Moorea is said to have been the inspiration for the mythical island of Bali Hai in James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. The view changed with time of day and movement of the clouds. We couldn't stop looking.
In the afternoon we boarded a small (about 30 passenger) boat for a dolphin watching ecotour conducted by a marine biologist. We enjoyed the ride and the informative narration, but after a while we began to think that the only dolphins we would see we're the ones on the back of our biologist's t-shirt.
Just then a fin appeared beside our boat, then another and another, until we were surrounded by Spinner Dolphins. They came so close to our boat that we could hear the little chirping noises that they make.
The dolphins jumped, slapped their tails on the water, and did backflips. What a privilege to be able to see these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat.
We were impressed that the biologist and his helper were able to identify several of the dolphins by scars or bite marks on their fins, or just an unusual shape of fin.
This is our dolphin-spotter. Note the beautiful Polynesian tattoo on his shoulder.
Before returning to The Amsterdam, we looked at the goods at an open-air crafts market. I don't know what happened to my usual level of sales resistance, but I am now the owner of two pretty, one-size-fits-all dresses. Just the thing for eating at the buffet...I'll never outgrow them.
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