French Polynesia Island Hopping Mastered
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
Today’s guest post is by Roxana Oliver.
French Polynesia has more than 400 islands in 5 archipelagos. In order to see at least some of them, you need to master the hopping all around the place. You are lucky because all of the islands are tiny and you would not need a lot of time for visiting them, a couple of hours will be enough. So decide what it is that you want to see, and let us think about the best possible ways of traveling across your target destinations. Air Tahiti offers island hopper services which give you the opportunity to have as much stops as you need, so be careful about deciding which ones to include on your list. These are just a few you do not want to miss.
The Tuamotus
If you are keen on exploring the biodiversity of this part of the world, the Tuamotus is a group of islands you definitely have to visit. They are easily accessible form the Papeete and you can even reach them by famous cruises and enjoy the nature all around you. There are lagoons full of corals, fish and rays. You will be lucky to see dolphins in the afternoon near Unesco Biosphere Reserve where you can see sharks and barracudas. Do not waste your chance to see these species once you are in French Polynesia!
Bora Bora
The picturesque island of Bora Bora is 140 miles far from Papeete airport and it is globally known as one of the most beautiful places for spending your vacation. All those magnificent photos you have seen are nothing compared to the reality which is unsurpassed here. The perfect shade of blue will make your worries disappear as you relax by the water. The well-known overwater bungalows will leave you speechless. You should definitely opt for exploring Mount Otemanu, and Matira beach which was awarded the Travellers Choice Award for 2016.
Tahiti
First things first, you need to find the best solution for flying to Tahiti, which is booking a flight that will take you to Papeete. However, there is one additional way to reach and explore this island. I highly recommend Tahiti holiday packages that have some sort of cruising period, so you can explore multiple islands with no fuss and to see as much of this wonderful part of the world as possible. Why should you opt for Tahiti? Along with Bora Bora, this is the most prominent and famous island. That should come as no surprise if you only think about the picturesque sights it offers. Of course, you will have the time of your life sunbathing and swimming out there, but there are more things you should explore here. If you are interested in getting to know the native culture and heritage, you should visit the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands. And if you want to taste the local cuisine, the best island for doing so is this one and Le Merche is the place to do so.
Mo’orea
This island is not far from Tahiti, so if you are considering going a cruise, be sure to book this place in your travelling agenda. However, in order to fully explore this island, it is advised to rent a car instead of visiting it on foot. You will save a lot of time and see other places too. Once you reach Mo’orea you will need to explore the temples which will leave you breathless. There are also two bays worth seeing – the Cooks and Opunohu bays, and you can go snorkelling or sunbathing there.
Huahine
If you are looking for getting away from the melting pot of tourists, Huahine is the perfect place for you to unwind in peaceful surroundings. To reach it, you should fly to Papeete and take a 35 minute flight. Once you are at the airport, it will take you additional 15-minute car drive to the village of Fare where you can explore the archaeological sites and enjoy the extraordinary views.
If you decided to visit French Polynesia you need to think about which islands you would like to visit and the means by how to access. To do so, consider booking a flight to French Polynesia and then opting for a cruise which will make you experience more out of the surroundings.
Author Bio: Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing and follow her on Twitter.
Hi! I'm the founder of Culture With Travel and #CultureTrav. Please chat with us on social media and contribute in the comments! Follow @Nicolette_O
