Fri, 21 Sep 2001
Kia Orana!
Well we are finishing up our two week stay here in Rarotonga and have had a great time. It’s just so nice to be in an English speaking country again, just nice to know that they will understand you when you need information but more importantly that you will understand them when they respond. We have been going out a lot and enjoying the cheaper prices after French Polynesia but have managed to spend quite a bit because everything just seems so cheap. But a double scotch for about US$2? We have been to see two movies while we were here something we had not done for almost two years – Pearl Harbor (pretty good) and Return of the Mummy (give it a miss, Paul said not nearly as good as the first one). We did the cross island trek and weren’t too sore the next day. Incredible trail that went straight up in places climbing up tree roots that were almost like stairs and right along a ridge so it just dropped off on either side. Great bus system here. The island is about 32 kilometers around and the buses run Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise. Great schedule and they even run buses at night so you can go out to dinner and return without having to rent a scooter or car. Just need to be organized to catch the buses at the right time. Snorkeling was good and we saw many blue star fish, even found a perfect one dried on the beach that we gave to some friends we were with.
The Cook Islanders have been very supportive at this difficult time for Americans. One businessman has put up a memorial downtown with two American flags and people have left flowers, leis and messages. The local Red Cross was collecting donations at the Saturday market last week, all very moving. The Harbourmaster arranged with a close by hotel to set up a television in a conference room so that we could watch the coverage on the attacks on the day that it happened. Almost everyone we talk to mentions something about that attack and how sad and pointless it all seems.
We plan to leave here tomorrow (Saturday 22 September) and head for Nuie which is about five days away. Anchorage has been full there but we are hoping it will clear out by the time we get there. Not sure if there will be email there but there should be in Tonga as there is a Moorings charter base there. Should be in Tonga by 5 October or so. Until then, we love you all and miss you all – Suzette and Paul