#92063 - 10/31/11 02:56 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: holte]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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I think it's an important topic for two reasons.
One, people get so relaxed and feel they're in paradise and forget that they aren't at home or aren't in some unreal place where crime can't exist. FP certainly isn't a high-crime area, but that doesn't mean you can let your guard down totally and do stupid things you wouldn't do at home.
Two, there are some cultural differences (the eye contact thing is one) that it's pretty easy to be oblivious to, especially if you haven't travelled far from the US before. Not everyone reads signals the same way around the world. Is FP a place where rapists are lurking, ready to jump you at a moment's notice? Heck, no. But as a single woman travelling to a country you're not familiar with, it's best to arm yourself with knowledge so you aren't surprised by something that someone could have warned you about. I don't mean to scare anyone off, but understanding that something you do can be interpreted as a sexual invitation is important.
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#92066 - 10/31/11 03:13 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Old Wife]
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Silvanocat
Advisor
Registered: 04/03/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Los Angeles
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Holte - did they give you a reason why not to go in the other direction? (I stayed in a pension in Rangiroa and was told not to go in one direction because of vicious dogs.)
There weren't any other beaches on Huahine that you were warned against?
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#92068 - 10/31/11 03:48 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Silvanocat]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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no, no other beaches. I was warned because of unsavory people being there.
No other beaches that I know of.
A tourist off a cruise ship did have a back pack stolen on the beach at Fare. He said he was watching it while he was swimming, but it must have been a quick turn of the head and his back back was gone.
I went to the downtown beach almost everyday and would leave my little collapsible cooler on the beach while I swam and walked the beach looking for shells. I must have looked like I had nothing of interest because no one took it.
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#92075 - 11/01/11 06:00 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: holte]
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JoBelle
Junior Member
Registered: 10/19/11
Posts: 21
Loc: Texas USA
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Thanks holte and kk.melia for the reassurance. I realize it's like any other place, including home, where you have to be smart, and I'm pretty smart. I guess what threw me a bit was the cultural aspect of a woman traveling alone as being "fair game" -- not necessarily for assault or violence, but that it's an invitation of some sort, or that you have to "explain" why you're alone. You would think that almost any part of the world would be used to seeing women traveling alone, especially when it is a BUSINESS trip, as mine is. It just seems strange that it would still, in the 21st century, attract any notice at all.
I did remember a story that put this in perspective for me. I was going to another city in my state, and didn't want to drive, so I took a city bus to the downtown bus station so I didn't have to hassle with parking. I climbed on my neighborhood bus with a small piece of luggage, and as I was sitting down an older woman said, oh honey, are you okay? Are you getting away from your man - did he hurt you? I said, um, no, I'm visiting a friend. She had assumed that because I was on a city bus with luggage that 1) I didn't have a car and 2) was running away from an abusive situation!
So, as you say, people can have issues anywhere. I'll just do my best to deflect ANY unwanted contact in any way, avoid eye contact, keep to myself as much as possible, and avoid any unnecessary interaction. I can be extremely brusque and impersonal when I need to be, and can handle brushing off one man. I would be very nervous with a group of men however, and I'm still a little nervous about being in my room alone. I may get one of those doorstop thingies. I'll be ONLY in resorts for this trip so I'm hoping their in-house security is good.
I'm sure other places are much worse. I remember going to Mexico years ago (I don't anymore) with my blond cousin and having hordes of men follow us down the street. And as much as I would love to go to Italy and have many women friends who have been and loved it, I hear men can be quite aggressive there too.
Here's what I am doing from this end - I've arranged to email friends back home every morning and every night. They will have my itinerary. If I miss even one check-in they are to call the numbers I've left and make sure I'm okay. I'm not too worried about daytimes - I'll be in meetings and pre-arranged activities. I suspect my free time will be in the evenings and of course overnight. So if I check in before I go to bed and as soon as I get up, then they know I made it through the night okay.
Jo
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#92076 - 11/01/11 06:05 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: JoBelle]
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JoBelle
Junior Member
Registered: 10/19/11
Posts: 21
Loc: Texas USA
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On another topic, has anybody done the shark and ray feeding? Do you have to be a strong swimmer (I am not).
Thanks,
Jo
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#92078 - 11/01/11 07:35 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: JoBelle]
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Tgoff
Junior Member
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 12
Loc: Dallas,TX
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Yes. The shark feeding we did was in fairly shallow water, no need to be a strong swimmer. The guides are more than helpful, if you don't feel safe, let them know. If you can at least tread water, you'll be just fine. Enjoy your trip!
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#92079 - 11/01/11 08:00 AM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Tgoff]
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Silvanocat
Advisor
Registered: 04/03/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Los Angeles
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"avoid eye contact, keep to myself as much as possible, and avoid any unnecessary interaction. I can be extremely brusque and impersonal when I need to be, and can handle brushing off one man. I would be very nervous with a group of men however, and I'm still a little nervous about being in my room alone. I may get one of those doorstop thingies. I'll be ONLY in resorts for this trip so I'm hoping their in-house security is good."
No, no, no. This is the saddest and absolutely the wrongest thing. You are going to a lovely, friendly place.
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#92084 - 11/01/11 02:18 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Silvanocat]
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Old Wife
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/21/03
Posts: 2369
Loc: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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JoBelle, you'll be fine in the resorts. Don't go overboard on not making contact with people. Most Tahitians are friendly and kind and you'll miss out on some fun interactions if you go into it too suspiciously. Please don't. But just be aware that there are some things you shouldn't do (don't leave valuables sitting out with doors unlocked on cars or rooms) and some times (like after dark) where you should use common sense and not fall under the spell of "this is paradise so nothing can happen." And few people in FP (especially non-Tahiti) are there on business trips so that makes it a different situation than when you travel alone in Rome, Paris, etc. Most people expect people to visit as couples or families.
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#92087 - 11/01/11 03:14 PM
Re: My first trip to Tahiti/Bora Bora next month
[Re: Old Wife]
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holte
Expert Advisor
Registered: 11/19/04
Posts: 2417
Loc: Duluth, Minnesota
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Yes Jo Belle. Please be relaxed about this so you can enjoy a trip to the most wonderful place on earth.
The only people who may bother you at the resort are drunk tourists. And I say "may".
I would not worry about making contacts every night. Maybe I would not do it now, but we used to sleep with our doors open at night at the resorts because we like fresh air and not air conditioning.
I imagine it sounds foreign and exotic and far away. And it is, but the beauty is so magnificent that I still cry when I see it with wonder and amazement.
When I was younger and in great shape, I hated it when men would hit on me. Now I am amazed. I still don't like it. It is annoying for sure, but more humorous to me now.
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