PHOTO OF THE WEEK: STORMY MOOREA by John Stember

Photo @ John Stember

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain"

Vivian Greene

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BORA BORA by Chris McLennan Photography

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! -Audrey Hepburn.

Happy New year to you all! Whatever your dreams, whatever your hopes, may 2012 be the year of wondrous travels and extraordinary adventures. Paradise awaits!

xoxo

Image @ Chris McLennan Photography

BEHIND THE SCENES OF MISS TAHITI: BECOMING THE MYTH

The Miss Tahiti adventure started in 1960 with the election of the very first Miss Tahiti, Teura Bauwens. As French Polynesia prepares to elect its 51st beauty queen during one of the most important events in Tahiti on June 24th, I wanted to know what it takes to embody the exotic and mystic visions of the first explorers.

Make-up

The Miss Tahiti Committee was kind enough to let me follow the 16 candidates to the 2011 title behind the scenes of the preparations. Between dance rehearsals, photo shoots, filmmaking, make-up sessions... I got an insight into the way these young girls live their dream of becoming the beauty queen of our islands. In a month, one of these 16 uniquely beautiful girls will bear the title of the most beautiful girl in Tahiti and her islands and will go off to participate to Miss France while her two runners-up will go to take part to pageants such as Miss Earth.

Styling

Today the Miss Tahiti Committee has finally revealed the names and faces of the 16 beauties who will attempt to charm the public and jury on the night of June 24th. I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming Miss Tahiti so I can only imagine the rush of emotions they will experience that night. But is the pageant really all about magic, dream and glamour... is being Miss Tahiti only skin deep?

Photoshoots and filming

There is also a whole preparation and production leading up to the 2 or so hours that the election will last and nobody has any idea, if not previous contestants. During their preparation, they will discover the real meaning behind the crown and the title; they will learn the legacy and the long standing ideals it represents. Beauty, glamour but also generosity, strength, character, education, humility…these are but a few of the values they will come to embrace and attributes they will have to demonstrate.

Team bonding

I will not reveal what the committee has planned for their public on the night of the election but I can say that this year Miss Tahiti is getting a makeover and the theme they have chosen for the evening, “The Dream”, will hopefully answer the promise of inviting us in a trance between beauty and tradition. So save-the-date: June 24th at Toa'ta!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" Eleanor Roosevelt

Many thanks to the Miss Tahiti Committee and contestants, Orama NOBLE (make up artist) and Matahi VAIRAA (photographer).


Note: All photos are blogger's own. 

BECOMING TAHITI'S BEAUTY QUEEN: FROM MYTH TO REALITY

"Polynesian beauties" - postcard from the 1940s

As I was on my way to the election of Miss Moorea (no, not as one of the contestants, as a member of the jury), I couldn't help but ponder once again on the mythical beauty of Polynesian women. 

That night, we, members of the jury were to decide which of the 6 young girls who have entered the contest would represent her island at the Miss Tahiti beauty pageant on June 22nd.

  

Mareva Georges, Miss Tahiti 1990, Miss france 1991, 9th runner up at Miss Universe 

I wonder if these girls who dream of becoming Miss Tahiti know that they will also become an icon of beauty. As the myth has survived until this day, it falls upon them to uphold the reputation of Polynesian women throughout the world. They too must be a figure of timeless beauty, a living representation of the myth. Tall lissom and delicate creatures with golden skin and long black hair cascading down their back, "strangely beautiful...a mixed race of Polynesian and white ancestry and the result is absolute perfection" (A. Sylvain).

Photo has been cut (shows nudity) @ Adolphe Sylvain

It is a great responsibility to be the face of your country, it is an even greater one to have to sustain a myth and compete with images of Paul Gauguin or the mutiny of the Bounty. As national beauty pageants may appear frivolous and useless to most, I believe that in a country which has built its reputation partly on the mythical beauty of its women, the choice must be made with great care. Indeed, our beauty queen now also partakes in international beauty pageants, so she is, more than ever, an ambassador of our islands.

