Our Favourite Fish So Far

The 6:00 alarm wasn’t welcome this morning. It had been raining overnight so it was warm and humid when we got up. Finished packing then breakfast before a 7:30 pickup for the airport for our next flight. Today, we were travelling to Raiatea, another short flight away. We got to the airport about 7:45; it took 5 minutes to check-in then a short wait until the plane arrived. We were soon boarded and on our way – it’s only a 15 minute flight this time. We were on the right of the plane so we saw Raiatea’s sister island – Ta’haa – as we landed. They share the same lagoon and were formed from the same volcano a few million years ago.

Our driver was waiting for us; she hugged us like long lost friends. We arrived at our new hotel – Raiatea Lodge – at about 8:45. It only took 1h15 door to door from our previous hotel – Air Tahiti are very efficient. The room is hay fever sufferers nightmare – there are flowers everywhere, it seemed a shame to sit anywhere and spoil them.

We decided to take it easy this morning – even more so than usual. We caught up with emails and the news, and wrote a frew diary pages. Florence wrote a list of all the things we wanted to do while we’re here. Soon enough it was lunchtime, we shared a tasty goat cheese salad and a couple of juices.

It might have been a lazy morning but the afternoon was all action! The hotel owner had recommended snorkelling off the end of the pier opposite the hotel. We found some fins and were soon in the water. There were plenty of fish to see. I’m sure we see new ones every time we go in the water. One stood out though – a long thin bright yellow one about 75cm long – it wasn’t at all bothered by us and let us get as close as we wanted – it appears to be Chinese Trumpet Fish.

We returned to the hotel for a quick dip in the pool before changing for our next adventure – another cycle ride. The bikes couldnt have been more different from Huahine; only one gear, back-pedal brakes and most importantly, comfortable saddles. The road’s flat and smooth with very little traffic so it was a very easy ride. We rode a few miles down the coast, crossing a couple of tree lined rivers that disappeared into the jungle. One house had a sign on it ‘A Vendre’ (For Sale). Florence slowed down to have a good look.

Once we’d returned the bikes and Florence had re-organised the bike racks so the same colours were all together, I got us a couple of beers to cool us down. It was soon time for sunset. The hotel looks out onto the lagoon and the sun was quickly sinking into the palm trees.

There are a number of boats along the coasts suspended in frames with a rope and some wheels to lower them in and out of the water. They look particulalry good silhouetted against the last of the light. The lagoon water is very smooth, the waves all break on the reef surrounding the islands, so the colours of the sky were perfectly reflected in the water.

There weren’t a lot of vegetarian options on the menu but the chef managed to put together a plate of vegetables for me that was very tasty. After all our exertions this afternoon we treated ourselves to caramelised banana profiteroles for dessert.

Good news. Florence’s missing laundry has turned up at our previous hotel and will – hopefully – be sent on to our next one.