Taha'a

It's 8:00 am and we are experiencing an beautiful scenic navigation through the Taha'a lagoon. It is just beautiful and untouched very few people inhabit the Island in fact I think just 4470. This Island is often called the Vanilla Island. The main reason to visit this island is for the beautiful motus along the northern reef.
The Paul Gauguin ship has its own motu for us to enjoy for the day but first Mike and I ( now that he is out of quarantine) went on an excursion this morning called the coral drift snorkel, it started with a 10 min walk across the island so that we can get above the current and let it glide us through a shallow lagoon that was just FILLED with coral. Writing this and telling you about it is one thing but seeing it was another it was just loaded with the most beautiful coral I have ever seen and sea anenimies everywhere. The first drift was great but it seemed like the coral was just going to scrape all of your body so you kind of had to look ahead to see where the water line was at for the person in front of you. Sea urchins were all over and I did not want to sit with a rum bottle all night plucking these guys out so I was careful. Once we were done with the first run the guide asked who was in for the second drift and that it was going to be even tighter! Only 4 of us went and I figured what the hell I have done so many things in this trip that I never dreamed about doing so on we go. Ok well it was even tighter and as the drift would take us across the shallow coral I had to make turns through open areas so that I could cross or get around the coral, saw many many fish species that I have never seen before and a large grouper and eel and lots and lots of schools of fish you just cant believe how many fish are in these waters it is incredible. Once we finished this drift we hung out at the beach for fresh coconut and bananas then off to our motu we went for our beach barbecue that the ship was doing for us.
Ahhhhh Motu Mahana it is unbelievable, this has been one of the best days we had on the ship to just chill on a beach day and boy did they pick a ideal spot. Just like out of a post card or magazine pic of somewhere you have always wanted to go but even better with service , walla .... hamburgers, seafood, salads just scrumptious and guess what a floating bar on the beach! Heaven on Earth! Mike and I had a little snack then back into the water to snorkel in the pristine clear water.
We all frolicked in the sun with our new PG friends not really paying attention that our skin was baking and looking like leather I could almost make you a new coach purse from my chest from the leather I was producing but oh it felt so good. Well not so much, later on we looked liked lobsters Mike and I were ok since we are used to being in that environment but poor Michelle has blisters all over her back and everyone in the dinning room that night was cooked, half the people did not show up because they were spent. Speaking of dinner every night on the ship has been a culinary experience, everything is tasty and the service had been incredible. We have felt like royalty.
We had a big day so it was an early night for us went to the crew show to watch the crew perform then night off to Moorea tomorrow!