Happy Equations

Taiwan is a beautiful island with many beautiful scenes. It has more than 100 peaks taller than 3000 meters (9000 feet). In 2003, Taiwanese government picked 100 mountains which were accessible in 1 day from urban area. Most of them have roads directly connected to the trails and closed to major cities. The elevations are from 100 meters to more than 2000 meters.

Currently I can't find any information about these trails in English, so I will provide information at my travel website at http://www.jumboguide.com/guide/tt.aspx?forumid=45&lang=English

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Date 12/11/2004

After passing the custom, a beautiful Polyneasian girl present wreaths for us. Because our cruise will start embarking next day, we take a bus to the hotel IntercContinental BeachComber Tahiti. 30 odd people are probably all westerners on the bus, only another pair of Oriental's face. We knew later that they are Chinese lived in San Francisco. All the travellers on the cruise, as we knew, only we come from Asia. All others are very surprised we come from so far a place. In fact, it is only a little farer compare with European visitors. The Europeans all take plane from Paris to Los Angeles to transfer to Tahiti. Travel by cruise is familiar by westerners but not for orientals, that's why there are only few orientals onboard.

Arriving the hotel ten minutes later, again we waited for a long time too of check-in, It seems the people here are not in a hurry.  A beautiful girl at the other side of counter answered every questions slowing. A group of travellers carried the luggage and wait behind of us. Wait until our check-in When the check-in is finished, all of us are nailed black and blue by the mosquito.

Because we are only one night in transit here, so has not lived in the "over the water bungalow". Our room is rich of south asian style, coconut trees outside the balcony hide most of our view of sea. TVs are mostly French programs, two or three English movie channels and ESPN, but we do not want to watch TV. We put down our baggages and go to the first floor to see tonight's performance.

We sat on a good place in the restaurant and paid the first bill in Tahiti. The price on the menu is franc CFP of Pacific Ocean of local currency, we are not still very familiar with the exchange rate, two cups of fruit juice, unexpectedly it is nearly 17 euro. Fortunately the meal will be served free on the cruise from tomorrow. Otherwise it can really called very good weight-reducing journey.

The show is traditional Polyneasian dance. If you have ever been to Guam or Hawaii must see the similar performance. Strong rhythm and wild movementare the characteristics of the Oceania dance. The dancers invited audienced to show on the stage and perform together. We have a lot of fun.

The poolside after the performance was very quiet, and the scene of hotel is very beautiful too. When I was planning the honeymoon, my wife said it was very regrettable that we are in Tahiti but not lived in the on the water bungalow. I think it is not a issue after this night on the ground.

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Date: 2004/12/7

It becomes the destination of my honeymoon because there is only few Taiwanese has been Tahiti. We are not celebrities, just want to visit somewhere special to us. Tahiti is a mysterious place for most of Taiwanese, even for most of Asian. No Chinese travel guide, no travel agent to ask for help, no one knows where is Tahiti, and most of my friends never heard about it.

But, Tahiti is always on Top 10 best destination for anything, Top 10 Paradises, Top 10 Honeymoon Trips, Top 10 Romantic, all of these have Tahiti on them. My wife wanted to go to the famous Heart of Voh in New Caledonia, but it is really a challenge to go there from Taiwan and nothing else is really worth to visit for my honeymoon. So we decided to go to Taihiti.

We transferred via Los Angeles because our cruise, the six-star motorship Paul Gauguin, has an optional air package. It cost much less than transferred via Auckland by ourselves, but it took 2 hours longer if not counted 3 hours waiting for transit at LAX. We stay in LA for 2 nights then fly to Tahiti in the third morning of my honeymoon.

After 8 and a half hours we arrived Faaa International Airport in Taihiti. Faaa is quite different from our images about international airports. As soon as we get off the plane, a mini band playing Polynesian music welcomed us. The small arrival custom hall decorated with a large Gauguinian wall painting. I made a mistake to go to a line only for EU residents. I said sorry for passing the wrong line. The custom officer said, "That's ok, you are in paradise."

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I travelled to Tahiti for my honeymoon, with my wife of course, from 12/8 to 12/20 in 2004. I originally wrote a log in Chinese. I will translate it to English to share with friends all over the world.