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The Brando, Polynesia
An island’s allure
What avid teenage reader of books like EIt was back in 1962 on the island of Tahiti
Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe hasn’t that Marlon Brando acted in the role as the
dreamt of an island of his own? For Marlon living incarnation of the chief mutineer in the
Brando, this dream came true, albeit at the film, ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’. Back then,
ripe old age of 40. Today, his island sees the Brando was seduced by the charm of the South
opening of a luxury hotel. Thirty-five tradi- Seas and bought an atoll called Tetiaroa.
tional Polynesian villas stretch out along a Today, Tahiti Beachcomber has devoted an
beach of pure white sand, shaded by coco- entire island, the pearl of the atoll, to ‘The
nut palms, Built from wood and with rooves Brando’, a new luxury hotel. ‘If I have my way,
of pandanus leaves, these charming and uni- Tetiaroa will forever remain a place that
maginably sumptuous villas are, if possible, reminds Tahitians of what they are, and what
even better than the dream. they were centuries ago.’ His wish has indeed
come true. It’s a high point, not only of luxury
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