More Flowers

Check out this freaky flower/weed I don’t know what that I found in the garden. Looks like it should be able to catch stuff and eat it!

Dog Gone it!

The neighbour's 2 puppies have decided to adopt us. I guess they like our garden better. This has provided us with some amusing and some not so amusing incidents. A few weeks back they were keeping me hostage inside as every time I went outside they threatened me with their horrible little muddy paws. If that wasn't bad enough they nicked a pair of jocks of someone's line and tried to get me to play fetch with them. But most recently they’ve decided to drag people’s rubbish up onto the deck: old nappies, jandals, dishcloths, tincans, rotting hunks of tuna. But today they out did themselves. The black puppy managed to steal a machete.

Personal Goal setting: Learn to DRIVE

Today Chris gave me my first driving lesson. Doing figure 8s around the garden under the tamarind trees.
I can report no wild chickens, stray dogs or cats were harmed.

Thirsty?

Ok. It’s hot here. So I have to drink a lot of water. I found I quickly got sick of plain old water. I started making my own flavoured drinks: lemon tea (very refreshing), or ice coffee (very delicious). But sometimes I can’t be bothered slicing lemons and straining coffee grinds so I reach for a packet of kiwi summers long past. You know what I’m talking about. Raro.

End of an Era

I forgot to mention the island's only monkey, Lulu, has passed away. R.I.P our little primate friend.

Cook Islands A to Z

Having said farewell to our first visitors, I was thinking about where others planning to visit Rarotonga might go for information. Apart from reading the Lonely Planet or the free visitors guide produced by Jasons, I’ve found an online resource the Cook Islands A to Z which isn’t too bad. I especially like what they have to say about Coconuts.

Night Adventure

Chris wrote about this in an email, so I’ll just quote him:

Went out to the beach the other night with the torch to see if we could see fish, etc. I was wading in the water when suddenly I saw a snake eel. Bloody hell it scared the hell out of me, and I was out in a flash. I'd seen them before and they were scary then, but at night and being in the water as well was worse. My mind knew what it was, but the body wasn't convinced. Those buggers look like sea snakes, man. Let's just say I'm not wading in the water at nighttime anymore. But I will set up a burley bag one night and see what gets attracted to it. Worked real well when we went snorkelling at the marine reserve. Heaps of fish, some looked like trevally, and I got a wee nip by one.

Flowers

The flowers here are gorgeous and abundant with bright colours, large and varied petals, and pleasant aromas. The most popular are: Frangipani, Gardenia, Hibiscus, and Bougainvillea. And whatever the occasion, formal or fun, it’s standard issue to have a fresh or fake flower tucked behind an ear, or worn in garlands around the neck or head, called an “ei”, (pronounce it like you were Fonzie: aay) - elsewhere known as a Lei.

I’m told what to look for in a head ei is good mixture of colour. Also you can make them last a few days by putting them in the fridge. I made mine into a centrepiece for the table – I’m like an island Martha Stewart.

Until We Meet Again

We left M & A at the airport last night. Their flight left Raro at 3.50 AM!!!! (Remember that if you’re planning on visiting – I doubt it’s a good end to a restful vacation.) So they should be well and truly home by now, back in Dunedin, and probably very tired.

Picnic

We had a sunset pizza picnic at BlackRock, our fav swimming beach, and followed that up with the local Coconut flavoured icecream, which is incredibly delicious - it tastes like homemade coconut-ice.

Money Shot

Having raved about the Coral Club, one of our fav resturant/cafes here, because it has reasonable prices (almost a miracle in Raro!) and great food we took mum and Alice there tonight only to discover, of course, that the prices had gone up and the food had gone down.

Not to worry 'cos humpback whales were swimming past so M & A got to see their first whales and a great show it was: spouting, breaching and tail slapping like it had been scripted.

So much to do, so little time

We did lots of touristy things today with Mum and Alice. We went for a walk up above Hospital Hill to see the view. Visited the waterfall. Went snorkelling, which was very cool as there were Lots of pretty tropical fishies, like Butterfly fish. (Really need to get a waterproof camera!) [And snorkels 'cos we only had masks] And topped it off by attending the Edgewater Resort "Island Night" buffet and Cultural Dance. Phew!!!

Deep Dark Secret

OK, before you condemn me you’ve got to realise that TV options here are slim. There is only one channel and during the day it mostly shows English language tutorials and Religious programs, so in the evenings I confess my DDS is that I have started watching Shortland Street.
Regularly.
And I like it.
Shhh!!!
Don’t tell anyone, I feel unclean enough as it is.

Crafty

Shell craft is very popular here and carving Mother of Pearls Shells and even onto Black Pearls is very much in vogue. Check out this local artist: Tokerau Jim that we visted today.

It's a Dog's Life

Intrepid Explorers

Mum and Alice have been enjoying swimming in the lagoon. Alice found 2 giant blue starfish. Also they say they are upholding the tradition of being tourists by pointing at stuff a lot.