Bora Bora "island paradise"

With a permanent population of 8,800, and an area of 143 miles, Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination famous for its luxury resorts.  Few know the meaning of its unusual name, which is derived from the Tahitian language as Pora Pora meaning First Born. When the Europeans discovered the island in 1770 they misunderstood the inhabitants mistaking Pora Pora for Bora Bora, and the name remained. In 1888 the french annexed the island, forcing the last queen of Bora Bora, Teriimaevarua III, to abdicate.  In World War II Bora Bora became a South Pacific military supply base for the United States, known as "Operation Bobcat", fortunately the island was never subjected to combat.  Today tourism almost exclusively drives their economy, as several resorts are built surrounding the lagoon.  Many of the resorts feature over-the-water bungalows on stilts, an innovation inspired by the first bungalows who featured it 30 years ago. 18 hotels are stationed in Bora Bora, and according to tripadvisor, the Four Seasons is ranked #1.  Popular activities are snorkeling, spa treatments, jetskiing, swimming with sharks, and parasailing. For a solo 7 night stay at the Four Seasons in Bora Bora through May 20-27th, in their least expensive suite, a superior beach-view over-water bungalow suite, the cost is 9,324.74. Not factoring in travel costs, and the expenses once you arrive, (of course I'm going to shop), the price is sufficient.  This also doesn't include the fact that it is the price for a solo stay, (Little awkward to me staying in a resort known for its romantic appeal), and considering this you might want to wait so you can save up and take someone with you.  Good reviews accentuated the spacious houses, excellent service, great breakfast buffet, view, and water excursions.  Some of the not so proficient reviews complained that because Bora Bora is far from the main island, Tahiti, where a lot of the attractions and shopping are located, the price to travel there is substantial.  Complaints also centered on the many additional costs, (such as the $100 buffets), and the poor service, yet only 7 out of the 603 reviews had something to complain about.  Bora Bora emerged from the sea 3 million years ago as a volcanic island, slowly but consistently sinking. The islands main volcano, (inactive today), Mount Otemanu is 727 meters high, and stands with the legendary Mount Pahia.  The practice of tattooing existed in the Polynesian triangle for centuries, the name originating from the Tahitian word tatau, translated as "hitting repeatedly." The practice was unknown to Europeans until Thomas Cook, (European who first explored the island), discovered it on his first voyage to Tahiti, in his diary he wrote, "they print signs on people's body and call this tattow".  Tattoo art is very prominent in Tahitian culture considering that there is no writing in the Polynesian culture, tattoos were used to identify your status in a hierarchical society, differentiating family clans. Tattoos were also used in rites of passage to the adult life for teenagers, (about 12 years old), who would present their tattoos as proof of their learning accomplishments, before they were allowed to enter into the adults' clan. The philosophy of the islands people is one of my personal favorites, 'hakuna matata', and for a fun fact, (sidetracking) the word for morning in the Tahitian language is poipoi, pronounced as poy-poy which sounds an awful lot like the word the minions in Despicable Me called unicorn!  Main languages spoken i Bora Bora are French and Tahitian, (although English is spoken in several markets, tourist locations, and resorts).  Bora Bora is a beautiful, culturally rich place, known all over the world as "island paradise".
-Enjoy where you are for however long you're there, Samantha