https://tahititourisme.uk/en-gb/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Surf travels

27th July 202327th July 2023 funtime65

Gearoid has a board by the door, ready to fly off to anywhere in the world where the wave is up… surf travels buddy.

It goes without saying that Sligo surfer Gearoid is living his best life.

A life that takes him from Biarritz to Barcelona to Tahiti and all spots in between.

Seeing the great man walk on water in Barca on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas I’d back him against anyone in the world.

All of which hoves into view as we are reminded of the Olympics next year in Paris.

Where we are told only this week that the water in the Seine is clean enough.

For the first time in a century for competitors to dive and swim in it.

Although the waves are obviously not big enough for the surfers.

Swell stuff

Spray it again: Papenoo. Picture: Matarai Technicals

You might think that Biarritz might step in but our friends in the French Polynesia on the other end of the world have only put their hands up.

And for those of us still trying to master the board then the good news is that the season of lighter swells, October to March, is ahead of us.

On the north side of the island, visitors can find Papenoo’s wave, set on a black-sand beach.

Around 25 minutes’ drive to the west of the capital in Papeete.

Beginners are advised to stay close to the beach to catch a wave.

While those more experienced can head to the river mouth for the exhilarating breaks.

Water splash: Villa Ylangylang, Haapiti Moorea

While the Tahitians tell us that the Haapiti district of Moorea on the southwestern coast.

With its warm barrier-reef protected lagoon is for adrenaline=seekers.

You should head to the break near a reef pass or an opening in the barrier of coral which makes for safe rides into a deeper channel.

Now as a baby boarder, that’s still having to advance to standing up.

We were naturally taken by Papara’s Break on the south side of Tahiti Nu.

Located close to the reef shelves that feed Teahupo’o’s legendary waves, Papara provides an all-level playground.

With its consistent break over sand and easy-to-navigate surf.

While those who snorkel and don’t swallow (guilty) then Taha’a, one of the Society Islands, will give you the chance.

To discover an array of sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins and whales.

Board and lodging

Fun on water: Tahiti Ia Ora Beach Resorts, Punaauia

And no worrying about motels or flop accommodation here.

Surfers will tell you all about Tahiti Ia Ora Beach Resort. It is surrounded by sweeping beaches with views of Moorea in the distance.

Located close to the beach break in Papara, visitors can make this their refuge for some relaxation and recuperation post-surf.

Or Vanira Lodge which sits within walking distance of the three main Teahupo’o surf spots.

Visitors can recline on the veranda of their lodge overlooking Tahiti’s peninsula after a day of catching waves.

The Manomano Lodge is said to be the place for surfers who want to enjoy the all-level reefs of Papara.

Where you’ll stay under rainforest-clad peaks.

Now being an Intercontinental fan around the continents our eyes naturally fall on The Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa which is sat right on the water.

With picture-postcard views of Moorea on the horizon.

While if you really want to go native then visitors can fully immerse themselves.

In the culture and daily life of a Polynesia family in a family-run Tahitian Guesthouse.

And, of course, you’ll receive valuable advice on what to see, understand, feel and experience around the islands.

You’ll get a one-stop through LA round trip with Air France and Virgin Atlantic from £2,585 round trip.

Sport

Marathon mania

2nd October 20221st November 2022 funtime65

Men and women in spacesuits and the front and back of horses, it’s Marathon mania on London Marathon Day.

So we’re going right back to the start to 490BC and Philippedes who famously ran 26 miles 385 yards to warn Athens the Persians were coming.

Because, of course they didn’t have social media back then.

Nor sat-nav, cars or even signposts which of course we all have now.

Marathon, signposts for which you can see in the Greek capital, obviously makes a big thing of Philippedes.

And his modern-day successor Spiridon Louis, the first Marathon gold-medallist of the 1896 Modern Olympics.

All at the Marathon Run Museum.

Phil steam ahead

Of course the most authentic experience of all is to run Philippedes’s route.

Which you can do in the Classic Athens Marathon Race which runs in 12-13 November.

Maybe best not reminding you here of Philippedes’ fate after he’d crossed the finishing line of the first Marathon.

Phil, by which we’d know him now, had just enough puff left in him to write out the word ‘Nenikikamen’ or ‘we won’.

Before he collapsed and died of a heart attack.

