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Tahiti
is a multi-racial mix of Polynesians of Maohi (Maori) extraction,
Europeans, Asians and mixed races. A handsome people, they are noted for
their hospitality, friendliness and easy going nature. They speak French
and Tahitian which are the two official languages, but English is spoken
in the hotels and shops.
History
Hundreds
of years after the ancient Polynesians created a Pacific base for their
huge voyaging canoes, explorers like Mendana, Quiros, Le Maire, Schouten,
Roggeveen and Byron made brief unplanned visits to the Tuamotu Atolls and
the Marquesas Islands in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
Later
in the 18th century explorers such as Bougainville, Wallis, Vancouver and
Cook 'discovered' Tahiti and called it the 'Garden of Eden'. Captain
Cook returned three times to study the transition of Venus, Captain Bligh
came to collect seedlings from the wondrous 'Uru' or breadfruit tree and
the insubordinate Fletcher Christian returned to the islands that caused
the mutiny on the Bounty.
Before
the arrival of the Europeans, the islands were divided into districts,
each governed by a Chief. When Pomare V abdicated in 1880 the islands,
previously a protectorate of France, became a French Colony, and in 1957
French Polynesia became a French Overseas Territory. Nature
Lush
vegetation grows high above the lagoons and bays and floral scents
permeate the tropical air. A myriad of tropical flowers grow throughout
the Tahitian islands. The national flower is the Tiare, a heavily scented
gardenia which forms the basis of the traditional 'lei' necklaces.
Lush
vegetation grows high above the lagoons and bays and floral scents
permeate the tropical air. A myriad of tropical flowers grow throughout
the Tahitian islands.
The national flower is the Tiare, a heavily scented
gardenia which forms the basis of the traditional 'lei' necklaces.Sights
You
can visit Point Venus where Captain Cook camped to observe the transit of
the planet Venus in 1769, visit the Faarumal waterfalls, and at Taravao on
the strategic isthmus joining the two Tahitis, wander through an old fort
built by the French in 1844.
Don't
miss the Gauguin Museum in the Papeari district which is set in exotic
botanical gardens and the fruit, vegetable and flower market in central
Papeete.
Food
& EntertainmentTahitian
'tamaraa' or feasts can be arranged through local tour operators.
Most hotels offer regular Tahitian entertainment and there are
nightclubs, bars, and sidewalk cafes open all hours.
Accommodation
& Transport
International
resorts and hotels rest alongside motels, lodges, small pensions
and for the budget conscious, rooms for rent in a family home.
There are also youth hostels and a campsite at Hiti Mahana Beach
Club with cooking facilities and a shared fridge.
Le
Truck is Tahiti's public bus service. The destination is posted on
top of each Le Truck, which always begins and ends its round trips
at the public market in the centre of Papeete. It is possible to
travel between islands now not only by plane, but by high speed
ferry, the Ono Ono. It takes approximately 5 1 /2 hours to get to
Bora Bora from Papeete.Activities
& Shopping
Diving,
snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing, deep sea fishing and surfing
are available throughout Tahiti. Tennis is played at many resorts
and at the country club. There's also squash, golf and bowls,
bushwalking and trekking inland, horse riding, and mountain
climbing. Speedboats are available for water skiing and there are
glass-bottom boats for viewing the coral reefs.Bright
'pareus' or T-shirts are popular souvenirs, and also Polynesian
fashion, shell jewellery, the famous
black pearls, French perfume
and handicraft.
For
more general information
on French Polynesia, go to: |
