Shan in Japan

The brief visit to New Zealand was great and I managed to catch up with most people. Thanks to Air Tahiti Nui, we had a stop-over in Tahiti. The island of Moorea is just beautiful. As a tropical beach paradise, it beats anywhere I went in Asia. Tahitians live up to their beauty - must be that French influence on their diet. Muscular and well tatooed men power paddled their va'a canoes around the lagoon. The women were slim and gorgeous with tiare in their hair. It was a nice place to spend some relaxing time with mum. We stayed in a bungalow by the beach. It was a campsite basically and all the kitchen and bathroom facilities were shared. The Sheraton and Beachcomber resorts were beyond our budget, however that did stop us from using their facilities and lounging around the poolside;-) On Mothers Day, we went sailing on an out-rigger around the lagoon. Stopped off for snorkelling in some of the clearest waters I've ever seen. Friendly sting-rays would come up and you could pat them like a dog.  There were primo reef breaks for surfing -  I envied the guys paddling out.  We met a few Americans on the last few days who were there photographing the Billabong Pro surfing event in Teahupoo.  Good times drinking wine at sunset and having a chat.  The last day we spent on the Lagoonarium - a tiny island out in the lagoon with a marine park.  The place is teeming with fish and coral.  Turtles, rays and reef sharks were everywhere.  The American photographer took some amazing shots which I hope to get of the turtles.  There is nothing I can fault about Moorea.  I'm going to book in with Air Tahiti Nui for sure next time and make NZ a stop over on my visit to Tahiti!