Tahiti - an introduction

By American Travel Writer Tim Houghten. Tim Houghten writes for Briefcases Direct, a website that offers a luxury briefcase range direct from the manufacturer. Tim picked up the travel bug at a young age from his missionary parents. He is now a Freelancer, business consultant, and travel writer. Tim has now joined the ranks of those living the jet set lifestyle as an international nomad on the constant exploration of new sights, sounds and tastes.

Located in the Southern Pacific, Tahiti is the picture-perfect tropical island destination that magical vacations, weddings and honeymoons are made of. Tahiti is the largest in the Windward group of French Polynesian Islands. Tahiti is an island paradise of unmatched beauty and serenity. Tahiti's landscape features ancient mythical mountains and lush tropical forests surrounded by the clearest, sparkling crystal waters that can be found anywhere on earth. Visitors can take in incredible Tahitian style living in stilted bungalows over the the water with purely mesmerizing views over the Pacific.

Tahiti is believed to have been settled by Polynesians between 300-800 AD. The Polynesians who where known as great sailors, explored new islands in there huge double hulled Catamarans and were likely drawn to Tahiti for it's fertile soil and great fishing that provided a sustainable habitat that has made Tahiti the most populated of the islands today. Before the French arrived here, the island was first spotted by the Spanish, and visited by English sea captain Samuel Wallis. On his way to completing the first French circumnavigation of the globe, French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville visited Tahiti in 1768. His portrayal of this idyllic isle as a place where men and women could live in happy innocence far from the corruption of civilization was responsible for influencing the ideas of a utopian paradise before the French Revolution. A year later the famous British captain James Cook came to Tahiti on secret orders. This was followed by many other visitors including missionaries which brought not only Christianity but all the worst of European society including prostitution, alcohol and diseases like Typhus, Influenza and Smallpox which completely decimated the population from over 50,000 down to around 6,000.

Tahiti became a French Protectorate in 1842 after Queen Pomare IV was convinced by Admiral Dupetit Thouars who was actually acting independently of the French authorities. Fighting and war escalated between the Tahitians and the French. Finally King Pomare V was forced in to ceding Tahitian Sovereignty to the French on June 29th 1880 making Tahiti a French Overseas Territory. Tahitians are granted French citizenship and French Polynesia is now considered a French overseas community.

Tahitian history and culture is most well known for not only it's dancing but artwork including; weaving, quilting and carving. Not to be confused with the Hawaiian Hula, the world famous Tahitian dances are characterized by fast hip shaking. As with the other Pacific islands, Tahitian dances including the ?ote?a are used to tell or recreate stories. The ?ote?a was originally only a dance for men, but now can be used by women or both sexes. As opposed to other Pacific islands the music of the ?ote?a does not involve singing only drum beats. Most notable is the ancient Tahitian drum - the Pahu, which is a standing drum covered with shark skin.

For visitors to the island, one of the most memorable and wonderful experiences of Tahitian culture you can indulge in is the Tahitian wedding ceremony. The traditional Tahitian wedding ceremony while not legally binding, provides an unforgettable, once in a lifetime opportunity to experience this great culture in breathtaking surroundings for couples wishing to wed or renew their wedding vows. This traditional Tahitian ceremony involves the groom being brought to the beach by canoe and the bride being carried on a rattan throne decked in bright flowers and shells.

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