A Time Traveller's Tale

There can't be many holiday itineraries that promise, not only respite from the worst of the winter weather, but also an opportunity to step backwards in time. You see on this trip we were flying to Tahiti from Auckland; leaving on Wednesday morning but arriving on Tuesday evening. Indeed, the strangeness was brought home when we were sat eating our evening meal on Tuesday night I remarked "Just think, we will have arrived in Tahiti this time today". It was an interesting prospect but one which I was strangely apprehensive about - although I'm quite fond of Tuesdays the thought of have two in a row was a little unnerving.

Well I'm glad to report that the space-time continuum has not been damaged and through the vagaries of the international date line, we arrived in Tahiti in one piece and, thanks to a strong tail wind, ahead of schedule and fifteen hours before we took off. Not bad for a four hour flight - I even managed to fit a movie in!

Ironically though, arriving in Tahiti is very much like time travel. Whilst it could be argued that New Zealand is a microcosm of European life, albeit with a Pacifica twist and better weather, Tahiti is in a world of its own. Other than the occasional Carrefour supermarket, there are no familiar points of reference. 

Being plunged into the mayhem that was unfolding in downtown Papeete in a hire car, with a manual gearbox and driving on the opposite side of the road increased the feeling of disconnection from....well....modern life. The drive was an experience I'd rather not repeat. By the time we left the airport, not only had it suddenly gone dark but it was twenty six degrees and was raining. It was like getting a warm shower. But fully clothed. 

After successfully negotiating the urban traffic, narrowly avoiding the numerous cars that appeared to enter the road in front from nowhere, we were on our way. It was only forty five minutes to our lagoon-side villa but it felt much longer. Now, as well as magically appearing vehicles, I had to contend with random maniac dogs who liked to chase hire cars, pedestrians with a death wish and cyclists riding head-on into traffic to whom lights are a mystery. At one point we passed a cyclist who had decided that the best way to increase his personal danger would be to, and I believe this is the correct term, pop a wheelie for his entire journey. We know this to be true because, as it turns out, his bike didn't have a front wheel! Now I know that most people raised outside the UK think we are too safety conscious but even they might stop to think about taking a bike back from work with a FRONT WHEEL MISSING!!! Well at least it saves on tyres I suppose.

Thankfully we arrived at our villa without hitting a human, dog or errant cyclist. And although it was dark we could already tell it was worth it; coconut juice was in the fridge, the small plunge pool glistened in the moonlight and the crabs were darting across the lawn to safety. Yes crabs. In the lawn. Who needs moles when you have handy subterranean crustaceans. As second Tuesday's go, it was pretty eventful.

We've only been away from Auckland for a few days but the pace of life here us such that it feels like an eternity. In a good way. Unfortunately I know that on Sunday we will have to leave and head back to reality. Back to the future if you like. Which will be a real shame. The only silver lining is that we skip Monday.  Now there's a day that I can truly do without!