Wednesday 10 June 2015

Island Idyll

What better way is there to catch up with my family than to all meet on a tropical island? I have feelings of guilt about our carbon footprints due to flying, but have tried to tread lightly while away. But yeah I know - still not good.

Rarotonga

Rarotonga is one of the Cook Islands, and is an "associated state" of New Zealand. New Zealand currency is used there. More Rarotongans live in New Zealand than actually reside on the island. Cook Islands Maori (and English) is spoken there. 

We bought local - lime jam, vanilla beans and drinking coconuts from the market, tropical fruits from side-of-road stalls.

My daughter - buying perfumed coconut oil




We supported local artists, by buying cards and prints of their beautiful bright works.



Images of Cook Islands by Tim Manavaroa Buchanan


The boys toured the local boutique brewery "Matutu" and reported that the beer was very good.

Rarotonga is just beautiful, unspoiled, the beaches clean. Swimming in the lagoon out in front of our villa was like languishing in a tropical fish tank, the water warm and clear, the myriad of colourful fish almost brushing against us as we snorkelled.

No food scraps are permitted in the rubbish - we were told to put them out for the chooks and the dogs
A visit to "The Whatever Bar" is a must.



I bought a book from the Bounty Bookshop that caught my eye - it was the perfect read for lazing on the Beach. In "An Afternoon in Summer" by American Kathy Guiffre, she tells of a year spent on Rarotonga, and her friendship with 82 year old Emily, who took in Kathy and her two small boys. It was fun to read about the places we had seen, including the Bounty Bookshop. Derek read it too, and also enjoyed it.


I think my late parents would have been well pleased that we used the last trickle of inheritance coming in to get together, because we live in different countries. My parents met in the Islands, and we felt like they were there with us as we enjoyed the Island life and raucously played cards at night. 


  

3 comments:

  1. That looks like the perfect read for a place that looks like heaven on Earth! I do believe the Earth was made for us to enjoy. We should try to do everything we can to live on it responsibly but I just can't feel guilty about traveling. I will do just about anything else to protect the planet but I want to see what I'm making sacrifices for! I love the way you used the last bit of your inheritance to bring your family together and I'm sure your parents are pleased.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, it was no wonder that early sailors thought it was Paradise, and mutinied to stay there! Travel is such a privilege, I think.

      Delete
  2. What a special holiday! Makes me think of my childhood in Vanuatu and the beautiful beaches there. Your post also makes me want to jump in the car and go on holiday! It's lovely that you were able to enjoy that time together.

    ReplyDelete

Hey, thanks for visiting my blog - it is just great when you leave me a comment.