A long layover that quietly turned into a week. Rarotonga is small enough to drive around in ninety minutes, which we did twice, and then stopped trying to go anywhere in particular.
We were meant to be in Rarotonga for two nights. We stayed eight. The plan kept losing to the beach, and the beach kept winning because there was absolutely nothing else we were supposed to be doing.
The island is one road, looped, and a bus that runs clockwise and counterclockwise. Everything you need is on that loop. A bakery that opens at five in the morning. A fish shack that opens at four in the afternoon. A church on Sunday where the singing is loud enough that you can hear it from the beach a hundred metres away.
If you want a place where nothing much needs to happen, go there. We keep saying we will go back, and one of these decades we will.
~ somewhere on pacific's map ~
stories from Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Rat Turds and Castaways
Rarotonga, Cook Islands Okay, so we are no longer at the Kii Kii Motel. We came back to our room yesterday after hanging out in Avarua all afternoon and…
Cook Islands
Aitutaki Trip Report
(Still) Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Well, we have gone to Aitutaki and come back. I must say that I did enjoy it, although after a few days it got a bit boring.…
Cook Islands
One Week in Aitutaki
Dearest correspondants, we have been to paradise, and we can say--it is really quiet there. We left Rarotonga on Air Rarotonga (The Airline of the Cook…
Cook Islands
Bali News - Rarotonga
Rarotonga, Cook Islands (Avarua) Fuck! I just read the news and there was a massive explosion in Bali, Indonesia. Over 150 dead so far. Brings back bad…
Cook Islands
Sunburn and Stray Dogs
Rarotonga, Cook Islands. I will add since I have a few more already-paid minutes to use online. Casey has sunburn on his shoulders (even though he put…
Cook Islands
Dance Competition and No More Spiders
Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The rain has stopped, but it's still cloudy. Fortunately, it's much warmer and the skies aren't so very dark. The forecast predicts…
Cook Islands
Rain in Rarotonga
Rarotonga, Cook Islands Rain again, although not as bad as yesterday. It was POURING practically the whole day. We headed on out at night with the intentions…
Cook Islands
Mynah Birds and a Goat Waiting for a Bus - Cook Islands
Not much to add on my end: There was pig running in the streets. He looked a little confused. Also someone tied up a goat on a bus stop so it looked the goat…
Cook Islands
A Quick Switch Out of Our Nasty Hotel -- Cook Islands Lodges
Rarotonga, Cook Islands We have found other accomodations...the woman at the Friendly Mart (which is a five minute walk from the Cook Islands Lodges)…
Cook Islands
Arrival in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Cheryl asked me to point out that we are in the Cook Islands. In Rarotonga, the largest island in the group. In the capital Avarua. In a cybercafe a few feet…
Cook Islands
First Full Day in Cook Islands
Rarotonga, Cook Islands Ah ha. The island is beautiful...you know I'm not one for the hot weather but even the humidity is do-able in this environment. Our…