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Bora Bora Cruises Tia Moana Cruising Review
Raiatea, Fench Polynesia
Utuaroa Friday, January 21, 2005
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How Pearls are Made
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Small Starters are Placed into Oyster
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The oysters are grown on handing strands of nets and fiber for years before they are ready to make pearls. When they are about the size of 4-5 inches across, the oysters are pried open about 3/4 of an inch and set in a holder. A skilled worker then takes a starter, in this case a rounded oyster shell sphere, and inserts it into an area of the oyster that makes a coating around the irritant.
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(click
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Movie- 2005 Day 9 - Statendam in Port |
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Pearl Selection
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End Product
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It then takes the oyster up to 18 months or more to finish the pearl, in this region more of a silvery black color. Only 2-3 percent of the pearls are of high quality (up to $1,000 or more). The rest are sold as seconds, thirds and pointed pearls, which can be purchased for between $10 to $300 each, depending on size, shape, luster and surface. Oysters are subject to predators such as fish, so they're kept in projected hanging nets in the water. They are also susceptible to algae, and they're regularly maintained by dipping in fresh water and scrubbing off the algae.
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Movie- 2005 Day 9 - Statendam at Port in Raiatea |
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Lunch Cruise Around the Island
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Port Activity
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As with many other lunches and breakfasts, the ship was underway which allowed a fantastic moving scenery during dining.
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Movie- 2005 Day 9 - Port Activity |
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Afternoon Hike to Table Mountain
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At the top of the Mountain
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It took the better part of an hour to make it all the way up the mountain. Of course, the Captain jogged up to the peak in about 15 minutes.
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Movie- 2005 Day 9 - Sunset View from Peak |
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Hiking
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Group Photo
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We finally made it down from the 300 meter mountain and headed immediately for the Jacuzzi. With some bottled water, Tabu Beer and juice in hand, we watched the Moon from above as it cast it's beam over the darkened portside village of Uturoa. The ship left it's dockside perch for an anchorage just outside the port.
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Movie- 2005 Day 9 - Polynesian Dancers Perform on Ship |
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Dancers
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Tahiti Pearls
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Polynesian drums and dancers performed on the ship on the Sun deck.
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(click
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Additional
Photographs:
Utuaroa
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(click on photos to enlarge)
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Photo Highlights from this Day ... for all photos, please
click on the < or > as indicated above. There are as many as
five sets of photos for each day of the cruise.
Please click on the < or > to get to the next page of
photos.
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Cruising
and Booking Information Resources
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Travel Agent:
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Global Energy Travel Services
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PO BOX 5617, Madison, WI 53705
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Contact
Info:
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Greg Giese
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TEL: (608) 238-6001
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FAX: (240) 525-2445
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EMAIL:
greg@cruisingreview.com
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Website:
www.CruisingReview.com
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For Megayacht Charter, please visit our website at JetSetCruise.com
Cruising Review also offers luxury cruising on Bora Bora Cruises.
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For Avalon European River Cruises, please visit our website at Avalon River Cruises
Cruising Review also offers luxury cruising on European River Cruises offered by Avalon.
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Cruise Line
Info:
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Bora Bora Cruises
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P O Box 40186, Fare Tony - Vaiete. 98713 Papeete TAHITI, French Polynesia.
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Contact
Info:
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TEL +(689) 544 505
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FAX +(689) 451 065
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EMAIL:
greg@cruisingreview.com
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Website:
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Please support CruisingReview.com by sending Bora Bora Cruises an email, telling them your thoughts of our website. It takes only a minute, and lets the cruise line know that we're out there.
Please email:
greg@cruisingreview.com
Attn: Headquarters - Bora Bora Cruises
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For Megayacht Charter, please visit our website at http://www.jetsetcruise.com - Cruising Review also offers luxury cruising on Bora Bora Cruises.
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