Blogs from Cook Islands, Oceania - page 11

The first thing that hits you when you get off the plane and walk into the steamy entrance hall in Rarotonga is the rich heady fragrance of frangipani and tiare flowers. After you have made your way through immigration and customs, where there is a local singer with his ukelele to welcome every flight, you are presented with floral leis. The heat, the fragrance and the friendliness set the scene for the rest of our stay in the friendly Cooks. I was very lucky to be in Rarotonga - my friend Lucy won a trip and invited me along too. The only thing was that I had to do all the organising....easy! It was a fantastic trip, worth $5,000, with the only condition that we travel to the Cook Islands. This meant that we could travel ... read more

I haven't written in a while there was a lapse in communication due to the incumbent new year. I was held up In a state of fasting and meditation. I was trying to find piece of mind and a sense of direction for the new year. There is nothing more appealing. I think I need to do the clique thing and think positive.... If there was one thing I learned in the last year Is that I need nothing, only the stomach to digest what life throws at me. As I am typing this the ocean water is calling me to jump In and wash off.. Im back and im soo fresh and clean the water is unusually warm for this time of year and I am feeling it. ... read more

Day 3 on Raratonga has started as any other - the sound of crashing waves on the reef, a tropical breakfast, and the application of generous portions of sun-burn cream. What a great life! I have 4 goals for today. One involves some exercise, one the collection of colour, one the observation of a traditional activity carried out in an unconventional location, and last but not least, one involving my continued survival. I should mention that I also have a question for you later. For my exercise, I decided to do the cross-island walk via Te Rua Manga (413m), otherwise known as The Needle. On my map, this looks a fairly easy ramble, and it shouldn’t take more than 4 hours. I have heard that the path is well signposted, and the views from the top ... read more

Kia orana (hello) from the island of Raratonga - the largest of the Cook Islands. I landed here 24 hours ago, and am already experiencing the very different and amazing atmosphere and life style here. You can see why they call it Paradise with the natural beauty of the vegetation (I am looking out on palm trees loaded with coconuts, double hibiscus flowers, and a wide variety of tropical fruit trees from my veranda), the climate (average temperatures are 20 - 29⁰C year round, with sufficient rain to keep everything green), the happy friendly gentle people (the population of Raratonga island is under 10,000 and all islanders belong to one of the three family clans or tribes) and the pace of life (there’s an interesting mix of so called ‘island time’ - meaning a relaxed attitude, ... read more

There seems to be a storm upon me im huddled in a cave, as I fell asleep on the beach and woke up to utter debotury. I dont know when this thing will clear up.... ... read more