These are the wonderful tifaifais that were created in Didi's Design Workshop.   Didi told everyone to put into their tifaifai things that would commemorate their trip to Tahiti and it is always amazing to see what the group comes up with.   What a wonderful memory they will have of their trip to Tahiti and Moorea!  Below are their comments about what they were thinking when they designed their tifaifais and what they think about Tahiti and Moorea.

Aini wrote:  "I lost my heart totally to the Polynesian islands.  From the very first day descending the aeroplane after a 28-hour flight  from Helsinki - Papeete and the wonderful smell of the flowers that came to me,  made a feeling to me that is unforgettable.  The lei I got around my neck, the  beautiful flowers and all the different colours that were behind one's ear everyday,  it was just unforgettable. Also the fantastic view all around me during  different excursions was amazing. The reefs, the shells, the fish, the pineapple  fields, the hills, the Pacific Ocean with all its salt and warmth.  The very  special music you heard every morning on the  TV, is something that I am listening to  in Finland even today very often. How easy it was to walk when you did not need  any furcoats or boots on you in the islands. Everything from the islands is just  unforgettable. Due to all of this I made my tifaifai. In my tifaifai are the leis made of  the wonderful flowers put around the pineapples combined with fish. The colour  of my tifaifai is chosen because of  the finnish flag; blue and white, my home country.  But the colours can also be combined with the Pacific ocean and its reefs around  the Polynesia islands."

Becky's tifaifai is called "A Whole Lot of Turtles".  Becky says that Tahiti is amazing and there is no way to describe it to anyone until they actually experience it.  I will be back!"

Janice said, "The first time that Kim and I went to Tahiti  I fell in love with Moorea.  I liked the quietness of it and the separateness and I loved the ocean and the blue colors.   When we went to Magic Mountain on the Safari tour, Ghislaine told us that Moorea was the octopus head and the eight arms of the octopus were the ridges of the mountains and there I was standing there looking at it!   We also saw an octopus at the three sister's bungalow one night and we spent hours watching it.   The outside of the tifaifai is just the waves of the ocean and the blue color symbolizes the beauty that is Moorea.   To me the octopus is Moorea but also it brings back memories of the  octopus and the fish we spent watching in the lagoon.   I did a smaller version than the others did to represent the safety of the lagoon and Moorea.    I would encourage anyone who gets a chance to go to Tahiti and Moorea to go and also encourage anyone to go on the Insider's Tour as we had such a great time together!"

  Kim described her tifaifai this way.  "My tifaifai has a mermaid wearing a flower in her hair like the Tahitians do and she is surrounded by tiare flowers.   There is a little figure that is hidden in the design and the mermaid is looking for love (represented by the hearts) but is not sure if she has found it or not."    Kim went on to say "Tahiti is a wonderful place and I will be back!"   This was Kim and Janice's second trip to Tahiti and Moorea. 

Carolyn told me that her tifaifai included the things that we don't have over here.   "It has the coconut trees, the flowers that everybody wore in their hair, the dolphins that I swam with and the shells that we got as leis.   I picked the fabric before I left the States.  The beige was for the sand and the blue was for the water.   Around the edge are the waves that I saw." When I asked Carolyn what she thought of Tahiti and Moorea she said, "The people are much more laid back than in the state of California and not into the horrible rush that we are all into so Bill and I  felt more relaxed.    The people are not as influenced by the world as we are.  The world has a tremendous impact upon us here but over there life is still more centered around families.  It's too bad that every place can't stay that way."  

Carol lives in Moorea and she helped us put together the Rima Rau exhibit.   She participated in Didi's workshop and this is what she said about her tifaifai.   "The main  thing that I was thinking about when designing my tifaifai were the plants and  animals that I wanted to represent: Piglets, papaya trees, sweet potatoes, land crabs & pineapples.  I also wanted to make a traditional tifaifai where all  of the elements are connected.  It was difficult, as these elements are only  related in my head in my life here on Moorea.   I got stuck connecting them all  till it dawned on me that there is a plant (a rampant weed-vine called “pohue”)  which grows over everything here, literally connecting the individual trees and  bushes in the forest.   So the pohue connected it all on my tifaifai also.  I  just needed to take the time to see what I was looking  at."

Pat's tifaifai represents the volcanic peaks, the beauty of the foliage and the flowers that she had seen in Tahiti.   Pat and Lisa are  already talking about going back to Tahiti on another Insider's Tour and are already recruiting their friends to go with them!   

Pam's tifaifai represents what she saw on her walks at night on the beach and along the lagoon with Didi, Heinui and Becky.   Tahiti was a very special time for Pam and she said she had a wonderful time and would remember her time in Tahiti always.   She also said that she misses everyone!

This is what Lisa said about her tifaifai.  "The footprints are me walking along the beach and the dolphins swimming in the lagoon and they are there to give you wisdom.  The dolphins that are curved around the footprints mean that there is still confusion in life and that you are not perfect."  Lisa had never quilted before and she designed this wonderful tifaifai!   

Becky did this tifaifai in 2006 when she was part of the Insider's Tour.  She told me:   "The blue represents the vivid colors that I found in Tahiti and I fell in love with the flowers and the waves on the outside were the ones that were crashing on the reef and the smooth waves inside were the ones that come into the lagoon.  My tifaifai also represents the awesome flowers, the ocean and the colors of Tahiti."

Sandy said about her tifaifai:   "I used the lizard in my tifaifai because  it is the symbol of Moorea and Moorea was my favorite island more so than Tahiti.  I put in the tiki god because he is supposed to find me a husband so I could stay in Moorea forever.   The design in the middle was from the tapa cloth design in our room at the InterContinental Moorea."   Sandy told me she loved the islands and said "What is there not to love about it! "   

Beth's comments about her tifaifai.   "I was thinking about the crystal blue waters which are just beautiful and I also incorporated them in the design because I grew up by the beach.  The flowers are symbols that remind me of relaxing and being on vacation and they tie in with the water."  When I asked her what she thought of Tahiti, Beth said:  "I wish I could live there - fabulous people, a great place to go, a great culture, and a wonderful place to relax."

If you would like information about the next "Insider's Tour with Dierdra McElroy",  please contact Chris Meny or Stevie Ryer at chrism@yourtravelsource.com or call (800) 597-0594. 
 CST #:  20378740-40.

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