Blogs from Cook Islands, Oceania - page 8

Hey all! So, one week has already passed for me here in paradise and I must say.... it sure beats a Michigan winter!! I arrived at 7am Raro time on Monday the 27 of December and was greeted by my boss Steve. He gave me the lowdown on my fellow interns and our awesome instructors on the drive to the house. After I was dropped off I had lots of time to unpack and take a much needed shower! The house is great, it has 3 bedrooms and a nice full living room and kitchen that open up onto our front porch. The view consists of the lush green mountaintops and palm trees... not too shabby! After getting settled into my room, my flatmate Sara from Colorado was nice enough to have me hop on her ... read more

So, it is the official one week countdown to my departure for Rarotonga. My one measly suitcase is mostly packed.... I am told by my friend Gaz that I have already packed too much. But that's ok. The preceding weeks have been filled with visits and time spent with family and friends, and of course the standard doctor and dentist visits that I am so bad about keeping. Spliting my time between New York and Michigan for the last 3 years has made me somewhat lapse on my personal care. I brush my teeth and floss everyday, have no pain and take no medications, so these "routine" visits tend to fall by the wayside when I actually am home for more important ventures like keeping up my relationships with area bartenders. This being the Christmas season ... read more

Hi everyone, After a long boring time in Los Angeles Airport, where are highlight came from Martin Kemp coming to sit next to us in Starbucks!! Just when we thought we were leaving LA without seeing anyone famous! We arrived safely in Rarotonga after another 9 hour flight! When we first arrived it definitely was not similar to the pictures we had seen as it was pouring with rain! But fingers crossed that has stopped and we have had 2 days in the gorgeous sunshine since. Our hostel is right on the beach, which has white sands, palm trees and crystal clear waters. It is just like a screen saver picture! There are little Islets just off the beach which we have walked out to through the shallow waters, which don't get deeper than waist height! ... read more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Things worth noting from the Giants' loss to the Colts on Sunday: What it means: That the New York Giants aren’t in the Peyton Manning/Indianapolis Colts class yet. They can beat the Carolina Panthers, but they aren’t among the elite. When the schedule came out, though, did you really think the Giants were winning this one? The Giants at 1-1 after a 38-14 loss to the Colts is what we expected. Tomorrow’s talker: The Giants seemed so wary of the pass game that they may have overdone it with with the extra defensive backs. That made it easier for the Colts to run it, and Joseph Addai and Donald Brown looked just great with the ball in their hands, combining for 161 yards and a 4.5 average. Addai looked particularly fresh, decisive and darting. ... read more

Rarotonga is one of the wettest islands in the Cook Islands, although they don't tell you that in the brochure. When it rains, it sucks. But when it's sunny it's everything a tropical island should be. A 360 coastline of sandy beach, cushioned by an expansive lagoon which protects you from some almighty looking waves. In said lagoon you find fish acting how fish do - which by the way is nothing like in an aquarium. The little stripey ones come up to you and say hello. Parrotfish graze the sea bed making audible chomping noises with their beaks - hence the name. Others like to follow you around too. There are huge ones, tiny ones and ones that don't look like fish. And don't get us started on the octopus. The island looks like Lost ... read more