Blissful and beautiful: the spectacular textiles of Tahiti
Tahiti. Moʻoreʻa. Bora Bora. What are you picturing?
Are you envisioning a beautiful tropical island with palm trees, crystalline waters and a good Mai Tai awaiting you? While it is a spectacular location, it is also an expensive destination. It is often viewed as a luxury destination for good reason. Getting here is costly, and frequently there are many beautiful and interesting places to travel closer. Not many people travel to French Polynesia, but that is well worth the visit if your budget permits. To be crystal clear, it’s not a criticism; instead, it is an acknowledgment that the world over travel has become something that is even more so not accessible to all. I think it’s essential to acknowledge our privilege. Moving on from that, let’s continue.
The landscapes, people, and culture are so welcoming, and you are invited to haere maru (that’s, take it easy in Tahitian). I first discovered French Polynesia in 2000 and quickly fell in love with the country, the people, and their culture.
Ia Orana (Hello)
The music
“E Vahine Maohi e” by Fenua - Guy Laurens
This song, released in 1999, epitomises the period and feel of French Polynesia for an individual who had consistently grown up in an urban environment far from the sea. The people, culture, and landscapes drew me in and were incredibly genuine. I grew to love Tahiti and Moʻoreʻa and would spend time between the two over the years. But I also enjoyed visiting the incredible island of Bora Bora.
To’u utuafare (My family)
My uncle had moved here years ago, married a local vahine (woman) and raised a family here. My auntie’s family were from the island of Takaroa in the Tuomotu islands. Living in Australia meant I hadn’t grown up with my cousins and I was eager to get to know them better and see what opportunities awaited me in the islands.
Ehia moni te’ie? (What is the price of this?)
When in Moʻoreʻa, I would spend most of my time shuttling between the port of Vai’are and the village of Pao Pao in Cook’s Bay. Going for walks in the valley and seeing the stunning view from Mount Rotui. I enjoyed discovering the markets in Papeete and losing myself in the fabric shops. So many beautiful fabrics caught my attention and inspired me to create. There was no fear of being “too colourful” or “too busy”. I enjoyed exploring different suburbs like Pirae, Mahina, and Teahupo’o.
Mauruuru (Thank You)
There are so many photo and video opportunities on these islands. Landscapes that you can’t find anywhere else and you want to record in your memory forever. Although much can be recorded, it can often be hard to capture the moment exactly as you want it and convey it to others is almost impossible. However, if you’d like to get a taste of what you can experience in the islands you can certainly let your imagination run wild by checking out my cousin’s YouTube channel at:
Sandrine Breugnot
Nana (Goodbye), Sophie
There will be more posts to come in future on French Polynesia and also New Caledonia. So, if you’re interested in the personal experience of a person who is NOT a tourist or on their honeymoon. Check back here or subscribe so that you miss any updates.