Happy Valentine’s

Raro has happily adopted Valentine’s day. Most of the restaurants are having themed dinners and almost all of the adverts I have been creating for the newspaper are also themed with hearts, cupids etc. I thought I would add a touch of glamour to the blog by including one of the photos that wasn’t required from one of the advertising promos. So…. Happy Valentine’s!

Every day is Jandal’s day in Raro!

I’ve been a bit slack again & have missed out on reporting the end of the local canoe festival. I also understand I missed National Jandal’s Day in NZ.

So I thought today in honour of the two events I missed I’d post some photos of the building of the traditional canoes. Why? Cos every day is Jandal’s Day in Raro!

Powertools and jandals. That’s hardcore.

The Sounds Of Summer

Summertime means being outdoors and cranking up the radio. Raro has quite few radio stations and I’ve found one that you too can enjoy.

Quote:

The station [Radio Cook Islands] is heard via AM all over Rarotonga, the
Southern Group islands and in the Northern Group only by car radio's with wires
strung between coconut trees.

Click here for the programme guide. It is also streamed over the Internet. Listen online.

Mad about Cars

Aside from the ubiquitous scooter the vehicle of choice here is the ute. I think of them as the island equivalent to a convertible because generally there are people in the back, stretched out and sitting as comfortably as if they were on a couch watching TV. There seems to be some unspoken rule that you must sit on whatever is in the back of the ute, whether it’s a plastic garden chair, a motor scooter or a rider-on lawnmower.
If they’re not sitting, people often stand up behind the cab, positioned so they are cooled by the rushing breeze, and sing.

Pictured: Our Car. Rental Car Agencies advise…Don’t Park Your car under the coconut tree.

Downpour

It’s been a very hot week, blue skies, sunshine and highs of 28 degrees everyday. So this evening when we went down to the harbour to view the making of traditional canoes (vaka) as part of the Vaka Eiva Festival (canoe racing) and we were caught out in our first tropical DOWNPOUR, I must admit it was just what I needed.

The Call of the Wild vs. the Dulcet Hum of Civilisation

I was just sitting at my desk, contemplating my love/hate relationship with the ukulele when I heard a hauntingly familiar tune go past my window and I had one of those moments of clarity. Suddenly I understand what separates civilisation from the wild untamed kingdoms.

And Rarotonga, despite it’s tiny landmass, an ancient volcanic isle lost in the deepwater of the pacific blue, is still as civilised as any massive booming city I have been too like Auckland or the humid exotic metropolis that is KL, because here on Rarotonga we have a Mr Whippy.

I think now I finally understand how S&G felt when they were going on about prophets and subways. Excuse me now, I have an ice-cream to buy.

All Souls Day

The 31st of Oct is celebrated in the Cooks as Turama, the vigil night of All Souls Day. Graves are tidied up and lovingly decorated with bright flowers and in the evening holy water is sprinkled over them while the families gather to sing hymns and remember their those who have passed on.