Blogs from Cook Islands, Oceania - page 39

The Cook Islands We flew from LA on a flight bound for Auckland with stops at Pape’ete on Tahiti and Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands and our destination. Rarotonga After a short hop from Pape’ete we arrived in Rarotonga, and I was giddy with excitement. There was an announcer guy in the airport whose various duties seemed to involve singing local songs and intermittently directing new arrivals to the Customs desks!.... the US Customs people could learn a thing or two about people management from these guys. The sun was beating down, but then that was to be expected: we’re in the South Pacific after all. We arrived at our hostel, in Arorongi on the west of the island, to find that it backed on to a beautiful stretch of beach - swaying ... read more

Rarotonga is a beautiful island so unspoilt and perfect. Caught up with my friend Claire who was travelling in the other direction on her world trip so was really nice to see her. Beaches were beautiful (although a bit to many english hooligans in the hostel!).....and of course have to mention the weather.....rain....again....and we frooze in our little cabin on the hillside!... read more

Day 22: Rarotonga Market day in Avarua, the capital, is the best for shopping and after much mucking around trying to find the bike licence place, not knowing that you actually needed to have the bike with you at the time of a licence test, we decided to go with a car licence and hire one for two days. But not any car - we hired a small convertible, but the effect is somewhat lost when the speed limit is 60 kph. There are some 40 kph zones as well, but and most people just do 45 everywhere. Seat belt discipline seems largely non-existent. We wondered about the road toll - perhaps there is none? Avarua is a very small place right on the sea (all of Rarotonga is!) with a single row of shops. From ... read more

Day 20: Auckland-Rarotonga We were able to wake late and have a lazy half-day in Auckland after a long day’s travel yesterday, and with another long one today. The morning was taken up with the logistical task of repacking our case and bags, with everything we need for a Pacific island replacing kilograms of thermal fleeces and bulky knits, which we left with the hotel to be picked up on our return. We had brunch down on Auckland harbour, then set out for the airport in plenty of time. So we thought. Auckland must have one of the most confusing sets of street and freeway signage in the world. We took wrong turns on three separate occasions. The worst was caused by the fact that there is a minor airport on the way to the major ... read more

until my pick-up ride to the airport for my 1am flight, luckily i've started gettting into the type of trashy novel that gets left around hostels, I'm sure though that reading these novels are the first step on the road to a sex change, ahem. be warned I'm moving very quickly for my week in fiji, i've employed the 'feejee experience' to whisk me round in a week and they assure me that they will meet me and find me accomodation on my 3am sunday morning arrival in fji, i'm crossing the date line so i technically lose a day, so i could say anything happened on saturday and you would not be able to prove it didn't happen. handed in the scooter safe and sound, so no kissing the tarmac or muffler burns, i have ... read more