Bora Bora...

Day 1: I think our plane crashed...

As soon as we arrived to Bora Bora…Andrew couldn’t stop laughing (his emotions became overwhelming). He nearly began crying and I asked how can the water be so blue?! Andrew asked, "how many flushes from the plane did it take?" 

All the other couples around were completely in awe as well. There’s not much to say about Bora Bora and we just can’t stop taking pictures (by the way, there is not a bad picture)! Andrew even said (seriously), “I think our plane went down!” He really wondered if this is what heaven looks like. I can’t imagine what heaven looks like. This is what I’ve been waiting to see…God’s magnificent artwork! 

NOTE: More pictures of Bora Bora Day 1...click here.

Our welcome call!

Our beautiful resort, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

You bet...the 1st thing we did was jump into the lagoon. Andrew under our villa (peeking through our glass table)

1st date night in Bora Bora!

Our pad at our resort...we felt like Celebrities!!! 

Live Polynesian Dancing in Tahiti...

First stop...Tahiti!!

The overnight flight, was a little rough. We didn’t leave until 12:30a. Tahiti couldn’t get here fast enough. In fact, I struggled a little with my luggage, dropped my phone and didn’t realize it until I walked a few feet and saw it on the ground at LAX!!! Then, my luggage topples over (as mentioned in previous video), I’m tired, and Andrew’s laughing! Oh the irony! We proceed to check in and hardly anyone spoke English.

We finally got on our flight and noticed dinner and breakfast is served. When dinner rolled around, they asked what I wanted, “oh, I’ll take the breakfast” thinking that was an option. No…that was for the morning, I was supposed to choose from the options below “Dinner”. Then they asked what we wanted to drink…wine…it’s FREE!! Oh, I’ll take that! It comes in a bottle (again, I’m tired) and they gave us a glass, but…I had already opened the bottle and started drinking from it before the steward stopped me to say he has a glass for me! Andrew was in tears laughing hysterically and I’m thinking, I just need to get sedated, naturally (don’t do well on flights).

Even though we did NOT sleep and Andrew couldn’t breathe, we finally arrived in Tahiti at 6a!! A slight problem though…we couldn’t check in at Intercontinental Tahiti Resort until 2p. Well, we fell asleep and lounged by the pool for about 8 hours!! Andrew was totally relaxed! As the day progressed…we became more exhausted and took a LONG nap. In fact, I slipped going down the steps and Andrew slipped going up the steps! We laughed out of tiredness and in addition, during lunch, a little kid gets out of the walk-in pool to pee on the patio! Andrew says, “Most kids pee in the pool, but this one…”! Later that evening we attended our 1st Polynesian show at dinner (something I’ve always wanted to see live!). God’s creation was just absolutely beautiful! What we didn’t know…were the gems of Bora Bora!!!

Some highlights:

- Andrew is determined to crack a coconut in the 2 days there.

- There’s just something fascinating about the Polynesian men dancing (something I've always wanted to see live)!! The show was incredible!

- Shopping at downtown Papeete and at the Tahitian Pearl Market where I purchased a Tahitian Pearl ring.

- While sitting at our swim up bar having a conversation, Andrew babbles and couldn’t figure out how to interrupt me to say, “That lady behind you has NO top on!!” I turned around and said, “no, she does…it’s just hard to see her strings.” He told me I was looking at the wrong one and by that time I turned around, “whoa, so…what’s on the menu?”

- Andrew rescues a couple that flipped in a kayak…had to help them pull it in. The poor husband already had a twisted ankle and deep abrasions (scraps) on his back from surfing earlier!

- We find a hammock to nap in, and as I was getting out…I flipped out!!

- Picking out my Tahitian jewel!

-Finding Coca-Cola at the Market for $2!! It's at least $4-5 at the resorts!

- The beautiful sunset going down behind the Moorea mountain!!

NOTE: More pictures of Tahiti in the two days...click here.

It's 6a and we are soooo tired, but make up for the sleep at the resort...

COOOKE!! Only $2 here!

This was my favorite Polynesian guy...tattoos, buff, and a thong sarong ;-)

On our way...

Our flight was scheduled to leave at around 11p Pacific time from LA. Needless to say, I was a little nervous, anxious, and even wondered how well we were going to sleep on the overnight flight for 8 hrs. While waiting, I just like to people watch, meditate, and not talk. Hubby however, often likes to interrupt my meditation ;-) Here we are at LAX...

Tahiti & Bora Bora

This is my dream honeymoon…”dream”! Never did I foresee this becoming reality! It all happened because of the great savings plan…learned from mom :)

While growing up, my mom created savings accounts for all her kids. Each month, she’d put away a certain amount and when we got old enough to make money, she’d teach us the same. Once I got to grad school, I decided to try a new method, put as much away as possible rather than the minimum. When I hit the jackpot and got a ‘real’ job, I put away half of my paycheck since I knew it was possible to live on bare minimum (learned that while in grad school). I already had savings bonds and CDs, therefore, I thought it was time to begin a wedding savings account. After all, I was getting old enough to consider the possibility of marriage in the future. Funny thing is…I was saving for my dream honeymoon as well (didn’t know that was the groom’s duty).

