Jun 9, 2012 - Last day in paradise

We've spent the day relaxing and unfortunately finishing off books, I have now read 4 books and ran out!!! That even includes the additional one I brought in heathrow that I didn't realise my favourite author sophie kinsella had released. Mr Bell has also done well and is currently on book 4 although he says it's rubbish. I don't know why he bothers if it's rubbish. I live in hope that there might be a book stall at Raro airport but I doubt it, at least we have an overnight flight so we should be fairly shattered by then. We adventured into...

Jun 8, 2012 - Our last full day and night in paradise

Turns out whilst shaking my thing at the dancing last nights it absolutely eaten alive with over 50 mosiquito bites as counted this morning. I was wearing spray but I'm obviously too tasty to resist. Oh well never mind, we did absolutely nothing today, not even a walk down the beach just sleep, read and rest up. Perfect!!! We managed to negotiate a late check out for tomorrow as we don't fly until 7pm so pretty much got a full day again, might even venture out in a double man kayak.....

Jun 7, 2012 - The day Mr Bell almost drowned

Up nice and early for our boat trip, picked up again on island time, should have been 9.30 was 10am. Only 10 mins down the road to the boat harbour which was actually the owners private mooring where he lived. This all sounds very nice but I can assure you these people are definitely not rich, the houses were very basic and haggered but he couldn't be prouder, as the day went on he told us about his heritage, family and his business. The first stop was a snorkel site whereby I waited for the others to go first, the sun hadn't quite warmed...

Jun 6, 2012 - Transfer to Aitutaki

Our transfer was due at 9am so we the night before we had spent time organising our suitcases with one of them full of autuaki and LA clothes and the other all the obsolete winter clothes used in New Zealand. We had heard we might have a low baggage allowance depending on how many was booked on the flight and which plane was used. As I wasn't keen on leaving one of our suitcases it was lucky that had a bigger aeroplane than anticipated meaning we could take both suitcases. We forgot that we weren't island time and needn't have rushed as...

Jun 5, 2012 - The wind in our hair - well in mine!

We very much enjoyed mid morning tea with the other guests, well i did in particular as you all know a good chat. Everyone on our table was from new Zealand as Raro is a very popular easy destination for them, a bit like europe is for us. Opposite us were an older couple whom lived in auckland and were on a trip after being on a european cruise and decided to stop off on the way home, they were obviously very proud of there family as they told us all about their sons, one of which was in the British army. A couple (helen and nick) our age...

Jun 4, 2012 - Bear grylls hits again

graham couldn't wait to get out to those waves to see how big they really were, so as soon as our stomachs were settled from breakfast we went out on the kayaks. I got half way there then gave up as I was a little bit scared of being sucked in by the waves but graham just kept going, I didn't think it helped that I'd forgotten to put my contacts in so I couldn't really see properly. Bear grylls just kept going...as soon as I got near the shore this American lady came running up to me to help me lift the kayak out and then asked what he was...

Jun 3, 2012 - The day we travelled back in time

We had a nice leisurely morning with our pick up not until 11.15am so had a late breakfast and then packed our things. We had a flight from Christchurch to Auckland, and then Auckland to Rarotonga. We left Auckland at 3.45pm with the flight only taking 3 hours but we got to Rarotonga the previous day, Saturday night, about 9.30pm, greeted with fresh flower necklaces. Graham thought it would be very apt to watch back to the future on the aeroplane, I watched this means war. One of the only flights I have been awake on as it was day...

Mar 24, 2012 - The Isles of Desire - Rarotonga and the Cooks

Kia Orana – Welcome to the Cook Islands - The Cooks lie in the South Pacific two hours east of the International Date Line and roughly as far south of the equator as Hawaii is north. Fifteen small islands are spread over two million square kilometers of sea and are home to a population of less than twenty thousand. I thought it would be a good place to break the long trip from LA to Australia. Sometimes I get it right. Rarotonga is the largest island and center of government. While most of the other islands in the chain are atolls, Raro is...

Mar 1, 2012 - Walking with Pa in Rarotonga

Joan and John have met many interesting and entertaining people on our travels. But a man named Pa on the island of Rarotonga is a character for the ages. From the moment he screeched his van to a halt to meet us by the side of the road we knew we would be in for a treat. A muscular barefoot man with blond hair braids, and wearing tiny nylon gym shorts with a bright red tank top, literally leapt from his minivan before it had even come to a full stop. (We would later learn that he was 72 years old). He then stood before us, clasping his...

Apr 9, 2011 - Cook Island Paradise

An island paradise. Have met several people who have worked in several Pacific islands and they all agree Cook Islands to be the best place to live. Alec is now the proud possessor of a Cook Islands driving licence (1 hour queue at the police station where you meet all the other new arrivals, plus $20) Our time here has been pretty lazy (it is hot after all). Being only a few yards from the beach, we snorkel and kayak every day, then try to decide which beachside restaurant/bar to go to next. One piece of action however was to join the...

Mar 19, 2011 - Farewell Raratonga

It's our last day in Raratonga today but our flight doesn't leave till midnight so we have a full day & we don't have to check out of our bungalow until we leave for the airport. It's Saturday & market day in town so off on our trusty scooter after breakfast to see what it's like. As we ride along the seafront in town we spot a large cruise liner moored just outside the reef so looks like we hace company. The market is colourful with lots of food stalls and all sorts of clothing & souvenir stalls. Black pearls are a popular local product &...

Mar 18, 2011 - Island Dinner

Another hard day of sunbathing & snorkelling. In the evening we went to a local restaurant for a meal of traditional food followed by more island dancing. The dance group was one of the ones we saw last night but they put on a longer show. Boy can those girls make them grass skirts move! Even managed to sneak into a photo with all the performers after the show. Good night out.