European explorers discovered the islands in the 16th century. In 1842 the island of Tahiti became a French protectorate and a colony in 1880. The other islands such as Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha and many others are included in the French Polynesian or Society Islands. The reason France wanted dominance in this region was mainly because of economics, the trade routes had opened to Asia, South America and the Pacific islands.
 
Cruising and vacationing in the region is an awakening experience to another world. Being sometimes described as the poet John Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’. 
 

Bora Bora island is regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in the world for snorkelling or scuba diving. Photograph the turquoise colours of the ocean, that’s home to plants, sea animals, fish, pearls and coral reefs. The overwater bungalows. Mount Otemanu, the highest point on the island, is at just over 700 meters and is of volcanic origin. 
 
Tahiti, the largest of the islands, is renowned for its stunning beauty, its cultural heritage, music and dance. The festivals that showcase traditional rhythms, melodies and movements that have survived through generations. Colours and patterns of Tahitian costumes are an essential part of the visual spectacle of these festivals. The black pearls that are cultivated in Tahiti are a significant part of their economy.

Gastronomy, one of the major differences between culinary and gastronomy is the emphasis not just on food preparation but also on the ingredients, how they are grown and the social significance they have to a region they originated from. Join in one of the delightful celebrations of not just a meal but also on the introduction to what you are eating and drinking. Choices of foods and desserts. 1. Poisson Cru: A quintessential Tahitian dish of raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk. 2. Vanilla-infused Cuisine: Famous for its vanilla dishes used for main courses or desserts. 3. Tamara’a Ma’a Tahiti: This is a communal fest where the cooking involves the tradition of using an underground oven. You can have a variety of dishes from roasted pork, fish, breadfruit, and sweet potatoes. 4. Roulettes: The ultimate dining experience, this mobile food truck offers a variety of local and international cuisines.
 
Adventure activities to explore on the islands. Cycling, hiking, swimming, scuba diving with the marine wildlife, cruising through the islands, shows and musicals, fishing, or whale and dolphin watching. Volleyball games being played on beaches of pearl white sand. Walking through the lush rainforests.

 Stories from yesteryear that we thought Hollywood had made up.

On Tahiti Island hear of the exploits of Fletcher Christian. In 1787 the HMS Bounty set sail from England for the Polynesian island of Tahiti. Captain William Bleigh was in charge of the 45 man crew, their expedition was to take a cargo of breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies for agricultural growth. Captain Bleigh was a strict disciplinarian, a tough taskmaster, with no sympathy for a slackening crewman.

The ship dropped anchor in Tahiti in October 1787. The crew were in awe of the island’s beauty, its people and especially the women folk. After spending almost six months collecting the breadfruit plants it was time to leave. Some of the crew and the women on the island were heartbroken. Only three weeks after leaving the island, the first Mate, Fletcher Christian seized control of the ship with the help of the majority of the crew. William Bleigh and 18 other sailors were set adrift, not everyone was happy with this mutiny but there was no more room on the small boat so they had to remain on board the Bounty. Captain Bleigh and his crew made it back to England in 1790. 

The Bounty returned to Tahiti where they picked up 18 people, 6 local men and 12 women. Some of the original crew remained on Tahiti. The HMS Pandora went in search of the mutineers after news of their mutiny reached England. The sailors on Tahiti were arrested and taken back to England. Christian and the others travelled on until they arrived at the uninhabited island of Pitcairn, 1,300 miles from Tahiti. They burned the ship to avoid detection and built huts to survive. They lived undiscovered until 1808. Of the 26 sailors who parted company with Captain Bleigh and the others, only John Adams was still living. It’s recorded that there were various disputes, illness and jealousy between the sailors and natives leading to the loss of lives.

Descendants of the Christian and the other sailors still live on the islands, as well as in New Zealand, Australia and in the USA.
 
In recent decades exploration of the waters around Pitcairn island have recovered some artifacts from where the Bounty sank as the fire ripped through it. 
 
Films, books and songs have been written about ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’.