French Polynesia is a small paradise in the heart of the Southern Pacific : some say it is a little France on the other side of the world, separated from the metropolitan France by more than 17 000 kilometres. Its 118 islands grouped in five archipelagos offer as many different landscapes, cultures and geographies. With that diversity, Polynesia is a destination in its own right. It attracted to its shores many travellers in search of a new Eden (Gauguin, Matisse ). And those who came back always kept a nostalgic memory of that other place they loved but ended up leading. Because the great paradox of Polynesia is just that : one loves the soil different from the one grew up in, one takes them in, believes he knows them, but finds out that in spite of their flavour of France, they are not France. Take the currency for instance, the Pacific Franc or Ffcp, (Ffcp 120 to EUR 1 approximately), the Overseas Territory status allowing them free government. Going over there means acquainting oneself with a new culture, another language, another way of living and thinking, another climate, different colours, idyllic landscapes Yet, better to ask oneself a few questions before settling down there (where to live, depending on the weather, orientation, transportation and prices what formalities what lifestyle ..) and its better to forget the cheese/dessert ritual at all meals : here, tuna fish is king !