Ra-ra-Raratonga

What a glorious way to be shipwrecked in the south seas. If you haven't read Tom Neal's book

An Island to Oneself you can now read it online. Les has always wanted to visit the Cook Islands so this was his big chance and we got a good deal. I can't tell you how nice it was, how warm the sea or how tropical the breakfast . But I can show you the beach right outside our room where the sea was calm thanks to the coral reef which surrounds the island. Great swimming and snorkelling, canoeing or whatever you wanted to do. I wanted to sleep in the hammock so I made that a priority while Les cycled round the island (35Kms). This was nearly the best destination ever and comes second only to Westray. We reckon we have been to over 30 islands between us but this one was such a special and friendly experience. The missionaries who visited the Cooks in the 1800s did a great job and are well remembered. There were loads of Cowans here and many in the phone book we may have to come back and check out the rellies. There are two Missionary Colleges here and we visited them both - the leader at the YWAM training centre had met Ruthie in Auckland. Sadly we couldn't arrange a swop so we had to come back to Gordonton. Now here is a funny thing we had two Tuesdays last week but haven't had a Saturday yet and now it is Tuesday again - how does that work. I reckon it would be better to cross the dateline and do without a Monday instead.

We were amused at some of the Island customs such as cocktails being served in jam jars on the beach, sure they don't fall over but they are almost a full half pint. Even in the hotel they said grace before meals (in Maori) and somebody swept the sand before breakfast. The only down side is you get taxed to leave the island at $50 each. They say it is to raise money fora a better airport - at present the check in has a roof thatched with banana leaves, but you know I would rather have left the old building kept the $50 and just stayed on. Back to the hammock..