Sailing Camp

The kids went to their first sleep-over camp. 4 days/3 nights. It’s sailing camp but they’ll also be kayaking in the river, snorkeling with rays and enjoying the dolphin encounter. They get to sleep in tents on the beach. The camp is here on Moorea so it wasn’t too traumatic for me to say goodbye. There are a total of 18 kids between the ages of 5-12. We pick them up today. I’m sure they won’t want to come home but I can’t wait to hear all about it.

Arauna & Robynn Marry

It was a classic Tahitian event. They got married at city hall and had the reception at their house. It was a family affair. 250 people from his side of the family! The really cool thing about Tahitian weddings is that they’re a group effort. You’ve got the men cooking the pig, women making flower crowns, the girls in the family performed a Tahitian dance. One sister made all the marriage outfits and the family bestowed a Tahitian name upon a couple. There was an open bar and a band. Tahitians love to dance and the party lasted long into the night.

Spur of the moment surprise

James decides to rip the pandanus roof of the house and gives me 5-minutes warning.
Look. Isn’t it lovely?!
I’m so glad he decided to do this AFTER Cristina was done cleaning the house.

The Four Seasons Bora Bora

So James & I finally stayed at the Four Seasons. It opened last month and were anxious to experience it. The resort is gorgeous. For me the big selling point of the bungalows is the huge bathtub that overlooks the lagoon. I was in heaven. And their spa is like a frickin’ cathedral. Beautiful. Unlike every other hotel, in French Polynesia, the Four Seasons is going after the family market and I’ve got to tell you, their kids club is great. I’m sort of sorry we didn’t bring the kids. Well not really, but next time, I do think we will bring them. Now having said that, I’ll tell you, I didn’t see one single child roaming the property. I really like this resort. It’s upscale but it is also very Tahitian in feel and I like that they haven’t lost that. I was also impressed with their customer service. They go out of their way to make sue you’re happy. I didn’t mean to be a pain in the ass but for breakfast, I ordered a smoothie. I had seen it on the lunch menu the day before. What I didn’t know is that the smoothies aren’t offered for breakfast. Rather than tell me, smoothies aren’t available for breakfast, our waitress Audrey, went to the bar and made the smoothie herself. It was only when she returned with my drink that she apologized if the smoothie was not perfect as she made it herself. She went the extra mile and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that. It would have been so easy for her to say, sorry but smoothies are only served after 11am. I’m told the word from the GM down, is to go the extra mile and I saw this played out more than once.

So big thumbs up to the Four Seasons. I think they're bringing a new level of service to French Polynesia.

St. Regis Bora Bora

James & I arrived at the St. Regis Friday morning and were given VIP treatment! This time we were treated to a Premium Beach Villa. We opted for the reef side. Bora Bora is famous for its lagoon but being on the other side with the waves crashing on the reef and the view of Raiatea/Tahaa in the distance is wonderful. It feels so much more wild. Love it. When James & I stay at the St. Regis, we never want to leave our villa. This time we did manage to make it over to the spa for a couples massage. That was a nice treat but now I’m irritated I didn’t buy any of the ginger monoi oil. We also made it to both bars for a drink and then ventured to the Sushi restaurant for dinner. Really great sushi. Expensive but great. You’d think there would be a lot of good sushi restaurants in French Polynesia. But there aren’t. Not sure why. I mean we have such great fresh fish. I digress. So back to the St. Regis. We got to visit the Royal Estate. This is the place where Nicole Kidman and her hired husband stayed on their honeymoon. The cost is about $15,000/night. It so happens, I had clients staying in a Beach Villa when Nicole & Keith were there. Their Villa is essentially was right next door to the Estate. Anyway, they told me there was a ridiculous amount of security around the Estate. Jetski's, armed guards, etc. She said, no one would have even paid attention to the Estate if not for the guards. So you tell me...Think Nicole really wanted privacy, or perhaps she wanted the exact opposite.....

Oh my, another tangent. Well let me end this rambling post by saying we had a super great time at the St. Regis and as always look forward to our return!

