Today is April 30th and we were in Rarotonga Cook Islands. If you ever watched Survivor they had a segment filmed here in Rarotonga.
We did a four wheel drive tour in Land Rovers today – the kind that have no top (only roll bars) and the windshield folds down – get the picture. Roughin it.
We had to tender in here and we got to the dock earlier than anticipated so had to wait for the vehicles to arrive. Loaded us up and away we went. At first it was easy going – we were on the main road, then a gravel road and then a dirt road and finally a RUT was all there was and it was straight up this mountain. I was riding shot gun because the back was hard to get into and out of with my knees. Well, this was certainly an adventure. I can see my son in law, Ryan sitting there smirking and laughing his you know what off at the thought of me in this four wheel drive. Now the going up was a little worrisome but the coming down off the mountain was downright frightening – Sam jumped out afterwards to see how white my knuckles were and if I had put a hole in the floor trying to brake. I did well – only closed my eyes when it got close to the edge of the mountain and prayed hard. I survived (no pun intended).
The island is really beautiful and we did get to see a lot of it. Very clean and beautiful – flowers everywhere. They gave us lunch and it was served on leaves with a coconut shell to hold the lomi (uncooked fish with a salsa basically – was good), chicken and lamp chops that were cooked in the ground and taro. Taro looks like a potatoe and tastes well like………….. yuck. I’m sure you get the drift. The fresh fruit was to die for (which for a while there I thought we were going to do)
One interesting thing was many of the front or side yards of the homes had above ground burial vaults where family members were buried – seemed a bit strange but it is the way things are done here. It reminded me of a conversation I had once with Tim Keatron about if and he and his wife, Joy planned on downsizing and he said “probably not our place is the “home place” and man that would take on new meaning here – how could you ever move if Grandma and Grandpa were buried in the front yard.
We got back around 1:30 and planned to go the beach but the bus to the beach was $10 a person and we only had $10 in New Zealand cash left and didn’t want to change any more money. So we came back to the ship and did the pool thing again.
It was probably ok that we didn’t get to the beach as we both got quite a bit of sun even with using sun block. The sun here is pretty brutal and you have to be so darn careful.
I can’t believe we are half way thru this cruise – the time is just flying by and we are having a ball. At night we sit on the balcony and say “who would have ever thought” we would be in the South Pacific. Sam keeps saying “it doesn’t get any better than this” and we always laugh and think of Skip – who says it everytime we cruise with them.
Sea day tomorrow and then Papette which we are both looking forward to.
Hugs to all of you
Sam and Char
We did a four wheel drive tour in Land Rovers today – the kind that have no top (only roll bars) and the windshield folds down – get the picture. Roughin it.
We had to tender in here and we got to the dock earlier than anticipated so had to wait for the vehicles to arrive. Loaded us up and away we went. At first it was easy going – we were on the main road, then a gravel road and then a dirt road and finally a RUT was all there was and it was straight up this mountain. I was riding shot gun because the back was hard to get into and out of with my knees. Well, this was certainly an adventure. I can see my son in law, Ryan sitting there smirking and laughing his you know what off at the thought of me in this four wheel drive. Now the going up was a little worrisome but the coming down off the mountain was downright frightening – Sam jumped out afterwards to see how white my knuckles were and if I had put a hole in the floor trying to brake. I did well – only closed my eyes when it got close to the edge of the mountain and prayed hard. I survived (no pun intended).
The island is really beautiful and we did get to see a lot of it. Very clean and beautiful – flowers everywhere. They gave us lunch and it was served on leaves with a coconut shell to hold the lomi (uncooked fish with a salsa basically – was good), chicken and lamp chops that were cooked in the ground and taro. Taro looks like a potatoe and tastes well like………….. yuck. I’m sure you get the drift. The fresh fruit was to die for (which for a while there I thought we were going to do)
One interesting thing was many of the front or side yards of the homes had above ground burial vaults where family members were buried – seemed a bit strange but it is the way things are done here. It reminded me of a conversation I had once with Tim Keatron about if and he and his wife, Joy planned on downsizing and he said “probably not our place is the “home place” and man that would take on new meaning here – how could you ever move if Grandma and Grandpa were buried in the front yard.
We got back around 1:30 and planned to go the beach but the bus to the beach was $10 a person and we only had $10 in New Zealand cash left and didn’t want to change any more money. So we came back to the ship and did the pool thing again.
It was probably ok that we didn’t get to the beach as we both got quite a bit of sun even with using sun block. The sun here is pretty brutal and you have to be so darn careful.
I can’t believe we are half way thru this cruise – the time is just flying by and we are having a ball. At night we sit on the balcony and say “who would have ever thought” we would be in the South Pacific. Sam keeps saying “it doesn’t get any better than this” and we always laugh and think of Skip – who says it everytime we cruise with them.
Sea day tomorrow and then Papette which we are both looking forward to.
Hugs to all of you
Sam and Char
4 comments:
We want to know if this is on video! We are proud of you for going! But as you know Ryan did laugh and wants to know if ths is on any video we can see and if you want to go 4X4 when you get home!
Just wanted to wish you a very Happy Anniversary!!
Love
Kim
Hi Sam & Char:
Finally has the chance to sit down and catch up with you on your trip. It sounds and looks awesome. Safe travels, have fun and keep smiling.
Your friend,
Mike Kozak
Buffalo, NY
PS - Keep our friend's 5 yr. old daughter in your prayers as they received some discouraging news this week.
Sounds like you are having a great time! Woot! :0) It's rainy and springlike here. Enjoy the fall colors - twice in one year - how fun!
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