We decided that we would spare no expense on this second honeymoon. We planned to start our day with breakfast that was to be delivered to our bungalow by canoe. Well, that is a must. However, we learned that it had been suspended due to construction in their pool area which blocked a section of the beach.
Ok, then. Let’s get a couples massage. Again, there was construction, but they had converted one of the overwater bungalows into a spa. An overwater bungalow is basically a stilt house surrounded by the calm water of a lagoon or atoll.
We signed up a day in advance. However, I noticed that I had a pretty bad sunburn when I woke up today so I am not thinking about massage.
Flashback: When I was on my first honeymoon with Rob, I went to the tanning salon prior to our honeymoon because I didn’t want any sunburn to get in the way of romance.
I did not tan for this trip but put on a lot of sunscreen even with Rob’s help … and STILL got a sunburn. He did not!!
Anyway, I was not thinking that a massage would be good BUT the spa had an After Sun treatment. Luckily we were able to get that changed, but Rob and I still went to the relaxing spa as a couple.
After Sun Glow Massage for Brenda
As advertised: Experience the amazing benefits of this after-sun body treatment offered by Nature. Following a restorative Tamanu body wrap, enjoy the healing properties of a delicate Aloe Vera gel to cool and calm your exposed skin. This 50-minute treatment is combined with a soothing scalp massage.
Brenda’s experience: First we undressed in a bathroom that looked like the one in our bungalow and donned a thin Tahiti fabric. I laid facedown on the massage table. She applied some cooling goop to me prone and supine. While I laid there a while for the ointment to work, she gave me a head massage. Then she wrapped me up in a Tahitian blanket and told me to go into the bathroom and take a shower. I was covered in a white clay. She told me to buff it off with a washcloth and don’t use soap. I complied and came back to the massage table. I had indicated on the form that my legs and especially my calves were tight due to all the hiking that we had done. She put a cooling gel all over me and massaged my legs and tight neck muscles. I had indicated my preference was firm so she kicked out the kinks. It was a PERECT massage.
Moorea Lagoon Signature Massage by Rob
As advertised: Inspired by ancestral Tahitian techniques, this truly traditional massage releases tension from your body and brings serenity to your mind. Long, flowing movements recall Moorea’s lagoon waves, while Monoï fragrances envelope and delight your senses. Fifty minutes of deep state of relaxation.
Rob’s experience: I received a more traditional massage than Brenda did. I was lying on my stomach. She started at my feet and progressed to my head. She applied a generous amount of oil. I had opted for a firm massage. It felt relaxing. Eventually I turned over and she massaged my legs but not my chest or head.
We went back to our own bungalow for relaxing and peaceful afterglow and to allow all the gels and oils to absorb and do the most good. Then off to lunch followed by our last opportunity to snorkel before we had to turn in our equipment.
From our private dock we climbed into water that was just the right temperature. We learned that the fish hang around large rocks and corals for food and protection. Rob wisely purchased some water shoes for me so that I would not stub or scrape my toes. We were given flippers but the water was shoulder deep and the current was mild so they weren’t really needed.
After about a half hour of seeing about 30 different types of colorful fish, my fingers started getting wrinkled and pruny. However, this was also happening to my lips. It was like I had eaten a whole bag of salty potato chips (not like I had ever experienced THAT before! 😉)
The most interesting thing that I saw was a large school of little blue and green fish a little smaller than goldfish going in and out of a large ball-shaped coral. The fish would all go in the coral so that one didn’t see any fish and then they would all come out at the same time and at the same speed. This murmuration was mesmerizing and repeated over and over.
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