Just 7 1/2 hours from Los Angeles, you'll find the crystal clear turquoise lagoons and pristine beaches of the islands where love lives. Tahiti and Her Islands comprise an area officially known as French Polynesia. The Islands are scattered over four million square kilometers (one and a half million sq. miles) of ocean in the eastern South Pacific.

The total land area of these 118 islands and atolls adds up to only 4,000 sq. km. (1,544 sq. miles), and consists of five achipelagoes: the Society Islands, Austral Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu atolls and the Mangareva Islands.

The population of French Polynesia is an amalgam of Polynesian (75 percent), Chinese (10 percent), and European (15 percent). Among these racial categories exists every conceivable mixture. It would not be unusual to encounter a Tahitian of Chinese, American, Polynesian and French ancestry. The term French Polynesia refers to five archipelagoes spread over an expanse of the South Pacific approximately the size of Western Europe (2,000,000 square miles or approximately 5,000,000 square kilometers). The region includes the Marguesas, the Tuamotus, the Society Islands, the Australs and the Gambiers. Each of these archipelagoes has its own culture, ethnicity and climate.

French Polynesia was the natural backdrop for the legendary paintings of Paul Gauguin. Like the vast majority of visitors to the region, Gauguin has inspired by French Polynesia's turquoise lagoons, multi-coloured reef fish, volcanic peaks, lush valleys and white-sand beaches.

Tahitian culture is a lively fusion of ancient Polynesian lore and European contemporaneousness.

The mixture of Polynesian and French cultures has resulted in a fertile culinary environment. There is a variety of splendid foods available in Tahiti ranging from traditional Tahitian fare to fine French cuisine, and tempting combinations thereof. The Tahitian diet consists mostly of fish, shellfish, breadfruit, taro, cassava, pork, yams, chickan, rice and coconut.

Visitors will also find any number of Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants of various price categories and quality. For Americans accustomed to fast-food, Papeete and some of the outer islands serve hamburgers, steaks, fries and similar staples.

In terms of art and culture, upper-class Tahitians have adopted western pop culture. French Polynesians wear the most chic fashions, listen to the latest pop music and drive the latest Bavarian cars and Japanese automobiles. Yet despite this obvious affection for Western style, the proud people of French Polynesia still have their own language and customs.

The area has inspired a host of legendary artistic works. Tahiti has captured the imagination of European intellectuals and artists ever since Rousseau waxed about the "Noble Savage." French Polynesia was the setting for Herman Melville's groundbreaking book, "Typee," which was the first novel about a romance between a white man and a Polynesian native. The region was also the inspiration for the popular theatre production, "Bali Hai."

Perhaps the most popular and influential artist to be associated with Tahiti is painter Paul Gauguin, whose earth-hued portraits of Polynesian life are world-renowned.

Arguably, the most resilient aspects of Polynesian culture are music and dance. Traditional percussionists offer one of the purest expressions of Polynesian music and are as much a part of the music scene today as are electric guitarists (percussionist always accompany dance troupes). Tahitian music has evolved into a fiery mix of Polynesian melody and rhythm and American pop, Jamaican reggae, French chansons and even hymns borrowed from the missionaries.

Crafts are an important part of the cultural picture in French Polynesia. Traditional mat or basket weaving and carving are still practiced in the more remote areas, such as the Marguesas, Tuamotu and Austral islands. The Australs in particular, are famous for the quality of mats and hats woven from Pandanus, a tree that grows throughout the South Pacific. Carvings and wood sculptures are produced mostly in the Marquesas Islands.

Polynesia is the birthplace of the tattoo, and this internationally-recognized form of body painting has been practiced here since ancient times. It's almost impossible to walk down a busy thoroughfare in Papeete or Moorea without encountering tattooed locals.

The Islands:

Tahiti:
Often called "The Queen of the Pacific," Tahiti is the largest of the islands. Home to mountain waterfalls, beautiful beaches and the capital city of Papeete, its effect on visitors is magical.

Moorea:
Often likened to James Michener's mythical island of Bali Hai, Moorea is marked by volcanic peaks reflected in the tranquil waters of its two signature bays.

Bora Bora:
Bora Bora's main island sits like a jewel in the center of its legendary multi-colored lagoon, which is surrounded by off-shore islets inside a protective necklace of coral.

Huahine:
Comprised of two islands joined by a small bridge, Huahine boasts watermelon and cantaloupe gardens on its offshore islets, and bustling Chinese shops along its waterfront.

Raiatea- Tahaa:
Only two miles apart and surrounded by the same barrier reef are Raiatea - the second largest Tahitian island, once the center of Polynesian culture - and tranquil Tahaa, often called the "Vanilla Island," for the delightful scent of its plantations.

Rangiroa:
Travelers searching for the perfect secluded getaway need look no farther than Rangiroa: cycle around the island, snorkel the magnificent lagoon, or just relax in a luxurious resort.

Manihi:
Peaceful, quiet Manihi boasts several black pearl farms and a crystal clear lagoon more than three miles wide and 19 miles long.

Marquesas:
From the fantastic skyline of Ua Pou to the desert-like plateau of Ua Huka, the islands of the Marquesas archipelago are far from the beaten track, with a beauty matched only by their serenity.

Austral:
Hundreds of miles to the southwest of Tahiti lie the Austral islands. From the limestone grottoes of Rurutu to the near isloation of far off Rapa, these islands offer an exotic paradise for the most adventurous explorers.

Mangareva:
With its gently rolling hills and Mediterranean climate, Mangareva, the largest isle in the Gambier archipelago, well deserves its title as a "Garden of Eden."