Rarotonga Round Up

Well apologies for not really updating the blog whilst I was in Raro but island time tends to be a bit infectious and I never really knew where the days went at times.

Also after my last update I got a cold so was poorly for a few days but nothing major but it did mean I couldn't dive and the fab friends I had made in the first week (Sarah, Charlie and Smed) all left that evening so was feeling very sorry for myself. Steve and Georgie, a New Zealand couple I met diving who were also staying at the backpackers kept me company though for that following week and I did manage one last dive with them before they left.

The rest of my time in Raro was mostly spent diving, sunbathing, watching some of the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen, reading (7 books - Lulu & Louise I hope you're proud of me), chatting to people and drinking so for this blog I'll just put in the highlights from the 4 weeks rather than tell you what I did everyday.

Bumped into Jo and Matt, who I met in Napier, in Avarua (captial of Raro) who were just on their way out to Aitutaki so it was fleeting but nice to see them.

On the Tuesday (17th Nov) I experienced my first darts night at the Tumunu (bar and restaurant) I was told that skill was second to turning up which was a good job as I was awful but it was a fun evening and great to meet the expat locals and this turned into a regular Tuesday event. Eduard also made sure I got home ok by giving me a lift back on his moped every week.

Had my first moments of missing home in the second week probably because of the cold and not many people about so too much time on my own but not to worry was bound to happen at some point and great that it took that long I guess.

Went to the Punanga Nui Cultural Market on Sat (22nd Nov) which I had thought would be a couple of stalls and that would be it but oh no this was huge with loads of fresh fruit and veg, brightly coloured sarongs, delicious smells of local food, island dancing, drums, beautiful paintings ... great place.

On Mon (23rd Nov) the Vaka Eiva started in Rarotonga which is a series of paddle races in Oe Vakas which are a type of canoe. My god are these people physically fit and strong I was exhausted just watching them and then on Friday they have a relay race around the island which we saw go past the backpackers in the afternoon.

Had 2 of the best dives I did in Raro on 24th Nov and saw 3 spotted eagle rays which were just awesome and actually have quite cute faces. Darts again this evening .... still playing bad but am now there for everyones amusement.

On 26th Nov (Thurs) I went with Devyn and Jason (guys from Dive Rarotonga) to Trader Jacks for Thanksgiving dinner which was yummy but my stomach didn't quite know what had hit it ... soooooo much food, it was great had to take my pumpkin pie home and have it the following day.

Fri (27th Nov) morning I had booked myself on the Raro Safari which took us to the Papua falls (well more like a trickle of water), all through the back roads (and quite a lot of the time off the road as our driver seemed to prefer off roading), to where the 7 Vaka left Rarotonga in search of other lands, an ancient chiefly court called Arai te Tonga, up to The Needle (rock in the centre of the island), up hospital hill with views of the west coast and then finally down to the beach for a BBQ, with lovely marinated fish (I got the recipe so will be on the menu for my first dinner party when I'm back).

Sat (28th Nov) I started my Rescue Diver course. Ed (Dive Raro) had dropped the book round the day before so had spent the afternoon and evening reading that and filling in the knowledge modules. Sat morning was spent watching another wonderful PADI video, reading and filling out the knowledge modules. In the afternoon was pool work practising skills with KArne (instructor), Eduard (DMT) and Michael (hungover frenchman). Sun morning I did my exam in record time by all accounts (48/50) I think Ed's words were "Well you're more intelligent than we thought you were" at least it wasn't the other way round :-) The rest of the morning was in the pool (no Michael the hangover was too bad so Devyn replaced him) before heading out into a not terribly flat sea to do my 4 scenarios and after severly bruising my knees, inner thighs (don't ask) and nearly drowning Eduard (yes I know that wasn't the point of the course) I passed.... bloody hard work and really makes you realise how you really don't ever want anything to go wrong, glad I've done it.

Monday it rained for the first time since I arrived so was a dull day just sat in a hammock reading as diving was cancelled. Tuesday was darts as usual and met Megan and Darcy a canadian couple staying at the Raro backpacker who were doing their open water diving with Jason, lovely couple.

Wed (2nd Dec) was diving in the morning and then there was a BBQ at the backpackers which was a great evening. Paul (owner of bakcpackers) cooked up a sotrm on the BBQ of fresh fish and sausages and all was going reall well until Vic (mad man from Finland) brought out a drink called Mintu ... tastes like a cross between mouth wash and medicine ... the results were hilarious ... Vic and Paul slept on the beach that night.

Thurs (3rd Dec) I went to Aitutaki for the day. After a 40 min flight from Raro we arrived just before 9am. The central part of Aitutaki's main island is very much like Raro as you would expect just much smaller, its the lagoon that is the spectacular part and I believe features as one of the hundred things to see before you die so hurrah 1 down, 99 to go ;-) After a quick tour of the island we caught our boat for the cruise of the lagoon stopping firstly to snorkel in one of the best spots with giant clams and a million other fish. We then got back on board and had lunch whilst we cruised out to a small sandy atoll which we got off at. The sand was so white and the see so turquoise it didn't feel real and was so bright, we then walked through the water which at its highest was mid thigh to One Foot Island where I got a stamp in my passport, walked round the island which took about 25 mins but only because I kept stopping to take pictures, snorkelled for a bit, chilled out on the boat and chatted to some of the people on the boat before we started to head back. On the way back we had hermit crab races which I won both (finally something I'm good at) and then because I won they gave me the pleasure of modelling the various ways of wearing a sarong ... I couldn't stop laughing. Finally back home by 5.45pm just in time for a glass of wine and watch the sunset. Then Vic, Megan, Darcy and I went to the Waterline for dinner which was great.

Friday (4th Dec) diving again today. While I was making my tea I bumped into Luke Cederman whose parents were in Samoa with me (Diane and Brent). Luke is a professional surfer and was over with some friends taking some promo shots. I then headed out to a special diving darts night in the evening and finally I was playing with people of my own caliber ... yes we were all rubbish ;-) Tom and Kate (had been diving with both of these guys) won finally just before 11pm when Tom, Megan, Darcy and I caught a cab into town to Whatever Bar where we met Bevan and Vicky (also staying at the backpackers) and then on to Rehab before catching the 2am bus back.

Sat (5th Dec) - ROUGH! Thilo (German banker staying at the backpackers, I did tell him what we call London bankers he thought it was funny) gave me a lift to the market on his moped - got a lot of lifts of various people whilst I was there as the buses are so infrequent. Bought some things for the Farewell BBQ we were putting on for those leaving that night as well as some souvenirs. BBQ was good fun and at 10pm Thilo, Megan and Darcy left at which point I had planned to have an early night .... it was 1am when I got into bed, Vic and Paul are a bad influence.

And then before I knew it I was doing my last 2 dives which were great fun, viz wasn't great and we didn't see anything big but lots of baby things and just mucked about under water somewhere between 16 and 26m deep. Afterwards I took a trip in to tow and then met the dive guys for farewell cocktails at Manuia.

My last day the weather wasn't brilliant which was a shame but still got a great sunset before my final darts match in Raro for which I was given a medal for being the most consistently bad visiting player ... it was a proud moment ;-) Said my good byes and headed back for an hours kip before heading for the airport.

I had a brilliant month in Raro, its quite an expensive place, but its beautiful, pretty safe and the people are so friendly. I've done nearly 20 dives, got my Rescue Diver cert, met some brilliant people, seen some fab things, got a great tan and have exercised any demons I might have had from Samoa.

So on to the next stage of the trip, I'm back in New Zealand now and will be making a plan anytime soon, as soon as I can get off Island Time.

Love to you all

Hx