http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Krauss/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Krauss en-us Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:43:51 +0000 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:43:51 +0000 Ok so here's the question. I've got a massive load of pictures that I never uploaded because I didn't have the good internet. And I've got a good memory of what happened since it has to do with boats. I'll post it if people are looking but sometimes I feel like not that many people are actually checking. So here's the deal. If I get enough people to say that they're interested I'll post the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Graham/blog-425747.html So I think the title pretty much sums it up but I think I should point out how weird it is anyways. Whenever Irsquom walking down the street whether to go to the build or get food people donrsquot say hello they say bye. I have no clue why. Itrsquos like they took and English class and someone switched Hello and Good Bye. Itrsquos really strange but it just seems a little sad to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-414680.html Text coming soon http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349858.html So the way the Vaka Eiva worked is you had the Opening Ceremony the Iron Races the next day a day off Sprints a day off and then the Round Raro. On the off days the juniors and stuff had races too I guess. I forget when the Singles were. Anyways this was the Sprints day which was a pretty jokey day and basically an excuse for a party.Ngakau Toa raced two boats that day in the Sprints wh http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349865.html So I don't have much else to do today so I'm writing the text. Truthfully this happened half a year ago and I don't really have too much to add looks like my photo captions took care of most of it. But I can clarify about the race I forget if that's in the captions or not.So this was the Vaka Eiva Iron Race mixed category which means 3 girls 3 guys in a boat. I had been trying to get into http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349864.html Never have I been so comfortably happy to drive extremely slowly down a perfectly straight and decently paved rural road or to see a cockroach in my bathroom. Why do you ask Because these are both things I associate with being in a nice warm island nation where time just goes a little slower.So if you haven't guessed I'm in Tonga. Getting to the final legs of the trip. So far Tonga seems pret http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Tonga/Tongatapu/blog-410384.html Vaka Eiva SinglesSadly there isn't too much to say or show about this day. I spent most of the morning working on the traditional canoe build along with the regular Saturday morning grocery shopping. The singles raced this afternoon the picture is of the women's race heading out.My only real comment about this one is that I wish I had asked to race. Since it was 'windy' I thought it was pret http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349862.html The opening day of the Vaka Eiva was today and one of the things that happens is the canoes are blessed. This is actually pretty much all that happens. I thought it was going to be a usual day building canoes and then attending the ceremony. Nope.At lunch I find out that Mike is supposed to do the blessing. And that Irsquom to take part. Interesting. My role will be to carry the holy water http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349861.html Krauss goes to Atiu So as I was groggily getting up this morning Dave was mentioning to me that he wouldnrsquot be back for lunch because he was going to Atiu for a day trip. I mumbled something to the effect of thatrsquos ok because I probably wonrsquot need a ride into town Irsquoll be working on my NSF application all day. As he was about to leave and as I was finally actually gett http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Atiu/blog-349570.html The Maire Nui Caf and GardensSo after the confusion that was the Muri Sprints we decided to head out and get some lunch. Irsquod seen this place off the road and it looked like it might be a nice little caf with some gardens so we stopped there.The caf is a pretty small place very quiet because itrsquos off the road. Irsquod highly recommended if you want a quiet place to sit and have http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349272.html Just KiddingHa That whole thing about going to Tahiti Just kidding. Actually only sorta just kidding. Herersquos what happened.I got up this morning and was scrambling to get gone as usual I was running late. I got all my stuff packed did a final check of the house threw away all the stuff that would go bad in the fridge locked up the house and got the hell outta Dodge.When I got to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-349270.html Heat The heat is getting to me. While many of you are entering winter we're entering the summer. It's normally up around the 30's low 90's F and there hasn't been much wind recently. Without the wind it's killer. It gets pretty hot in Mass summers so I've always thought of myself as decent at taking the heat but this is getting to be too much. I can barely sleep at night laying on top of http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-342406.html Special for youSo this is a special post that I'm not mentioning on my email list and is special only for people who check the blog. But don't get too excited it's not that special. At least at first it's not that special. You reading this now could lead to something special in the future but there's a chance it doesn't. I promise I'll do my best to make something special happen but I get b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-339555.html Places to stay in the CooksThis post is for the traveler in the Cooks. Basically my dadrsquos coming in a bit and asked me to look around. So the day before I leave for Tahiti I did a whirlwind tour and checked out 6 places in 90 minutes keep in mind I spent about 40 of those minutes driving thatrsquos how quick this was. So herersquos what I foundPacific Resort I liked this one. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-336387.html When it rains...hellipIt pours. Or so the saying goes. Herersquos my dilemma. I head to Tahiti tomorrow and Irsquom slotted to be there for 3.5 weeks. But Mike Tavioni just started building some traditional boats here in the Cooks. Irsquove been trying to get to Tahiti for weeks and when I finally get everything arranged they finally start building boats here. So frustrating I don http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-336383.html Chickens and SquirrelsDonrsquot worry or get upset there are no squirrels in the Cook Islands I know Ben Wu would be sad hersquos a big fan. We have chickens instead. Lots of chickens. Everywhere you look chickens running around. Wild rampant domesticated chickens. The other day I decided to take a nap on the couch in the living room. There was a chicken and 3 chicks out side clu http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-332424.html Customs in the Cook Islands So this post is for all the travelers out there who may be visiting the Cooks and want to know about the customs and such. For the most part itrsquos pretty typical of any country. The main advice I have is donrsquot use an electronic ticket you have to provide an exiting ticket when you arrive. When I got here this confused the heck out of them. I had to ex http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-332423.html How Not To Do ThingsAlright today sucked. Yesterday was frustrating and seemed like a waste of time but today was that and more. I got up early to go do what I came here for to measure offsets. Therersquos a canoe thatrsquos derigged so it will be easy to measure. Irsquom applying to graduate schools so I figure showing the results of my work could really explain what Irsquom doing http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-332422.html Two Seat and the Shortest Race EverTwo seat Irsquom drawn to it. I gravitate towards it. Whenever I join a new club for crew therersquos two things you can count on the coach will somehow pick out I am the one bisweptual person on the team despite telling them the port side is the proper side of the boat for an oar to be on and that I will sit in two seat. Next thing I know Chris Walkley http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-332421.html Showdown in the Cooks Pick Up PushBike RacingSo I was biking to practice today as usual. I hear this repetitive noise coming up from behind me and figure itrsquos a slow going motorcycle. I look to my right and it turns out to be some guy on a pushbike passing me. Now as many of you know Irsquom somewhat of a competitive person and wouldnrsquot let something like this just happen wi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-332420.html