Highlights of the Day
Day Five embraced the spirit of slow travel. After a leisurely morning, we explored the lagoon on an electric paddle board, enjoying its stability and extended range. The water shifted from pale green to deep turquoise, revealing white sand, sea plants, and even a graceful stingray below. A brief entanglement near a boundary buoy and waves from passing boats added moments of excitement, but the experience was both safe and exhilarating.
In the evening, we attended the resort’s champagne sabering ceremony, a tradition rooted in Napoleonic history. Guests gathered on the lawn as bottles were opened with a saber, celebrating life and love under the sunset sky. Dinner at Bamboo, the Asian restaurant, featured creative sushi and an indulgent chocolate-red bean dessert. The day blended adventure, ritual, and refined dining into another memorable chapter of island life.
Accommodation: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
Transportation: Walking
Today we fully embraced slow travel. After sleeping in and enjoying a relaxed brunch, we returned to the lagoon to try stand-up paddleboarding again. But this time, something new caught my attention — an electric paddle board. With a motor beneath the board, it promised more stability and range. After a brief introduction from the staff, I set off toward open water.
Standing on the board, the lagoon unfolded in layers of color. Near shore, the water shimmered pale green, revealing white sand patterns beneath. Farther out, it deepened into turquoise and then a darker green where sea plants swayed below. I even spotted a stingray gliding calmly under the surface. As I circled the 3-kilometer lagoon, I passed overwater villas and exchanged friendly waves with neighbors.
There were two small adventures along the way. Once, I reversed to take another look at a stingray and accidentally got the motor tangled near a floating boundary buoy. For a moment, I imagined being stranded mid-lagoon. After several careful attempts, I managed to free the board. Later, speeding boats created strong waves that rocked the water — yet the electric board proved impressively steady.
By the time I returned, sun-kissed and exhilarated, the experience felt entirely worth it.
Next, we were wandering around the resort, taking in wonderful views.
In the evening, we attended the resort’s champagne sabering ceremony. Guests gathered on the lawn as a butler demonstrated the Napoleonic tradition of opening champagne with a saber. With a swift motion, the bottle neck snapped cleanly, drawing applause. Another guest was invited to try, and soon glasses clinked under the golden sunset.
Dinner followed at Bamboo, the resort’s Asian restaurant. The décor blended Japanese and Chinese elements with serene elegance. An “Exotic Roll” sushi stood out for its creative pairing of fresh fish and tropical sweetness. The tuna was especially delicate and flavorful. Dessert — a chocolate red bean cake with banana accents and warm chocolate sauce poured tableside — ended the evening on a beautifully indulgent note.
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