Cook Island &Tahiti

Cook Islands to French Polynesia.

Cook Islands 24th July arrived at Rarotonga the Capital of the Cook Islands. The first Europeans to make contact with the islanders, were the mutineers in the Bounty in 1789. Population 10 thousand. and Maori is the local language, we could still use Aust dollars or NZ.

We had a walk around checked out the black pearls that the Islands are famous for and bought a pair of earrings. All of the Islands shop’s close at midday for a couple of hours. So to fill in time we hopped on a local bus for $7.00 each and did around the island trip, took about an hour with 2 stops to let people on and off. Not a great deal to see when your travelling in a fully packed bus and travelling at about 80 kls. We finished our island trip and made our way to Trader Jacks for a local sea food platter. Brian also managed to find a local grog shop and bring back on board 4 bottles of NZ wine.

Since being on the ship still have not had time to read my book however have attended 2 Art Auctions on ship and Brian bid for 2 pieces of art work, so we now have some art work arriving home after we get back .

(This section from Brian )- Ship Life-The Food is excellent, one of the buffets is open 24/7 and has an excellent range of hot and cold and various nationalities types to choose from. A dozen or so beers to pick from, starting from $5.00 Aust for Fosters, Hahn etc and wine from $22 and up (Nobilo a NZ sauv blank that we buy at home from the bottle shop for $15.00 for $36.00). The evening meal is al a carte and the menu has a choice of generally 3 appetizers, 4 soups and or salads, then 6 main courses. Then a separate desert menu with 6 or 8 choices. On both menu's there are also "Always Available" dishes such as Classic Caesars Salad, Prawn Cocktail, New York Sirloin Steak, Herb Marinated Breast of Chicken ,Pavlova and fruit salad etc etc. Now you know why I was trying to lose weight before we left.

Have got to say that I am getting a great buzz visiting these South Sea Islands because I love geography and history and books from Tales of the South Pacific, Mutiny on the Bounty, Hawaii etc to Treasure Island, all have images and visions that I can relate to. Also island people are not very house and or garden proud so the various island tours and around island drives do not show off the image that I imagined. However the sheer beauty of the Islands from the sea is just amazing, lush vegetation, mountains rising straight out of the sea to 2000m to 3000m, quite spectacular. Outrigger canoes, grass thatched huts and generally very happy local people.

Tahiti - Saturday 26th the ship pulled into Tahiti at the capital, Papeete , size 404 square miles the language is French & Tahitian, we docked right at the wharf and were able to walk around the place, very busy with tourist and locals. We found the prices very expensive in Tahiti, a cup of coffee is about $7.00 US, beer is about $10.00 and up however they do make a great cappuccino with whipped cream on top.

We did do a bus tour around the Island for 4 hours and saw where James Cook stood and observed the Transit of Venus in 1769, also the lookout over Matavai Bay where Lt William Bligh’s HMS Bounty anchored. Brian was disappointed as he did not see any topless Polynesian women as shown in the old Bounty film 200 years too late. Very lovely Island although I think Queensland has better, not as high but we can also get our boat to many of them.

We travelled early this morning from Papeete to another Island ,Moorea, only 51 square miles- arrived at 7.00 am and this time we had to go ashore by tender, being Sunday every thing was closed so had a quick look around and came back on the ship, now trying to get the washing and ironing done on board, always a queue for the 2 washing machines on each deck. I have found the waiting around in the laundry is a great place to catch up on all the ships gossips and peoples travel stories.

Pass on our regards to all and think of us as we are about to celebrate the crossing of the equator for which we will all no doubt receive a special Certificate. We received a Certificate when we crossed the International Date Line a week ago and we all received a special folder and map and a specially cast gold coin for those doing the 75 day cruise. It was commissioned and produced at the Perth Mint. Very impressive, about 50mm diameter. No doubt there will be a few more surprises like these before we are finished.

Love to all Petra & Brian

Jul 29, 2008

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