Escape to Bora Bora
October 13th, 2011
It took some time for us to decide on a honeymoon spot. We’re naturally very adventurous, not really the beach-going types so we thought about taking a long road trip. Then, after considering it for about 2 seconds we realized the added stress of that on top of a post-wedding brain was just asking for trouble. We then went through the usual suspects, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Greece however in the end, knowing that this would be the one time in our lives (that is, of course, until we become super-millionaires) to do something totally extravagant. So we thought of the most ridiculous place we could imagine going, and after a bit of investigation, booked a trip to Bora Bora!
We spent 6 nights in a hut on a small stretch of land the middle of the Pacific ocean. The ocean waves on one side and a bright turquoise lagoon on the other. Like I said, neither of us are “beach folk” but the silence and calm here were just heaven.
Real coconut milk!
The bungalows were simple but well designed and perfect for 2 people. Recently renovated they were a lovely and even had a section of glass floor in the center so you could look down and watch the fish! We had our own little porch with steps down straight into the water.
The resort we stayed at had a huge man-made lagoon in the center of the property which was home to tons of fish (all safe kinds) and a sea turtle refuge. We just discovered this when we got there but it was by far one of the coolest parts of the place. You could snorkel in the lagoon with the adorable sea turtles and not worry about any pesky sharks or stingrays.
After seeing these little guys I spent the rest of the weekend quoting lines from the sea turtles in Finding Nemo. “Duuuuuuuuude”. Ned didn’t find it nearly as entertaining as I did.
Cheesy but I couldn’t resist!
So much snorkeling.
Ah wonderful, wonderful shade.
The sun was strong here…so much so we both got some pretty gnarly sunburns on our 3rd day. We took it as a sign that we belong in Minnesota but were proud to at least achieve some sort of tan line. Most of the people there were ridiculously bronzed in that healthy, European sort of way.
So many breathtaking sunsets…
Dining next to the lagoon at night.
All in all, it was a perfect week. It couldn’t have been more relaxing and just the change of scenery that Ned and I both desperately needed after the past few months of planning and preparation. Everything I could have hoped for and now I can check “super-crazy-lux-tropical-vacation” off my bucket list. ;)
Also, I’m starting to upload my Instargram pics on Flickr and I have a few from our trip up there now. Check em out!
cheers!
my coworker just returned from a honeymoon in bora bora – and now i’m DYING to go
She also told me that breakfast costs approximately $90 a person and she spent $45 on a burger…
Still wanna go.
Your pictures are lovely!
Um ya. The one downfall was the prices. Definitely something to save up for. Luckily I found a package deal online so we got a really reduced price on breakfast & dinner (read: normal price). One drink was around $25 so needless to say I didn’t drink as much as I would have liked. That being said it’s still pretty breathtaking. :) Plus…with all that time I spent not indulging in food & drink, I probably ended up shedding a few pounds instead of gaining.
The place looks fantastic! I love beaches. Glad you guys enjoyed it a lot even if you weren’t beach types. I mean how can you not with a place like that?!
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.
Your photos are stunning! I loved seeing the interesting way you framed your shots. The stairs down to the lagoon, you standing behind the shutters with the sunlight, painted toes relaxing on a deck chair. Your photos just capture the essence of the place. Peaceful and relaxing. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Thanks Melinda! It’s not hard to take nice photos of such a beautiful place ;)
Beautiful photographs – Bora Bora looks like the perfect romantic retreat! It’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience but definitely worth saving up for especially for a honeymoon!
um…yes,…agreed with all these comments: photos = amazingness.