Just
as we're about to go mad, the sun finally comes out. It doesn't take us long
to realise that Rarotonga is as beautiful as we had hoped it would be and we
can't get to the beach quickly enough.Pacific Islands
Cook Islands - Rarotonga
Somehow our big silver sky bus manages to find the Cook Islands (incy wincy little specks of land just left of America). Via the wonder of time travel we also arrive before we leave New Zealand (aren't date lines great!) Super keen to take advantage of our extra day soaking up the sun on the beach we are incensed to find it's raining......and it rains and rains and rains for the next 48 hours AAARRRGGGHHH!. (yes we will be asking for a refund when we get back :)
Just
as we're about to go mad, the sun finally comes out. It doesn't take us long
to realise that Rarotonga is as beautiful as we had hoped it would be and we
can't get to the beach quickly enough.
Beach,
palm trees, clear blue sea, coral lagoons, squillions of multi-coloured sea
critters, nice and warm, bugger all people - the Cook Islands are just about
perfect. The place has a really friendly atmosphere and we find ourselves slipping
effortlessly into island life.
We've
swapped our campervan (home for over 70 days :{ ) for a backpacker hostel (address:
Rarotonga backpackers, Sunset side of the island). Then procede to spend every
day blagging the facilities of the top resort on the island. And very nice it
is too.
It's
a quiet island but they make their own fun in a uniquley Raro way.
Our groovie hosts Rebecca and Paul take us on a bar crawl of the island in 'the
chunda truck' (observing strict local health and safety rules!). Highlights
include standing right at the end of the runway in the middle of the night,
trying to get knocked over by the jet wash of the incoming 737; wearing flowers
in our hair while drinking in moderation; going to church on Sunday morning
to listen to the locals singing while waiting for the hangovers to fade.
The
authors watching the sun set on 'question popping' beach, 'nuf said ;)
Luxury,
no espense spared transport, island stylie. After getting pulled by the local
cop (singular) for not having a valid driving licence, Jules flutters her eyelashes
and we get off with a smile and directions to the Cook Islands licencing office.
Couple
of natives, (tried to get a pic of the 'squitos but they were too busy eating
us to pose for the camera). To see the wasp at about the right scale, click
on the link. The hermit crab cos they were the cuteist critters on the island.
Feeling
under some pressure to perform, the men folk (hunters of the tribe) decide to
risk life and limb and take to the sea, armed with piddly little spear guns.
Two hours of diving and we really show those little fish who's top of the food
chain! Unfortunately the mashing surf, diving ear pressure, stinging fire coral
and our general weedyness at cocking the guns take their toll so we let the
women folk cook the catch.
A truly funktastic week on Raro, everyone should go, (but one at a time). Duty calls and we take to the air again...
French Polynesia - Tahiti and Moorea
Right,
let's start by saying that we arrive with some trepidation; no one we spoke
to had much good to say about Tahiti, expensive, dirty, unfrendly... Still you
have to try these things so we arrive at 2am and check into the cheapest hotel
on the island - the airport cafe. We plan to get out of Tahiti as soon as possible
so we wait till 6 for the ferry to Moorea the neighbouring island.
A
dawn crossing and an hour in the local 'le truck' get us to a hut on a beach.
Luxury facilities include shared cold water showers, 3am wakeup call courtesy
of local cockrels but we do have a 10 second walk to the beach.
After
a couple of days sampling the frenchiness of the island we go on a trip to see
the locals. Unfortunately the locals turn out to be black tip reef sharks and
the guides seem to think the best fun can be had by feeding them tourists. Ten
minutes in the water with this lot brushing past and Stu was praying the fish
in Raro hadn't told their big cousins about the incident with the spear gun.
The sting rays were much cuter, just kinda nibbled at you, even Jules got in
for a while!
It's
a bright hot sunny morning, nothing like a bit of exercise doing the weekly
wash. All this out door living and island diet takes its toll on Jules. The
local witch doctor suspects 'mad pineapple disease' and recommends a stay in
a real hotel untill the effects wear off.
We
hop on the ferry back to Tahiti for our last three days. Blow ten weeks Thai
equivalant expenses on a car and room with hot water. The mainland isn't so
bad once you leave Papeete the capital. The beaches are black sand but beautiful,
the night time food stalls do great nosh for just less than eating out in London
and next time we come here it's on the big boat!
Couldn't
resist squeezing in a few sunset pix. The view from Tahiti back to the island
of Moorea was stunning; every evenings entertainmant was baguette and wine on
the beach watching the light show extravaganza.
It's been great this little holiday - backpacking round the world can be hard work you know. Although Tahiti is nice, given the choice there are much nicer islands, Raro wins by a mile. Civilisation looms on the horizon of our thoughts, so we bid 'adieu', climb into our packs and make for the check in desk...
