Kia Orana Rarotonga Cook Islands – Our First Destination

Let’s Get This Around The World Trip Started

Hello y’all! Nadine and I finally arrived to Rarotonga, Cook Islands last Monday. We are happy to be in a rainy paradise. Quite a bit has happened since we arrived to this tiny island tucked away in the Pacific, so we will let you know what has happened.

First of all, if you are not familiar with our current locale, here is the 411. The Cook Islands are located in the South Pacific west of Tahiti, east of Fiji, and very far due south of Hawaii. It’s a tropical climate, and there are two groups of islands. The northern group, hardly inhabited, and the southern group which contains Rarotonga and Aitutaki, the two islands we are visiting. We picked these set of islands over Fiji and Tahiti due to A) the fact that we wouldn’t expect there to be many visitors, which there aren’t, B) it’s a little cheaper, which it isn’t, compared to American prices, and C) it would be beautiful, no doubt about that.

Welcome To Cali

June 22nd we flew to L.A. to meet up with some old college buddies before our first destination outside the continental US. Our goal in L.A. was simple, relax. The lead up to our trip consisted of packing, moving, and emptying our apartment hours before our first flight.

We stayed with Chrissie, Nadine’s roommate at the University of Tulsa and her roommate Vola. We strolled down Venice Beach. I also met up with one of my college roommates, Van Schaick. He is a big time lawyer in Hollywood. I’m sure everyone is familiar with the show COPS, especially if you are from the great state of New Mexico (since it is mainly filmed there), but he is responsible for making sure the show does not breaking any laws themselves. L.A. was great for lying around, watching World Cup soccer, and repacking our bags, but there was a world out there waiting to be explored.

Kia Orana Rarotonga

Our first international flight to Rarotonga left at 11:45 in the evening. Nadine slept comfortably by herself in the middle row of a spacious Air New Zealand plane for a solid 5 hours before our stopover in Papeete, Tahiti. Myself, being a solid six inches taller than her, had two seats to myself curled up like a baby yet slept like an old man. Our arrival into Rarotonga was favorable. Instead of simply landing on the single runway on the edge of the island that dogs and goats cross with frequency, we flew by at a low altitude to land from the west. The wind gusts blowing off of the Pacific made it difficult to land from the east. The aerial island view was stunning.

The first four days were rain restricted. Our time consisted of reading, writing, staring out the window praying for a stoppage in the rain.

Hostel Fever

Nadine was content reading her book in the hostel. Myself, I had hostel fever. Along with our new German friend, Sabrina, we both jumped on the first slow bus to Muri Beach. There, we rented two kayaks while the clouds allowed the sun to actually peek its head out. As soon as we entered the water, the clouds having played a cruel joke, clouded over as the wind picked up, and the rain began to fall again.

Kia Orana Rarotonga

Since I paid for the kayak, I was determined to use it. Kayaking in rain across choppy blue lagoon water was refreshing. We landed and explored the first motu. Sabrina headed back to the beach, because she was cold. I on the other hand, figured I might as well visit the other volcanic rock motu. As I paddled over, the waves and wind blew me and my kayak around like Matthew Pepper in high school, so at that moment I decided it might be wise to go back to shore. I lived to see another day.

Once the rain really stopped on Friday, Nadine and I returned to Muri Beach to try our hand at kayaking. We maneuvered our bright, plastic kayaks in and around moths like slalom skiers, as waves crashed in the distance against the reef that protects the island. Despite owning the waves in plastic kayaks, a powerful headwind, and maybe not being in the best kayaking shape, left us with sore shoulders and backs the next morning.

Saturday started off with sun and high hopes. Snorkeling was our goal. We rented snorkeling gear and walked south down the island. A secluded spot on the beach presented itself so we dropped our stuff there. Swimming towards the reef in shallow water, we narrowly avoided scrapping our bellies. After trips around the reef among parrot fish and “Finding Nemo” fish, we headed further down to most notable spot for snorkeling. This spot was perfect. In front of the Rarotonga Resort, there was deep water with 10 times as many fish.It felt like we were swimming in an aquarium. The fish aren’t no dummies. They go where there is easy food, and it so turns out that the resort regularly feeds them.

A Bloated Island Birthday

Sunday, July 2nd, a very important day in American and Texan history, marked my 29th birthday. We attended mass at a local church. In Rarotonga Cook Islands, people are known for two things, their dancing and their singing. The singing was lively, incomparable, and in Māori. Afterwards, we were invited to the monthly tea. Basically it was a potluck. Everyone brought food to accompany tea, coffee, and juice. It was our first real opportunity to talk with folks from the island.

To celebrate my birthday, we rented bikes and circled the 20 miles around the island. We also went out to eat. Now this wasn’t just any restaurant. It was an Indian buffet. Simply stated, curry and buffet can only cause trouble. It’s a bloated combination.

Some quick notes. I walked into the restroom at the Indian restaurant, and instead of seeing a trash can for your paper towels, there was a very large red crab eating paper the paper. I jumped back a bit surprised. You would hate to have him bite your butt in a dark latrine.

Washing Clothes In Humidity

We have learned that you have to wash your clothes at least every two days, not three or four. We now know our clothes begin to stink quickly in the humid Pacific weather.

Island Night

Finally, we attended to an “Island Night.” Different Cook Islanders performed their native dance in original attire. At the end of the performance when dancers picked people in the crowd to dance with them, Nadine hurriedly hid behind me. Unfortunately, they didn’t pick her.

It has been fun here on Rarotonga. We now head to the atoll of Aitutaki where they are currently filming Survivor. I just may sneak onto the island. Hope all is well.

Peace from Rarotonga Cook Islands – John and Nadine