Has there even been greater ambassador for Tahiti than the stunning Tarita Teriipaia who stole Marlon Brando's heart?

So is Beauty really all that is expected from a beauty queen…?

It is actually not that simple (and you thought anyone could do it !). First, there are the criteria set by the committee (height, age, etc.), pretty basic. Then there are the juging criteria and that’s an entire new game plan because you soon realize that even the most beautiful candidate might end up not getting the title. Huh ??? Well yes, being beautiful is one thing but Polynesian women are also renown for their smile, their prestance, their warmth…a combination of ingredients that will, in the end, seduce the jury and the people. 

As the face of our islands, she must be beautiful but also she must be someone the people will love and admire, a woman who will make every woman of the world wonder about Polynesian women's beauty secrets and every man dream of discovering a Paradise populated with beauties wearing flowers in their hair and shell garlands around their necks. 

She must epitomize our beauty and our values. A captivating, timeless, enchanting and unattainable beauty.

THE LAND OF MANY LAGOONS

Photo by John Stember

Electric blue, turquoise, azure, dark blue, indigo, ultramarine, light jade, emerald, iridescent green...a variety of shades of blues and greens often used to describe Tahiti and her islands' amazing lagoons which no artists's palette could ever measure up to.

aerial view of the reef of Bora Bora @ Pierre Lesage / Tahiti Tourisme

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away"

It is no wonder that the first explorers thought they had found paradise when they arrived in Tahiti and her islands, the largest marine territory in the world. How could one resist the appeal of such dreamy seascapes where  sea and  sky meet in an explosion of hypnotic colors.  An invitation to the voyage, a journey between heaven and earth where it is impossible not to fall in love with such alluring sceneries.

Bora bora @ davidkirkland.com / Tahiti Tourisme

In some islands, the immensity of the lagoon is awe-inspiring... Fakarava (listed on UNESCO's world heritage list) has a lagoon which stretches over more than 56 km. Rangiroa's lagoon could nearly contain the island of Tahiti.

  aerial view of Rangiroa @Philippe Bachet / Tahiti Tourisme

The lagoons of French Polynesia have not only attracted travelers searching for exotic horizons, they have also fascinated artists from all horizons. Henri Matisse describes this irresistible attraction best as he says:

 "Aren't you (Tahiti Lagoons) one of the seven wonders of the Paradise of painters"

These fascinating lagoons have been an inspiration to artists and photographers from all around the world, intoxicating body of water and colors in which in which losing oneself is so easy. Oh, the luxury of spending your days contemplating the horizon lost in dreams of mermaids and hidden paradise.

Photo by John Stember

Come discover the colours of paradise, the smell of the ocean, the beauty of infinite lagoons in search of beauty, authenticity and unspoiled sceneries, but remember, dreams and beauty are fragile gifts that require great care and respect.

Photo by Alexander Shelton

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PURE BLISS IN PARADISE

@ GIE Tahiti Tourisme - Grégoire Le Bacon

As I contemplate this photograph, I am transported into Charles Baudelaire's poem, Invitation to the voyage...and more precisely to one of my favorites quotes:

"There all is order and beauty,
Luxury, peace, and pleasure."

This photograph is a testimony of modern Tahitian women's beauty and it inspires serenity... Breathe in and enjoy this the peacefulness and luxury of a moment of pure relaxation.

So you want to come to Tahiti ? well stop dreaming and start planning your holiday! (part 1)

Bora Bora photo by Greg Nagel

"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other" Douglas H. Everett

A lot of my friends tell me that I am soooo lucky to live in Tahiti and how they would loooove to come for holidays. Indeed, Tahiti and her islands seem to be everybody’s dream holiday destination. A tourist office’s dream you’d say ! Well, not really, it can actually become a nightmare when the destination you are trying to sell is first on the list of aspirational destinations but this aspiration never actually converts into travel.

