Is this a sign of maturity?

Does requesting proper luggage as a Christmas gift mean I’ve finally grown up?

I’ve previously just bought cheap stuff from discount stores, including one in Harlem, but that’s a tale for another day.

Anyhoo, DD is giving me a suitcase and the kids are giving me a matching bucket tote for carrying my laptop, book, phone etc on the plane … both in navy, so mature, so sophisticated!

The desire for luggage was made more pressing by the wheels on my last cheap suitcase – a red one from TX Maxx – carking it during the youngest’s schoolies week in Fiji.

As travel is my number one priority for the next 10 years I reckon my gifts are perfection.

Speaking of travel, I am still obsessed with going to Tahiti, which means I talk about it A LOT to anyone who happens to make the mistake of engaging me in conversation.

I’ve babbled at two people in the last few weeks who’ve stared at me completely blankly and asked where Tahiti is.

That shut me up for a micro second. I was shocked because I have a fairly comprehensive world globe rotating in my head at all times and presume everyone else does too.

I’ve also done extensive research into cruise ship routes that stop at Easter Island, which has increased my knowledge of remote corners of the Pacific.

I informed both people who didn’t know where Tahiti was that it is kind of midway between Australia and South America, but it’s actually slightly closer to Oz.

Here’s a world map that shows how vast the distances are …

Technically Tahiti isn’t actually where I want to go, it’s French Polynesia.

Tahiti is just the main island where I’d land to board a cruise ship to travel to other islands in the group.

Zooming in on French Polynesia itself, I am particularly keen to go to the Tuamotu Islands to see Rangiroa.

Rangiroa is the largest atoll in French Polynesia and the second largest in the world. It has spectacular white sand beaches and multicoloured coral gardens. Its lagoon is filled with dolphins, sharks, manta rays and sea turtles.

I want to snorkel there very badly.

However, it is very expensive to cruise to places like Rangiroa.

Has anyone been to the outer islands of French Polynesia, beyond Bora Bora and Moorea? Are they worth the expensive trip?

Song of the day: The B-52s “Roam”