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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Galleries >> A Week in Tahiti > Lights out on Tahiti
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1987

Lights out on Tahiti

Our week in Tahiti allowed us time to relax in a great setting before heading to our new posting in Washington, D.C. I’d love to go back there some time to see how it’s changed, or maybe it’s just better to remember how it was 37 years ago – beautiful, unspoiled and not yet overrun with tourists.

12th Street NE resident, posted earlier:

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Dwight Rankine11-Aug-2024 15:51
Such a fiery sunset. Beautiful shot. BV
Pierre09-Aug-2024 12:41
Une très jolie photo de ce merveilleux décor! V
Jeff Real16-Jun-2024 22:56
A wondrous scene from paradise!
These colors are wonderful!
V
victorswan16-Jun-2024 21:02
Stunning sky wonderful compo great light and an amazing horizon the palm leaves are a more value to the image BV
Kevin D Warren08-Jun-2024 12:56
An oooh image, relaxing so very beautiful.
Don Mottershead06-Jun-2024 19:17
Lovely image.
Marcia Rules05-Jun-2024 15:01
As they say.......picture perfect!
John Reynolds LRPS05-Jun-2024 11:50
Film has captured the colours very well. V.
Charlene Ambrose05-Jun-2024 07:56
That's beautiful! V
Zoltán Balogh05-Jun-2024 07:54
Wow Helen...this one is such a striking image! V
Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal05-Jun-2024 06:12
A beautiful sunset image, love it. V
Don05-Jun-2024 05:15
It might be best just to live with the memory of this wonderful sunset and the unspoilt place that was.
Dennis Hoyne05-Jun-2024 04:10
Visiting there now may erase those previous memories, one would hope not though. Those memories are precious as is this beautiful scene.
Julie Oldfield05-Jun-2024 01:16
Wow! That is gorgeous! Too many tourists ruin many things and it may be better to remember it that way. V
Liz Bickel05-Jun-2024 01:02
A great way to end this gallery. I remember fiery sunsets like this every night of our two weeks on Moorea and Tahiti. Your specific scene looks unfamiliar, but the sky and landscape look just as I remember.

Your words about the difference between 40 years ago (when we honeymooned) and today are true. How things once were "back then" no longer exists. I could even see a major difference already happening during just the couple of years between when we were there, and you were. When we were there, Papetti was a sleepy little town with almost no traffic.

Although I'm sure the land itself is still just as beautiful, Tahiti today is no longer the same as you and I remember. Tourism has exploded to the point where the Tahitian government is currently considering capping the number of visitors. Instead of a few resorts, there are now resorts (for all budgets) all over the place. Airfare has also dropped to where anyone who really wants to visit Tahiti now can. Back when we honeymooned, a First Class plane ticket from the USA to Tahiti was a really big deal. The airport didn't even have daily flights in & out to international destinations.

As mentioned, we had planned to return in 2020, but the pandemic made us cancel that trip. Now, I'm kind of glad that my memories will remain of a pristine, tropical paradise and not a modern day, tourist mecca. The original Bali Hai resort (with the world's very first over the water bungalows) is now gone, as is the Tahara'a which today still remains one-of-a-kind. After giving things a lot of thought, my husband & I have decided to not rebook our 2020 trip and to never return to Tahiti. So much change would probably ruin our memories of the unspoiled Paradise where we honeymooned. I also would not see things through the eyes of a 17 year old like I originally did.

Thank you again for doing this gallery. Someday, I'll find where I stored my own photos from our 2 weeks there. At the time, they were honeymoon photos. Now, they're history.
janescottcumming04-Jun-2024 22:38
What a gorgeous sunset memory. V
Marwan Habib04-Jun-2024 22:14
What a lovely sunset! V.
Tom Munson04-Jun-2024 21:18
What a wonderful sunset. Great capture.
Pierre Martin04-Jun-2024 19:52
a terrific sky picture, look like a giant fire wave coming!
Richard Chu04-Jun-2024 16:09
Stunning sky and sea scapes! V
Nick Paoni04-Jun-2024 15:41
Wow what a great memory shot. The colors and mood are amazing.
globalgadabout04-Jun-2024 15:36
a tropical reverie to feed the dreams..
Danad04-Jun-2024 14:01
What a great sky !
There are places that are best left sealed in our memories.
*V*
joseantonio04-Jun-2024 13:07
Gorgeous image with those beautiful colors in the sky.V.
Blandine Mangin04-Jun-2024 12:11
ssuperb light ! v
Carl Carbone04-Jun-2024 11:54
Wow, that's beautiful.