wonders came with it. After thinking things through, I concluded I would travel for 3 weeks, every 2-3 weeks, soaking up the beauty of new places and just living life to the fullest. What’s my secret to making this happen? Susanne Hamer. She’s not just any travel agent. I chose her because I saw she had been featured on Travel and Leisure’s A-list 19 times! I thought to myself, if she was featured that much, she must be doing something right. I decided to reach out to her and haven’t looked back since. Look for my new blog series where I’ll share my adventures with you—picturesque beaches, incredible cultures, and the unforgettable stories in between. Friends that see me after my travels constantly tell me I look 20 years younger. I have only one conclusion: that is the magic power of travel. Take a long vacation, look 20 years younger! If my journey inspires you, take the leap, and let Susanne guide you to your next adventure. Trust me, you’ll never look back! 🌴✈️