As newly-weds in Memphis, we joined a Dave Ramsey class at church. We were already putting half of my paycheck away to save up for our dream honeymoon and eventually a car. But, we felt like we could save more…and we did! Thanks to Dave Ramsey (and my mom), this honeymoon was possible after 1.5 years of saving (plus a little of my childhood savings)!!! We shopped around and found with our Costco membership, a FANTASTIC deal to Tahiti & Bora Bora! I frequently watched the travel channel when I was younger (on my parents’ cable) and knew exactly where I wanted to go :) We highly recommend saving (even if it takes several years), to book a trip to Tahiti & Bora Bora! While pictures do not do its justice, it’s a MUST on the list of places to visit before you die!!

As most people know, we were unable to take a ‘typical’ honeymoon after our wedding due to Andrew’s residency. A mini-moon in Nashville was just right! There were no plans, activities scheduled, and so forth. Just complete relaxation, time with each other, and walk around downtown. We stayed 2 nights at a 5-star hotel and I couldn’t have asked for better! I knew we could take the next couple years to save for something like Tahiti…I didn’t expect it to be exactly what I dreamed of though. We originally thought of Hawaii or St. Lucia.

Andrew did an AWESOME job surprising me with Tahiti & Bora Bora! He has been counting down the days and I’ve never seen him so excited about a trip!! NOTE: this is our very 1^st vacation together (not weekend trips, or visiting family)…just us! So yes, we were MORE than ready for this unique, once-in-a-lifetime moment (especially after all the moving stress!)…

Day 4/5: Malibu, Santa Barbara, Hollywood Blvd

Day 4: Malibu Beach & Santa Barbara

Having a convertible rental made the LA trip much more fun and flexible. We cruised the Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH) which is one of the most beautiful scenic routes in America. The other one is cruising up to San Francisco. In Malibu, we stopped for lunch to have an Ahi Tuna Burger at the Malibu Seafood restaurant. Delicious! We traveled by Pepperdine University and Malibu HS and just wondered what the tuition would be. We stopped at one point on the way up to Santa Barbara for scenic pictures…ah the beauty!

Once we arrived to Santa Barbara, I was a little disappointed we couldn’t reach the valley of Santa Barbara for wine country (another 45 min North). Our primary intention, believe it or not, was to sky dive! We found out before leaving that it would cost more than what we wanted to spend since we were saving our $$ for Bora Bora excursions. However, we still enjoyed a couple tastings at Carr Winery and Oreana, had a relaxing time, and brought a bottle back for Bora Bora (since we just know things will be more expensive at the resorts). Later that evening we met up with Andrew’s friend from the residency program and had a wonderful time with him and his wife at an AWESOME Japanese restaurant, Gyu-Kaku!

Thai and his beautiful wife!

Day 5: Hollywood Blvd & Rodeo Drive

Our last day, just did the typical tourist thing before flying out to Tahiti…Hollywood Blvd and Rodeo Drive. I also finally made my 1st Hollywood purchase at Kitson…Andrew picked out an AWESOME, KY blue purse for me :) When we came out...we found a $50 parking ticket!! I immediately grabbed it before hubby could grumble and said, "It's okay...just 2 more days until Bora Bora and by the way, we don't live here!" That statement worked the entire time in LA once I sensed hubby getting stressed ;-) While on Hollywood Blvd, we just simply walked around and enjoyed a refreshing smoothie. A red carpet movie premiere was about to take place for Inception with Leonardo Dicaprio. We didn’t stick around for it but it was cool to watch them prepare and all the people sitting around to wait for a few hours.

Rodeo Drive was quiet but Andrew spotted a $2 mil car!!! We also went into Ralph Lauren where Andrew found a watch he really liked (being the avid watch collector along with his sports memorabilia – expensive collector I know!!!). The watch was a whopping $15k!!! And, NO we did not purchase this thing!!

At the end of the night, we went back to Urth Caffe one last time and said our goodbyes to Sherree. She was an incredible hostess and was one vibrant, spunky gal :) Staying with her was a great experience and we thoroughly enjoyed her organic and fresh breakfast and desserts! It was truly like staying with a friend. She knew the ins and outs of LA. We were even sad to leave her! If we’re back in Beverly Hills…we’ll definitely be back for a visit with Sheree :-)

Sherree's scrumptious french toast!!!!

Our daily breakfast room at Sherree's

Her cozy living room

Sherree...so spunky and beautiful...we loved her!! Oh, and you may recognize her from a few commercials ;-)