Why a nightmare I hear you say ? First, most people think that just because everybody would love to visit, your job to get them to come is a walk in the park, so when the numbers of people who dream of visiting Tahiti don’t add up with the number of arrivals, they don’t understand why. Second : very often, reality is nothing like what we have dreamed of, meaning a lot of dissapointment… so imagine, you have dreamt about paradise your entire life, obviously you have high expectations of what it should be like… well that’s the sure way to be dissapointed. Most people don’t want to be surprised and discover the place as it really is, they want it to be exactly like what they expected it to be. So either they don’t come, either they come, are dissapointed and tell their friends about all about it.

 

Motu Teta, Rangiroa photo by Ty Sawyer@ Tahiti Tourism

 

Now I am not saying that the fear of being dissapointed is what stops people from coming to Tahiti. I think the first thing that stops most people from coming (and that’s the excuse everyone has given me so far) is that it’s expensive to travel to Tahiti. Fair enough, it may be cheaper to go to the Seychelles, Fidji, Maldives, Hawaii or Carribeans, but then you were just looking for an island destination, not for the paradise you’ve dreamt of your entire life, not for the Tahitian experience. Cause let’s face it, you won’t get the Tahitian way of life in the Seychelles, Maldives, Fidji, Hawaii or Carribeans, you’ll get a different experience, better or not I don’t know (I haven’t had the chance to visit these places), but that’s not the point is it ? Your ASPIRATIONAL / DREAM destination was Tahiti, not any of these other destinations. So yes, it is expensive to come to Tahiti, mainly because Tahiti is far. But once you get there, hotel prices are not that different from the prices in the Seychelles, etc.

Tupai found on flickr

"Dreams become reality when intentions become actions"

So I’d say, it’s time to stop dreaming and start planning, it’s never too early to start planning your dream holiday and if you make it a reality and decide that this is the year you will travel to Tahiti, you might actually start saving up or even better, start shopping around to find deals. You’d be surprised at how often Air Tahiti Nui joins forces with hotels and tour operators to come up with affordable packages. Do your homework : shop online, learn about high and low season in Tahiti (and I am not talking about when it rains or not ! I am talking about when the airfares and hotels offer cheaper rates), find out which tourism fair Tahiti will be represented at – that’s actually a very good tip : I was at the Travel Expo in Sydney last February and the deals some of the hotels had on offer actually made ME want to buy a package !

There are always means to get a cheaper holiday, it’s just a questions of being savvy and doing your research. So keep your eyes open, follow Tahiti Tourism fan pages for your area on Facebook, you’d be surprised to find out how many great opportunities you have missed like 2 for 1 airfares and other promotions or campaigns which allowed participants to win a Holiday to Tahiti and her islands.

view of Moorea photo by Greg Nagel

 

Talking about sweepstakes, those of you who live in the UK, Canada or United States, Expedia.com has launched its biggest sweepstake in Facebook’s history : the 1st prize : a dream Holiday for you and 5 of your friends in Tahiti and her islands ! So start playing, you never know !

If you really dream of visiting Tahiti and her islands, I am sure that you can find a way, even if it’s not the 5-star holiday you associate paradise with. Yes not everybody – including me alas - can spend their holidays at the Bora Bora St Regis or the Four Seasons… Still there are other great options available. Look for a rewarding travel experience, visit islands you’ve never heard of. After all, you can get the resort experience everywhere else… Why not experience the real Tahiti ? If you have friends here, come visit them and stay at their house, I am sure they would love to show you around… Tahitian are actually very proud of their islands and their culture and love to show it off. You’d be surprised at how excited I can get when I take friends and family on a tour of Tahiti. You’ll actually discover a lot more than if you’d come and stayed in a hotel. For those of you who don’t have friends in Tahiti, make some ! Visit blogs on Tahiti, see if your friends of Facebook have friends here, ask around, somebody might know someone and put you in touch… Get creative !

