DAY 04: BORA BORA
In the morning, you take the time to indulge in the luxuries of your overwater bungalow, noticing the schools of damselfish swimming in view of your glass floor panel. After breakfast, you make your way to the shores for a bicycle tour circling the marvellous coastline of the island. A single road traverses the 11 square miles of shores. The sea breeze rustles the coconut palms soaring over the sand. The quiet waves brush against the mixture of ivory sands and rocky promontories.
Sporadic fruit vendors along the roadside display pineapples, passion fruits, and guavas. Mango trees grow amongst the rain forest canopy. You circle the peaks of Mount Pahia and Otemanu, stopping at a local pearl farm. The thatched structure overlooking the lagoon contains a charming shop displaying white and black pearls beneath the soft light. Your guide leads you through the shop to learn about the cultured stones. It takes two years to harvest a single pearl, with only three out of every 100 pearls harvested considered to be ideal.
The famous Tahitian black pearl is actually five different colours, including blue, green, and purple, with the lustre determining the pearl’s value. You can take a boat to the buoys to view the 22 lines dangling in the water. Each line hosts up to six oysters. Dive into the water with your guide to view the oysters up close, reaching 15 feet below the surface. Back in the shop, your guide gives you a demonstration on how to harvest the pearls, using a delicate device to help secure the gem. A slow unveiling displays the treasure inside the oyster.