Fresh Eggs in Bed

As many of you know, James has lost his mind and is now raising chickens. Of course, that is a different discussion for a different time and best had over a bottle of wine. Anyway, there is one hen who has decided Fiona’s bed is a very special place. Everyday she hops through the window and lays an egg. Same spot on the bed everyday. A lovely little gem upon Fiona's comforter.

Stoned in Bora Bora

(No, that's not me. I just happen to think it is a great photo of the Vichy shower)

So James and I were at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa and ended up having the most wonderful treatment at the Manea Spa. It was a bit like pulling teeth to get him to join me. He kept telling me he wasn’t a “spa kinda guy.” I convinced him we needed to do this for business — explaining we book trips for couples all the time and I’m sure there are lots of guys that feel the same way. I just wanted his honest opinion so that I could tell others of our experience. I mean, I like to think that’s one of True Tahiti’s distinguishing features. We can speak from experience and we’re not afraid to tell the truth! So reluctantly he joined me. Earllier in the day I had a chance to go through the spa menu and I love that the staff at Manea Spa is absolutely willing to create exactly the experience you want. Don't see what you want on the menu? Tell them and they will work with you. They have been voted one of the Leading Spas of the world and I can tell you, they are my favorite in French Polynesia! So back to our visit -- We got to the spa early and changed into pareos. James had never been in a sauna so I poured us two glasses of cold lemon water and in we went. As I sat back and took in a deep relaxing breath, he looked at me with dismay and said, “You’ve got to be kidding. You actually like this? This is f**king hell.” I had to laugh because he’s kind of right. I mean saunas do take some getting used to. We gave it a couple minutes then hung out a bit in the relaxation room. I tell you this spa has the most tranquil setting imaginable. The resort is on a motu (an islet within the lagoon) and the spa is on a motu within the motu. We were surrounded by a lake filled with waterlilies. It’s gorgeous. After having a few good laughs, our attendants arrived and escorted us to the outdoor vichy shower. We disrobed and the rain shower began. James was eying me as he still wasn’t too sure about the whole thing but sooner than later, I could see him starting to relax . We received a soothing body scrub with intermittent bursts of rain shower and by the time we were done, our skin felt like silk and we were ready for our hot stone massage. I had never had a hot stone massage before and I have to say the experience far exceeded anything I had imagined. They use smooth Tahitian stones of varying sizes. Because the stones are volcanic, they retain a tremendous amount of heat. Mixed with the monoi (coconut) oil, the stones are warm and soothing. With the expert care of my therapist, the pressure & warmth of the stones literally performed miracles on my body. I actually could feel the stress leaving. I kept falling in & out of consciousness and 80 minutes later when I was gently brought back to reality, I had to laugh. My husband was happily snoring away....

Great Time with Good Friends

Had a super great time the other night. Our friends Larry & Kincaid were here from LA with their kids (Dylan, Zuzu, Astrid, Chance & Jake). While they were out snorkeling by the motu their first day they discovered a hidden gem of a place. It is a place for private parties and you need to be at least 10 to book their services. Together with Fiona & Dushan we were eleven so we were in!


We were picked up by outrigger canoe and arrived at sunset. Tiki torches set up on the beach, the table set and plenty of room for the kids to play. Maire & her husband Jean-Pierre did a great job. Dinner was delicious, the experience fantastic and hey...;if it was good enough for Bill Gates’ 50th birthday party here, I guess it was good enough for us. Returning to the hotel by outrigger canoe, I was in awe of the night sky. So many stars. It was one of those evenings that reminds me of how lucky I am to live here.


Here’s hoping the Bauldauf-Jones clan can make this an annual trip!

A Wedding in Paradise

Yesterday I had a special honor. I had helped organize the wedding of some clients named Jackie & Chris. They came from California and their families came from China. We organized a Polynesian wedding and incorporated the blessing of a Protestant minister. The wedding was planned for 4:30 on the beach. The weather was perfect, the bride was gorgeous and I walked away feeling so honored to have been a part of it all.

