Archive for the ‘Rarotonga’ Category

Kia Orana

Friday, August 3rd, 2007

Thats hello in Cook islands maori which is slightly different to New Zealand maori so there.

Rarotonga is like the main one of the cook islands and is where the government which only looks after a few matters before the New Zealand government takes control.

Getting here was a laugh, after spending 3 whole days on a bus we checked into a hotel in sydney and had a shower! Ahhhhhh.  Then had a look around, we walked half way across the harbour bridge got a good view of the opera house (it looks a lot smaller in real life).  We didn’t walk down to it though, it was miles away and we were naffed. 

Then the flight took us back 20 hours so we’re now 10 hours behind you lot,  actually 11 i think coz of daylight savings or whatever.  So we landed ( a little to quick for my liking) and in the airport was a guy in grass skirt singing and playing the guitar ha ha.  Apparently they give you those flower necklace things when you arrive and leave but we didnt get one so I will make sure I get one when we leave :-)

Its very relaxed here too, and to pass our test for a scooter licence we had to ride the scooter through town and back with the police man behind us but I set off, didnt stop for people on the pelican crossing and carried on, the rest of them in my group stopped though and then got caught in traffic, I thought I’d have to do it again but he gave us a pass he he.  The scooters are cool and a good way to get around on the island, we did rent mountain bikes for a few days when we got here but coz most of the cars are old, you get a lung full of old exhaust fumes whenever you get overtaken.

 We’ve been swimming in the lagoon right by our hostel too, well, we walked most of it, its really shallow, theres a few tiny islands off our beach so you can walk to them.  We had a go at swimming though and I bashed my knee on a big lump of coral then stood on some which I had to pick out of my foot, add that to the bug bites, oh yeh and burning my leg on the exhaust of the scooter and you could say the island is leaving an impression on me.

I went to church last sunday too, (the advertised free lunch had nothing to do with persuading me to get up for it) it was interesting, most of it was in maori and they had a bit where the choir did some songs which were cool and the sermon was for about 10 minutes lol.  In the hall where we had lunch, there were a school group over from new zealand and they did a performance for everyone which was cool too, and they finished on the hakka - wicked.

 I’m taking pictures of the island and stuff but I havn’t got a way to upload any here so you’ll have to wait till im in new zealand which should be next thursday woo hoo!

Out.