Fakarava photo by fredww found on TAHITI

Worst case scenario, you’ll at least manage to get advice from the locals on what to do and what not to do, what to expect and what not to expect…I know that I have often receive messages on A Small World from people who want information or my opinion, and I am always glad to oblige. You’d be surprised how much people love it when they think somebody values their opinion, try it !

I hope that you have the spark and at least start looking around to see what’s available. I’ll get back to you very soon with more tips on planning your holiday to Tahiti. Stay tuned !

Marquesas photo by Isabelle Ozan @ Tahiti Tourisme

BEHIND THE SCENES OF TEAHUPO'O: SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT WAVE

C.J. Hobgood, Teahupo'o, 2005. Photo: Brian Bielmann/SPL

"A wave is like a woman; it comes in many shapes and sizes; it will excite you with anticipation, wrap you in a cocoon-like embrace, and either scare the hell out of you or give you the ultimate pleasure." unknown author

Most surfers spend their lives searching for the perfect wave, like an elusive lover, the soul mate most of us long to find. To some, it may look like a lonely quest, to others, like a selfish passion where everything is about the waves.

Manoa Drollet Massive Teahupoo @ Ted Grambeau

I am not a surfer nor a surf fan, and until last year I had never actually been out on the surf break of Teahupo'o... I know, some of you probably think it's crazy to have one of the world's most famous surf spots so close and not even go there...But to me Teahupo'o was synonymous of danger and death since a childhood friend died after a surfing accident there.

Finally, as I longed to escape the routine of my everyday life, I decided to go to the end of the road and see the legendary wave. Since that day, I too have been drawn to this place which inspires awe and respect.

As the forecast promised exceptional swell conditions, we woke up at 5am to make sure we'd be there bright and early enough not to miss any of the action. As we arrived at the marina, our captain, Norman James, was waiting for us (if you are going out and the swell is big, it is important to choose someone who has experience maneuvering a boat out there as it can be dangerous). Time to load our gear on the boat and greet the other crews and off we were off to the surf break.

The crowd is waiting - blogger's own photo

Although the swell hadn't picked up yet, the surfers were already in the water, waiting for the waves and a few spectators (mostly photographers and film crews) had already arrived. I was lucky enough to be on the boat where the pros came to rest between sets. Most of them had actually just flown in from around the world when they heard about the swell...

"wow, some people can actually just pick up their surfboards and get on a plane to paradise just to spend a few days surfing AND get paid to do so...Note to self: must enroll my daughter to surf classes ASAP!"

The call of the wave...it makes sense, it's their job, just like we wake up every morning to go to the office, only much more exciting (I don't actually hear the call of the office, just my alarm ringing). But as the day passed and the waves picked up, my attention was drawn away from the "action" and the surfers towards the crowds of onlookers. Although it was raining, people kept on arriving in vessels of all shapes and sizes (paddle boards, jet skis, kayaks, fishing boats, tourist boats, speed boats, etc.). Soon there were more boats than surfers, and the atmosphere became electric: people cheering, captains "fighting" for the best spots, photographers shooting... The behind-the-scenes were as thrilling as the actual spectacle.

As I observed and took interest in the crowds, I soon realized that a lot of the people present were actually photographers and videographer. More precisely, there were probably more photographers - on my boat only I counted 4 - than surfers out there that day. and I realized, surfers are not the only ones obsessed with the perfect wave; surf photographers are also wave hunters willing to spend a lifetime traveling the world, hoping to capture that moment of magic, a snap shot of surf history. 