My thanks to Jackie & Chris. I wish you a great happiness in your life together!

First Day of School for Dushan

WOO HOO!!!!! Today was the first day of school.
Actually I can barely believe Dushan is old enough to go. He turns three on Oct 1st and has been dying to go to school so he can wear his new Superman shirt. This morning as soon as he woke up, he ran to to his closet, put on the shirt and was as happy as could be. Yep, Superman is his man. He is going to be ecstatic to see the new school sack I bought him. It just arrived via FedEx. It’s a Superman backpack but the “S” comes off and he can wear it as a breast plate plus there is a red cape attached to the backpack. Oh it’s quite a backpack. Meanwhile Fiona just got her Princess backpack. It is a really cheesy number — pink with Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty. Their gowns are sequined. It is truly nasty but before she fell asleep she said, “Oh mom thank you so much. I love you.” What can I say... You can take the kids out of the US but you can’t take the US out of the kids.

Our New Puppy

Skippy the 3-legged dog and Buddy the boxer now have a playmate. His name is Boo and we just picked him up on Tuesday. He’s a pure bred English Cocker Spaniel and I think James & I are actually more excited than the kids.

Sunday Morning at the Market & a Reflection on Aging

Dushan woke me up at 6am screaming for titi (his bottle). We had run out of milk and as I was throwing on some clothes, I realized it was Sunday. “Oh shit, I hope we’re not too late.” You see an interesting thing happens in the little village markets dotted all over the island on Sunday. It’s the day they make specially prepared dishes of ma’a Tahiti & ma’a Tinito.



That would translate into Tahitian food & Chinese food and you have to get to the market early or it will be gone. I can’t tell you how many times, I have gotten there at 7am only to find my favorite pua roti was already sold out. Each market makes different things. Our market Magazin Varari has yummy pua roti (roated pork) and poe, which is made of mashed up fruit and cornstarch and sits in coconut milk. It may sound kind of weird but it’s actually quite delish is a comfort food sort of way. The kids favorite is fifiri (Tahitian donuts).

As you can see from the photos, people literally crawl out of bed and head to the market. Imagine, standing room only at 6am!

I’m kind of bummed, I was hoping to catch some women in their nightgowns today. Instead I can just show you the beloved bathing suit top & pareo look. However, my personal favorite is the playtex bra & pareo. And please, the heavier you are the better. I don't say this in a critical way. In fact I am extremely envious.

Tahitian women typically start out so thin and gorgeous but many (not all) take to heart the concept of eating for two once they become pregnant and that continues with the next 8-12 kids they have. Think of how wonderful that must be! Clearly they accept their large new bodies or why else would they go the market in an overflowing bikini top?! They have grown up in bathing suits & pareos and there is no reason that should change as they grow older and larger. One day, I tried to explain botox to our nanny Elvina. When I was finished, she looked at me and asked why I would you such a thing. I said to look better/younger. She really didn't have a response but I could see in her eyes she thought I was nuts. And you know what, I am. I can't tell you how much I wish I could embrace aging the way Elvina and so many other women here do. I don't think they even think about it. Who knows maybe with time, their attitude will wear off on me. You'll know I have reached the point of contentment when the next time you come to visit and ask to borrow some clothes, all I have to offer are Playtex bras & pareos...

Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa - Trip Report

I just got back from Le Taha’a Private Island & Spa and I do believe it gets more beautiful each time I see it. This truly is a deluxe resort.

