The Cook Islands

Friday  22^nd February 2008

Air New Zealand Flight NZ0019 to Rarotonga, Cook Islands, we arrived on time at 4:30am after a pleasant flight in which we both managed to sleep for a few hours after the in-flight meal. The plane appeared to be quite empty enabling some passengers to stretch the length of 3 seats for a comfortable rest. The flight was going onwards to Auckland but all passengers had to disembark in Rarotonga, we were surprised that approx 95% of them were going on to Auckland and therefore going through customs and quarantine was a pleasure. A singer welcoming us and a garland of Gardenia’s around our necks was a wonderful greeting. Suffice to say when we got to the hotel and were shown our room, despite the rest on the plane we did need  a couple of hours rest. However, we were up just after 7am for a “Tropical Breakfast” and  spent the rest of the day on the beach, swimming, resting, reading and me listening to my MP3. The location is absolutely idyllic, the hotel is right on the beach we can see and hear the waves on the reef and right in front of us is the calm, warm lagoon with 3 Motu’s (small islands with palm trees) in swimming distance. A great first day in Raro’

Saturday 23^rd February 2008

Down on the beach at 6:15am to take pictures of a remarkable sunrise, not to successful (the photo’s not the sunrise) as I had a mark on the photo’s which was attributed to a particle of dust on the sensor (a downside to digital cameras), anyway duly sorted and we will try again tomorrow. We decided to go into the town?????? of  Avarua (sort of the capital) to visit the Saturday market. Now came a difficult decision the buses either run clockwise or anti-clockwise around the islands perimeter (some 40 kilometres in total) which way to go? The queue at the anti-clockwise was larger so we deduced that was the more likely. We had an interesting conversation with a lad and his wife (they were on honeymoon), he was an Aussie she a New Zealander and they lived near Rotorua in New Zealand, he told me of a couple of places near were they lived that we must visit.  They had a lovely 17 month old  baby Ava Lily who took a shine to Jenny who was sitting next to them . We (her Dad and I) standing up as the bus was full. 20 minutes later however, we were in the market place. Very interesting and colourful, the produce on the stalls looked  wonderfully  fresh and appetising, we bought 2 coconuts to quench our thirst (the first time Jenny had tried it), delicious. Listened and watched some traditional music and dance. We “people watched”, the locals seem to use the market as a day to meet with friends and relatives. We finished the morning having fish and chips at “Trader Jacks” restaurant and bar near the small jetty, where the local children were having great fun swimming and jumping off the side of the dock.

We now know that the cost of Jenny’s diving mask  and  the journey to Sheffield was worthwhile. She used it in the lagoon in the afternoon and was thrilled with the vision that it gave her underwater, we snorkelled over to the nearest motu and the size, amount and colours of the fish was tremendous. We celebrated on our return with a Cocktail called “me and you” for Jenny and a local lager for me (well it was “happy hour”).

Sunday 24^th February 2008

The day started perfect and just got better, up at 6am to watch and photograph the sunrise, not as good as yesterday’s but still impressive, then a cup of tea on the veranda (we have a kettle, skimmed milk and proper cups here) we then decided to have a swim in the pool before our breakfast. The swim became a competition who would do the most lengths and then it became a race (I won by about 3 inches, Jenny insists it was ½ inch) at least it gave us both an appetite! We then chatted to a maid who said we were moving rooms today, (news to us) from 308 to 205, we were a bit disgruntled as we were quite happy and settled where we were. However, we thought we would see where 205 was. We went to see the receptionist in charge who explained “ because of another booking would we mind changing rooms”? would we mind? We couldn’t pack our bags quick enough. We now have a deluxe lagoon view room (and what a view,) we just step out on to the beach from the veranda, we can hear the Ocean, we have our own sun beds, a fantastic room and a shower that would hold a ladies hockey team (I’ll make do with Jenny). After moving rooms (which the staff helped us with) we thought we would kayak (which are complementary) over to the Motu opposite which was great fun, I put Jenny in front so she didn’t see when I wasn’t paddling. However, Jenny decided to be Captain, First Mate and Bosun so that didn’t work, I tried the mutiny bit, that didn’t work either. I gave in and became the stoker,  helmsman and deckhand that worked……., for Jenny! Another snorkel, swim, and shower before typing this before dinner. “Grille Nite” tonight.

Monday 25^th February 2008

A habit developing again, up early to see the sunrise, a great advantage now that we have changed rooms is that we can see the sunrise without leaving the room. However I wanted a particular photo shot so I walked a bit further along the beach. Rather than use the pool for our morning swim it is so nice and exhilarating to swim in the lagoon, so before 7am this morning we took a dip, followed by a cup of tea and then breakfast. We decided to walk one of the walking trails before it got to hot so we set off along the “Avana Walk” passing through numerous smallholdings containing numerous chickens, goats, pigs and one solitary bull, plus, neatly kept rows of different crops, once we were on the trail proper we spotted some very colourful butterflies and flowers. The only “wild life” being 1 mouse and 4 lizards, unusual for this type of climate, there are no poisonous critters on the islands. We spent the afternoon just relaxing near the room. I snorkelled and went kayaking and unlike yesterday today I was the Captain, First Mate, and Bosun, how? I went out on my own in a single seater kayak. I was still in trouble when I got back, I had taken a pool towel for a seat and brought it back sopping wet, I just can’t win. Yet! As a postscript, I must say it is a pleasure sitting on the veranda typing this whilst the local Rugby team are training hard in the water near the hotel. Looks to much like hard work to me. It gets better, hot off the press, a group of girls have joined them. Must be the ladies Rugby team, perhaps it wouldn’t be such hard work after all!

Up at 6:00 am again (it’s a tough life, but someone’s got to check the sun is rising) a few lengths of the swimming pool, a cup of tea, breakfast, there were proper fried eggs today, as the Americans say “over easy” I know that now because when we were there I asked for “sunny side up” and the sunny part was to runny  I don’t like them all mixed together either, I think the proper word is “scrambled”. New on the buffet table were scones, almost, no I tell a lie, as good as the one’s Jenny bakes, with Cranberries instead of Raisins. I was going to fill my pockets with them but the waiter was being too attentive, I think he wanted to make sure there were  some left for his morning break.  At 9:11 it started to pour with rain, at 9:12 the sun was out (I am not joking). Our daughter Rhiain said it was going to (she checks on the weather where we are, sad or what?)  I guess she was right,  just!  After a casual walk along the beach (to work the scones off) we decided to have another swim and snorkel, it is remarkable every time we swim in the lagoon we see some different fish, this time we swam along with a shoal of 2 species of fish which seemed oblivious to our presence and swam along without fear of us (I expect they realised we were alien to their environment and not the other way around) This afternoon was a first for Jenny, she had a scuba diving trial in the hotel swimming pool and enjoyed it so much she had a 2^nd go. I was amazed how well she did, again the prescription snorkel mask giving her the confidence to try it, the only problem she had was being able to stay right on the bottom of the pool without her natural buoyancy (read a large pair of lungs) causing her to float to the top. I know she got to the bottom eventually because she complained there was some grout missing from one of the pool tiles!

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