Tahiti's Top 10 "to do" list

Planning your trip to Tahiti and wondering what to do? Here is my top 10:

1. Papeete Market - soak up the local atmosphere every day at the center of Papeete.

2. Teahupo'o - the end of the road, mythical surf spot in Tahiti. Don't forget to catch a taxi boat to go watch the waves!

3. The 3 Cascades in Tiarei - perfect for a walk in exotic and luxuriant settings.

4. The Monoi Route - a tour of the island on the traces of this unique Polynesian oil.

5. Tahiti & her islands Museum - a natural and historical site where Polynesian history, culture, religion and environment come together.

6. Go diving - you will find numerous diving centers around the island, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy the warm waters and discover the treasures of the Tahitian underwater world.

7. The roulottes - enjoy an authentic Tahitian dining experience.

8. Visit a Marae - soak up some mystical vibes at Marae Arahurahu in Paea.

9. Sample Tahiti's traditional dish: raw fish with coconut milk.

10. See a Tahitian dance show - don't worry if you are not here during the Heiva, most hotels offer a Tahitian dance show at least once per week.

A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE HEIVA I TAHITI 2011

Traditional sports - Tu'aro Ma'ohi

Photos @ Chris Claverie

Photos @ Pierre Lesage

Dancing - Ori Tahiti

Photos @ Elsa Fernicle - Gregory Boissy - Teava Magyari - Matahi Vairaa

Singing - Himene

Photos @ Elsa Fernicle

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: MOENA BEST FEMALE DANCER 2011

A video of Moena Maiotui, best female dancer of the Heiva i Tahiti 2011... Enjoy!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: TAPA DANCE

The legendary Tapa Dance was banned by the missionaries when they first arrived in Tahiti & her islands. In this provoking dance, the beautiful vahine arrives wrapped in a tapa fabric which she unrolls as she dances until is bare breasted with a small pareo (sarong), her hips moving to the sound of the drums.

This video is a beautiful modern performance of the legendary dance, it shows a silhouette of the dancer against a white background...timeless

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CELEBRATING CULTURE

@ Greg Nagel

Great shot from the Heiva I Tahiti 2009 capturing the energy and movement of polynesian dancers...something for the ladies.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: MARLON BRANDO TAHITIAN DANCING

Marlon Brando during a UNICEF gala, singing and dancing to tahitian music... so glad I found this video! ENJOY.

HEIVA I TAHITI: POLYNESIA CELEBRATES JOY

@ Heiva Nui

The Heiva i Tahiti, celebrated every year during the month of July is more than just a festival, it is the pinnacle of cultural effervescence in French Polynesia.

The Heiva drags us back to the roots of Polynesian tradition, where legends and myths were born, and, for a moment, the entire population is invited to celebrate the revival of our culture.

From ancient times...

The arrival of the first Europeans and missionaries in the 18th century marked the decline of Polynesian art forms from the carving of tiki, to tattooing and dancing. Indeed, the dances were perceived as erotic and labelled as debauchery and prohibited in the name of  "teaching the untutored savage...and civilise and elevate him in the scale of humanity".  Undeniable sign of two completely disparate cultures coming together but also the announcement of the colonial reign and domination.

"A Dance in Otaheite" (Tahiti, Captain Cook's voyage) engraved by Heath after a picture by Webber, published in The Geographical Magazine, 1793 

At the beginning of the 20th century, tahitian dancing progressively makes it resurgence although the vahine are still prisoners of long missionary dresses and in 1881, the first Heiva i Tahiti takes place.

Tahitian woman in festive costume c. 1906

The resurgence of traditions marks the beginning of the Polynesian enlightenment, the resurgence of Polynesian arts with a contemporary twist. Two cultures had met, one trying to annihilate the other, but failing, and one culture was born which is a modern blend of both.

...to modern times.

@Greg Nagel Photography

2011, 129 years of celebrations, dances, singing, legends, spear throwing, stone lifting, canoe races, games and competitions will take place for the greatest pleasure of all. The Heiva and its palette of warm colors, the Heiva and its explosion of sounds... the meeting of creativity and tradition, passion and conviction, power and grace.

 @ T. Salmon / Tahiti Tourisme

 

                                  @ Grégoire Le Bacon / Tahiti Tourisme           @ Florian Cherreard / Tahiti Tourisme

 @ Florian Cherreard / Tahiti Tourisme

Bodies are submitted to the most demanding exercises, whether it is the gracious undulations of the dancers moving to the cadence of the music, the percussion musicians playing to a furious rhythm, the powerful bodies of the athletes, modern warriors showing their strength, ability and precision.

                               @ Lucien Pesquiz / Tahiti Tourisme                       @ T. Salmon / Tahiti Tourisme

                            @ Raymond Sahuquet / Tahiti Tourisme                    @T. Zysman / Tahiti Tourisme

@ Gregory Boissy / Tahiti Tourisme

The Heiva tells a story and in the gestures of the dancers, legends are reborn. Between seduction and decadence, the ballets are spectacular; they tell the past and the present of the Polynesian soul, traditions on a live canvas of modernity.

@Greg Nagel Photography

An outburst of emotions, effervescence, enthusiasm, frenzy, pleasure, passion, excitement, the Heiva celebrates the beauty of life and the joy of living of an entire population.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: AN HOMAGE TO MONO'I

This beautiful dance by the group Tamariki Poerani is an homage to the traditional way of making Mono'i, the sacred oil of Tahiti and Beauty secret of Tahitian women. Presented to the Heiva I Tahiti 2009, the dance received a prize for best aparima.

@ Tamariki Poerani