Guest Author - Ann Carroll Burgess

Strains of ‘Bali Hai’ from the musical ‘South Pacific’ will begin to swell in your mind as the prominent peak, Mt. Pahia, comes into your view. Regarded by many as the most beautiful island in the South Pacific, Bora Bora will capture your heart at first glance.

Bora Bora is everything a tropical isle could be. Crystal clear waters, protected by a fringing reef, stunning mountains and lush tropical jungles set the perfect scene. No wonder that this island became the inspiration for author James Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific’ that was turned into both a Broadway and movie musical. However, Bora Bora was never used in the film. Instead the Hanalei Bay area of the island of Kauai in Hawaii became the Hollywood stand-in.

South Pacific was not the only movie to capture the beauty and romance of this island. “Mutiny on the Bounty,” the 1962 version starring Marlon Brando and the 1980’s retelling featuring Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson in The Bounty all provide glimpses of Bora Bora’s lush beauty

Bungalows built over the water are one of the island’s most popular and most expensive forms of resort. Back in 1968, some young American owners of the Hotel Bali Hai Raiatea, currently named the Raiatea Hawaiki Nui, decided to turn their lack of a beach into an asset by creating several bungalows out on the reef and connecting them to the shore via a pier. A new era in luxury was born. Most of the bungalows have a glass panel in the floor that allows you to view the fish and other creatures from the comfort of your own room.

Bora Bora’s enduring charm is built on privacy and relaxation. This is not a destination packed with activities, museums and frantic nightlife. Tranquility reigns supreme and islanders move at a languid pace.

This doesn’t mean you’ll be trapped in your thatched bungalow watching reef fish for hours on end. The Club Med frequently allows visitors to the island an opportunity to watch its musical revues and dine or dance at the resort. For a slice of local nightlife you could cautiously try Le Recife Discotheque but be on the lookout for spontaneous fist fights in this less than refined establishment. Better to spend your dollar and time at Bloody Mary’s, named for one of Michener’s characters in South Pacific, where you can dine on American-style fare while relaxing in the contrived coconut log and sand floor atmosphere

If you are looking to get away from it all, but not leave behind creature comforts, Bora Bora is the place to be. And, yes, you can access the internet from here.