what to do in Bora Bora? nothing atoll

I'm writing this article from Bora Bora, in the middle of the South Pacific, thousands of miles from the nearest land mass. I'm looking through the window of my overwater bungalow at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort. What I see is the very scene pictured here (straight from my digital camera to my blog). I can see the peak of Mount Pahia soaring 2,168 feet above the waters of the lagoon. I can see the Silversea cruise ship, the Silver Shadow, docked in the harbor at Vaitape. And now you can see it too.

There are basically two kinds of vacations. On some vacations, you are always on the go ... exploring the streets of a foreign city, visiting museums, traveling by metro or train, airplane or car to visit distant attractions. At night, you go out to restaurants, enjoy the nightlife, take in the city lights.

Other vacations are for relaxation. Relaxing comes very easily to some travelers, but it's hard for other vacationers (me?). Bora Bora is a place for relaxing. None of the stresses of city life are present. After four days on Bora Bora, I've fallen into a typical daily pattern: Get up early to watch and photograph the sunrise (one of my favorite artistic pursuits). Get breakfast. Go snorkeling. Come back to my overwater bungalow and read. Have lunch. Read some more. Maybe fall asleep and take a nap. Wake up and go snorkeling again. Get showered and dressed for dinner. Come back to the bungalow and go to sleep.

It doesn't help that the internet is omnipresent and that I can get my email, respond to people who have written me, and work on my blog. I really shouldn't be doing this. But I see it as a temporary diversion from my primary vocation here on Bora Bora ... doing nothing atoll.

[See these other Bora Bora posts from my trip.]

the luxury hotels of Bora Bora

sneak preview: Four Seasons Bora Bora



If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Bora+Bora Bora+Bora+Lagoon+Resort snorkel Pahia Vaitapo Silversea Silver+Shadow relaxation atoll sunrise photography Virtuoso travel agent