Better maybe try a less severe Marathon.

Run the world

Maybe warm up with a London, Boston (the world’s oldest annual Marathon dating vack to 1897), Berlin (the fastest course).

Or if you really want to get left field then make a bucket list holiday out of it in say, Tahiti.

Where you can join the 1,000 runners in the Moorea Marathon, The Islands of Tahiti.

And pound the pineapple plantations and along the pristine white beaches.

So maybe you want to avoid today’s London Marathon mania well just choose your location.

Because everybody wants to run the world.

Asia, Countries, Culture

And not a minute tattoo soon

13th July 202013th July 2020 funtime65

Have you been needled by the tattoo shops being closed?

It was a treasured tradition long before the Millennials hijacked tattoos for themselves to get inked on holidays.

And you’ve got the permanent marker on your shoulder, forearm or ankle of your national flag or ‘Mum and Dad’.

To remind you of when you and your pal had them daubed in Majorca on your 18-30 holiday.

I’m all ears

For me and my much-storied Aberdeen Uni friend Toothy Aberdeen – a light in the north and www.visitabdn.com it was ear piercings.

As always I couldn’t hide it from my Dear Old Dad.

I took out the sleeper and it bled when I put it back in which meant I had to ask Dad, a GP for surgical spirit.

Cultural trip

‘You homosexual you’ve had you’re ear pierced,’ he shot back. Different times and in truth he treated every patient in his surgery with care.

Enough nostalgia already here is a scroll through tattoo culture.

Tattoo originated, not as I’d always thought from the Maoris of New Zealand but the Tahitians.

Their word is ‘tattau’ meaning to strike or tap.

Tahiti treatie

Tahiti resonates with us through the story of Fletcher Christian and the Mutiny on the Bounty and Paul Gauguin.

Tattoos signify social distinctions on Tahiti but they differ through the archipelago. And gender.

For men and women

On Marquesas the women get the better of the deal with tattoos applied to their faces, arms, legs and fingers.

While men had their genitals drilled.

Maybe go to the Society Islands where your privates remain private. Visit https://tahititourisme.uk/en-gb/.

Tahiti is the exotic and cultural trip you’ve always dreamt of and during lockdown they’ve been tempting us.

With food, dance and language tutorials, while you can also adopt a coral.

Asian adventures

Now I’m virtually there, it’s just a matter of doing like Fletcher Christian and staging a mutiny here from the Scary One and getting myself out there.

Because I do love a scattering of Asian islands… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/12/atoll-tale-the-maldives and http://www.kuramathi.ie/.

MEET YOU AT THE PARLOUR

Asia, Countries, Culture

Yoga-dabba-do – International Yoga Day

21st June 202021st June 2020 funtime65

I’ve come out of my Downward Dog to fulfil my promise to bring you my Part II of Yoga around the World – its homeland, Asia.

The theme of this year’s Yoga Day is Yoga at home and it helps, of course, when your home is an embassy.

And word reaches us that they’re all Zen-ed out from China to Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Yogi are urging us to use it to cope with the stress of COVID-19.

And who are we to disagree.

Addressing an event to mark the International Day of Yoga in India https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en.html Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said:

‘Yoga is a relatively low-risk, high-yield approach to improving health and its full potential must be harnessed.

And here’s where we want to go when we can get the mat back out out there.

Tahiti treatie

Practise under the palm trees in Tahiti: Oh, go on then. It’s a pretty secluded island so there won’t be anybody there who knows you.

Yogis can enjoy a coconut after you’ve gone through your stretches straight from the tree.

And perhaps a dip then in the South Pacific.

Try the Ohana Yoga School Tahiti https://www.atlanticyogashala.com/sharleen-gonnet/ who offer both classes and full courses. And visit https://tahititourisme.uk/en-gb/.

Buddha, can you lend me a mat?

Practise yoga in a Buddhist temple: If you want something a little bit different from traditional yoga to hot yoga then this one is made in Japan.

It’s shin-shin-toitsu-do.

Which I know you know is the way of mind and body unification.

This yoga dates back to the 20s and is still pretty much confined to Japan.

Go the whole hog and take a retreat in a Buddhist temple.

Where you can also dabble in meditation sessions and other Japanese ceremonies.

Many are offered with English-language instruction.

See https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/ and https://www.dairyuji-oga.com.