May 25, 2018-Scuba diving with Eleuthera Bora Bora, relaxing at our beach, dinner at Noa Noa

Can't get away from these early mornings.  I wake up at 5:30 AM.  Have I not adjusted to the time difference yet??  I go on my computer to check messages and see that a family member is not doing so well.  It's my stepdaughter's stepfather.  He's in his 80s and has had some medical issues so the news isn't totally unexpected.  Still feel bad that we can't be home to offer our love and support.  I send a message back to my nephew asking him to pass along our love.   Breakfast is from 6:30-10:30 AM at the main restaurant Noa Noa. Can sit inside or outside.  We decide to sit inside this morning.  At breakfast I am overwhelmed by the variety of food items.  More than at the IC Moorea.  I have a pancake with maple syrup, some fruit.  Richard has his cereal with dried fruit and a plate of vegetables.  I am still hungry so I have my one egg over easy, some crispy bacon, and toast.  I try the coffee but it's too bitter for me even with sugar added.  The resort manager Laurence stops by our table to see how we're doing and to tell us about a competition between the hotels at Matira Beach tomorrow.  Today Richard is diving with Eleuthera.  www.eleutheraboradiving.com  I have booked and paid for this already a month ago.  There were medical forms that had to be completed also as diving in French Polynesia appears to have some strict procedures to make sure you're medically fit to dive-especially since Richard is older at 75.  He is supposed to go to a site Anau where mantas are often spotted.  Cost of this 2 tank dive is 18200 XPF/$188.41.

Breakfast is at Noa Noa

Fruit

Almond milk panacea with chia seeds

Crepes with goat cheese and grilled vegetables

Juices

Vegetables

Hard boiled eggs, limes,  and romaine lettuce

Chocolate muffins and marble cake

Bacon under a heat lamp

Chicken sausage

Green vegetables

Roasted pears

Cute tiny condiment bottles

Scrambled eggs

Pork and beans

Old fashioned potatoes

Kaifeng

Carrot juice and tomato juice

Cookies

Yogurt

Meats

Cheeses

Banana cake

Cereals

Jams, jellies, preserves

Toaster and breads

Chocolate croissants and plain croissants

Brioche and raisin croissants

Pancakes under a heat lamp

Crepes under a heat lamp

Waffle sticks under a heat lamp

Selection of tea

Local watermelon juice

Richard likes the potatoes and vegetables

He also has cereal with dried fruit

Pancake with maple syrup and fruit for me

My egg over easy

Bacon, egg over easy, toast

Seating for breakfast outside too

Pick up by Eleuthera Bora Bora for the diving was to be at 7:30 AM but it's almost 7:45 AM so I'm just about to call the dive center when the truck pulls up.  There are 3 other divers in the truck so Richard will not be alone.  I wave them all off and hope they get to dive with the mantas.  I return to our bungalow.  Looking at the pillow menu I phone for some softer pillows.  Then I decide to check out the beach.  I run into Billy and Michelle.  They are a couple from Staten Island celebrating their 35th that I had talked to at the IC Moorea.  They are staying here for 5 nights.  There are some pieces of stone or coral or whatever right at the entrance into the water.  I don't have my water shoes on so I step very carefully. The water feels so good.  I spend the morning at the beach-in and out of the water and laying on a lounger under an umbrella as that sun is hot!  Richard returns from diving and is disappointed.  No mantas.  However he did see lemon sharks, moray eel, fish, and a shrimp on the dive master's hand.  Richard joins me on the beach.  We decide to walk over to the nearby market.  Magasin Matira.  It's less than 10 minutes away.  Small but stocked with lots.  Liquor is very expensive.  We buy 6 bottles of Hinano amber beer, a small bottle of coca cola, a can of pineapple juice.  We have that rum I bought at LAX that we need to drink!  Cost 1958 XPF cash.  Walking back we pass a telephone booth!  The public beach Matira is also steps away from our resort.  Back at our bungalow we relax with a rum and coke and a Hinano.  A bit of a sunset view.

Reception/lobby entrance

Reception

Pick up for diving

Happy divers

Dive shop-Eleuthera

Dive boats

Merchandise for sale

Lemon shark

Lemon shark

Black tip shark

Shrimp

Concierge

Kayaks

Beach

Jet skis

Our OW bungalow #3 is on the right

Gift shop

This restaurant is just minutes away from our resort

Small market

Telephone booth

Here's to us!

Dinner-Noa Noa, restaurant at our resort.  There's a good selection of appetizers, seafood, meats.  Richard orders the mahi mahi with vanilla, leek stew, carrots tempura.  Per another guest's  recommendation I get the duck breast which is cooked at low temperature.  Comes with crusty polenta and shiitake mushrooms.  Richard does not care for the vanilla sauce on his fish but everything else is fine.  My duck is tender, moist but the polenta is not my favorite.  Dessert-just me-a scoop of coconut ice cream.  Charged to our bungalow.  Cost without tip 9230 XPF.

Menu

Menu

Menu

Menu

Menu

Menu-fish

Menu-fish

Menu-meats

Menu-meats

Desserts

Our table

Mahi mani that Richard chose

My duck breast

Coconut ice cream

Dinner-Noa Noa at our resort.  Billy told me he had the slow roasted duck here and it was delicious.  Since we have decided not to spend the money to get over to the St. Regis Lagoon Restaurant we have room to try our resort's restaurant.  For drinks we just have water.  There is a good selection of appetizers, meats, and seafood.  Richard has the mahi mahi with vanilla, leek stew, tempura carrots.  I am going to try the duck.  Duck breast cooked at low temperature, crusty polenta, shiitake mushrooms.  Richard doesn't care for the vanilla sauce on his fish but otherwise is happy.  My duck was as delicious as Billy said.  I didn't care for the polenta.  It just seemed too dry for me.  Dessert-just for me a scoop of coconut ice cream.  Charged to the room.  Cost 9230 XPF without tip.  Probably around $95.00.  Slow walk back to our bungalow taking in the quiet of the evening.  Early to bed again.