People always ask me which is the best bungalow category? And the good news is literally every single bungalow is great. All of the bungalows are exactly the same in terms of size & layout. I will however tell you that, of the Overwater Bungalows, the “best” would be one of the 3 Premium Overwater Bungalows. They would be the bungalows at the end of the pontoon so you have total privacy. But realize we are talking in degrees here. Every bungalow is designed to provide maximum privacy.
Beyond the 3 premium, my preference would actually be the least expensive Taha’a Overwater category. I like having the main island of Tahaa to look at. For me it is more interesting than just looking at the Horizon. The bungalows that look primarily at the horizon are the Sunset Bungalows. Of course, as the name states you do get the Sunset view (however many of the Taha’a also face in the direction of the sunset, you just can’t guarantee it). Just keep in mind, the Sunset Bungalows also get hot afternoon sun. The Bora Bora Bungalows are named because they get the view of Bora Bora. You do need to realize, it is not a straight view. Bora Bora is off to the left and can often be obscured by clouds. While it is a lovely view, it is personally not worth the upgrade to me from the Taha’a OWB’s. In addition, the Bora Bora Bungalows get more wind than the others.


Next are the Beach Villas and they are fantastic. There are 12 and they are fully enclosed within a gorgeous rock wall. The have an outdoor bath (very romantic) off of a huge bathroom. On the other side of the garden off of the living room is a large plunge pool and fare pote for outdoor dining. The entire bungalow opens up to the beach. My preference are the beach bungalows to the left of reception on the opposite side of the spa.

Normally when I’m here, I spend much of my free time underwater scuba diving with Stephan of Blue Nui but this time I had way too much work to do and decided to pamper myself in the spa. First let me tell you that the Manea Spa here is idyllic. The massage fare totally opens up to a saltwater lake. The atmosphere is so incredibly serene. I decided on the vanilla massage and Hohoa Patitifa facial. I was originally going to go for the massage in the lagoon but opted out at the last minute for something a bit more private. My massage therapist was Nadia and she was fantastic. Nice firm touch and so fluid. I was completely unaware of when the massage ended and the facial began. The facial was so lovely. She used things like milk with hibiscus & rose, there was a pineapple face pack and other things using locally produced vanilla. When Nadia was finished working on me, I sat up to see the sun setting behind the reef. The rays of the sun filled the sky in a vision of pale pink & blue. In between was the calm of the salt water lake. It was a magical moment and wouldn’t you know my camera had just run out of batteries!


At Le Taha’a I always find myself admiring the architecture and storing up ideas for the home we are hopefully going to begin construction on by the end of the year. The restaurant is built up in the trees so you have this wonderful view of the resort and lagoon beyond. There are 3 restaurants at the resort and all are excellent.


I decided to have lunch delivered to my overwater bungalow. I had a Caesar’s salad and it was happy to see an authentic Caesar. They brought it to my fare pote (thatched seating area on the outdoor terrace) and the setting was just gorgeous. The sun sparkled diamonds on the lagoon. I could see the point in the lagoon where it suddenly gets much deeper. The mark is distinct as the colors change from turquoise to sapphire and just beyond was the main island of Tahaa.

One of my favorite things to do when staying at Le Taha’a is to kayak over to the coral garden. Well maybe I should rephrase that: One of my favorite things to do is to have James paddle us over to the coral garden. Since he wasn’t with me, I opted out. But really, it is something you should do if you ever make it out here.


My one complaint with the resort and damn I wish I didn’t have to say this, because I have always considered Le Taha’a the best of the deluxe 5-star resorts, is that this time around the service of the staff behind the front desk was inconsistent. Some were so helpful (exactly what I would expect of a resort of this caliber) while others had reached that level of “fiu” were they just couldn’t be bothered. It really is a pity as staff at the front desk is so important because of the contact they have with guests. But I don’t want to place too much emphasis on a couple of bad apples as overall the service was excellent. My phone wasn’t working properly and maintenance was right there with a new phone. Room service was prompt in delivering lunch and also prompt in retrieving the dishes which is great because I really do hate seeing dirty dishes sitting around for ages. As I mentioned earlier, Nadia and everyone at the spa was so charming and extremely helpful in helping me to decide which spa services to get. I did get to spend some time with Stephan the manager of the Blue Nui Dive Center and he continues to remain so friendly and accommodating.

As I finish up this report, I am on Air Tahiti heading home to Moorea. I’m anxious to get home to my babies.