Greg Nagel hard at work - blogger's own photo

The crews were scattered in different boats and a couple of courageous guys were in the water, water-housing in hand. Dream job? I am not so certain about this... Famous American photographer Jeff Divine once said, “Surf photography is starvation on the road to madness". Indeed, under the glamorous veneer of traveling the globe to capture awe-inspiring images of the ocean lie a myriad of challenges, dangers and frustrations. Most surf photographers are also surfers, you need to know the waves if you are going to jump in there and put yourself on the way of a surfboard...The risks are real: drowning, sharks, pointy boards...I don't think just anyone could do it. Add to this the frustration: the wave they will photograph is a wave they won't get to surf...Still, they are there with their long lenses, their water-housings, their fish-eye lenses, patiently waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

Tim McKenna and Raimana VanBastolaer waiting...

Yes there definitely is a lot of waiting involved on both sides, the surfers wait for the waves, the photographers wait for the waves, the spectators wait for the waves..and once the set starts, the whistling and cheering get louder and the cameras start clicking as everyone wonders if this will be THE one. 

The beauty of surf photography is that very often, the photos will transport the viewer into the wave and we, mere mortals who are not gods of the surf, get to see a view that would otherwise be the privilege of surfers only. I personally find photos of the inside of waves mesmerizing and could spend hours in contemplation of the force of nature at work. So I would like to thank the few photographers who actually get in the water and brave the elements, waiting until the last minute to get the perfect shot. famous surf photographers.

As I looked at all the photographers shooting the same waves, I wondered, what would make each photo different from the other?...In the end, what makes a perfect wave photograph? Is it the size of the wave? Is it who is riding it? What makes the photo of a wave memorable and remarkable? Is it the photographer? I believe a mix of ingredients ultimately make the shot: the photographer's vision, lighting, composition, subject (or no subject) and Mother Nature. If all these ingredients come together for a split second and the photographer is able to snap this moment, then the perfect wave will be frozen in time, ready to be share with millions of viewers and communicate the emotions of this magic moment. But in the end, the viewer will be the sole judge and the verdict will be a very personal opinion.

Some wave shots of that day (blogger's own):

As we headed back to the marina after 8 hours on the water, I felt happy and hoped the swell would pick up again very soon so that I can come back to witness the emotions of the crowds who gather at Teahupo'o.

The end of a long day - blogger's own photo

  

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page". St Augustine

As I ponder on this quote by St Augustine, I refuse to live a life of mediocrity. My dream has always been to travel as often as possible. This is why when I was a teenager I wanted to be a stewardess. It is never too late to make one's dreams come true and although I do not intend to become a stewardess, I do want to travel and discover more places. So I will start by discovering new places close to home, whether it is a new site, a new island, a new activity or a new hotel, I intend to put my free time to good use. I will be reporting on my discoveries. If you want me to try something specific or go somewhere please let me know.

WISHING UPON A STAR

One day... my dream will come true. Isn't it what we all wish for? To be able to see the world? Some of us want it more than others. I think this is one goal that I will strive to achieve!

SUNSETS, A GATEWAY TO HEAVEN?

All photos are blogger's own

"At sunset, Nature is painting for us... day after day... pictures of infinite beauty"

All of the photos above have been taken from my house in Tahiti...yet, none of them is the same. Every night, I sit on the beach, contemplating the horizon as the sun slowly sinks into the ocean to die. Not so much the end of a day, but the promise of a tomorrow, a new day, a new chance to experience the wonders of nature and life. 

By just turning your head a few millimeters, waiting an extra 5 minutes, you'll get a completely different experience of the same sunset. Imagine, thousands, millions of people each day contemplating the same miracle, all of them in a different way. Multiply this by all the different locations they could be at... One could spend a lifetime chasing sunsets and would see multitude of different sunsets everyday. As sure as the sun rises each day, you will never experience the same sunset twice. This is one of the many gifts nature has for us. 

Remains the question of the best spot to admire a sunset from... I am yet to decide on this and will surely share with you photos taken from different locations in future posts. I must say that for now, Paea in TAHITI seems like a good starting point...and I wish you were here to witness it too.