Kia Orana! January 2017. Aitutaki Lagoon! Once you get to Cook Islands Rarotonga, it's only 50 mins flight to Aitutaki Lagoon. I was 9years.
Cook Islands: Rarotonga and Aitutaki
MURI BEACH AND LAGOON, AITUTAKI LAGOON
• 800 Polynesian settlers arrived to Rarotonga
• 1773 found by Captain James Cook, English explorer
• 1813 John Williams, London Missionary Society
• 1835 named as Cook Islands, by Captain James Cook
• 1888 The Cook Islands became British protectorate
• 1901 The Cook Islands becomes territory of New Zealand
• 1965 Self-governing in free association with New Zealand
• Rarotonga: land area 67km2, Mount Te Manga 658 meters
• Rorotonga's Avarua, capital of The Cooks, 8.000 people
• Rarotonga: Cook's Parliament and international airport
• Rarotonga to Auckland in NZ 3200km, 4,5 hour flight
Kia Orana Rarotonga! Hello Rarotonga, the volcanic island surrounded by lagoon. View from our hotel room over Muri Beach and Lagoon. We learned Rarotonga means down-south. Hotel was garden-type. Four Muri islets near us. Personnel were from Fiji Islands, Philippines, from New Zealand, some from Rarotonga.
The Cook Islands
• New Zealand: Political links, NZ$25M aid to The Cooks yearly
• New Zealand: Defence and foreign affairs for Cook Islands
• New Zealand: NZ-citizens while Cook Islands nationals
• 15 groups of tropical islands, 15 stars in Cook Islands flag
• Land area 240km2, ocean area 1.800.000km2, population 17.500
• 150.000 tourists visits Cooks per year
• 75.000 Cooks live in NZ many of 3rd and 4th generation
• Language: East Polynesian version of Maori, Rarotongan
• Currencies: New Zealand dollar, Cook Islands dollar
RAROTONGA JEEP SAFARI with Mr CHICO
Mr Chico, XXL-sized Maori with geometric tatau patterns, came to pick us. Tropical forests, mountains, waterfalls, hiking paths. We drove around and cross the island. Mr Chico took us the bay were Captain James Cook arrived. But James Cook never landed himself because of cannibals. Polynesian tribes chased each other on these islands and wider Polynesia. No old public cemeteries, killed enemies were eaten. Cannibalism in Polynesia ended in 1800s after James Cook travels. Now it's chickens and black pigs.
- Now families bury theirs on their own land, beside their houses
Rarotonga Jeep Safari. Mr Chico told stories while we crisscrossed the island by his Jeep. He told that three of The Cook Islands are inhabited, or more exactly, habited only by X-wifes. We drove around coastal Ara Tapu road and inner Ara Metua road of the The Cooking Islands.
Rarotonga Jeep Safari. Buggies, but this time I said NO.
Rarotonga Jeep Safari. Funny day with Mr Chico.
• Captain James Cook's landing bay and sea views
• Wigmore's Waterfall, tropical jungle, insects, birds
• Black pigs farmed outside farm houses
• The Needle Rock, sort of symbol of Rarotonga
• Abandoned buildings of Sheraton Hotel
• Punanga Nui Market aka Farmers Market near Avarua Beach
• Cook Islands Police Station in Avarua town, north Rarotonga
• Rarotonga Hospital, leading doctor from China
• Rarotonga Ministry of Justice building, a gift from China
• Rarotonga Prison, for youngsters who had stepped aside
• We met a Cook Islander, married to a Finn, visiting his old home
After Mr Chico's Jeep Safari we had dinner at hotel. Our team member had Birthday! Dinner, cake and a troubadour singing in Sandals Restaurant. Celebrate!
EGGS BENEDICT
Everybody's favourite lagoon breakfast! Invented in New York in 1860s, now popular in Tahiti, BoraBora, here in Cook Islands and even in Singapore.
Q: What is needed for perfect Eggs Benedict?
A: Two halves of Muffin, Bacons, two 3mins poached Eggs, hollandaise Sauce, herb Till.
PUNANGA NUI MARKET
Saturday. We made a trip to Punanga Nui Market aka Farmers Market near Avarua Beach on Ara Tapu Road. The best moment during Punanga Nui Market? eTuk ride back to hotel. We paid 45 New Zealand dollars for silent ride by eTuk. Lagoonical feelings!
- 'Scuse me while I kiss the Sky
Our PurpleHaze-JimiHendrix moment! And we laughed.
This white balcony was ours, room 209 for 4 nights. New Year Party 2016-2017 in beach tent beside Barefoot Bar. Buffet, drinks, five Polynesian drummers, dance groups, and probably the fastest hip-shaker. Fireworks were launched from platform floating on the lagoon.
Happy New Year 2017! A Pool Day!
• Raro was more traditional tourism, many Kiwis and Aussies
• Felt like in Spain or Thailand, a bit underdeveloped but nice lagoon
• Views, Muri beach and lagoon, hotel pool, breakfasts and dinner
Sunset view over lagoon from our hotel room.
Solent ZK-AMO flying-boats, Aranui and Aparima were operated by Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, TEAL (Air New Zealand) from late 1951 until September 1960. TEAL Coral Route was flown twice a month, 30 hours fly path. Aitutaki landing site was on the lagoon at Akaiami Islet's beach. Both Coral Route aircrafts also did ocean rescues.
Coral Route travellers who landed and visited Aitutaki.
• Actor John Wayne: El Dorado, Rio Bravo, Rio Grande
• Actor Marlon Brando: A Streetcar Named Desire, Apocalypse Now
• Actor Trevor Howard: Brief Encounter, The Third Man
• Actor Richard Harris: Gladiator, Camelot, Unforgiven
• Writer Willard Price: Adventures in Paradise
• Actress Martine Carol: Venetian Honeymoon
-- She famously swam in Akaiami Beach completely nude!
Like us, Marlon Brando enjoyed lagoons. In 1962 he married Ms. Tarita Teriipia from BoraBora Lagoon. Five years later Marlon bought Tetiaroa Atoll located north of Tahiti, now The Brando Resort.
The last remaining Solent flying-boat Aranui is on display at Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), New Zealand.
• 34 passengers
• Cruise speed 393 km/h, service ceiling 5182 meters
• Four Hercules engines 1690hp each
• Length 26,7 meters, wingspan 34,4 meters, height 10,44 meters
TEAL Coral Route Flight Path
Route-1 Auckland ➙ Suva, Fiji Republic
Route-2 Suva ➙ Apia, Samoa Independent State
Route-3 Apia ➙ Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
Route-4 Aitutaki ➙ Tahiti, French Polynesia
Info details from Rarotonga and Aitutaki airports and from the net.
From Rarotonga to Aitutaki
January 2, 2017
• Flight from Rarotonga to Aitutaki, 50 mins, Saab 340A
• Hotel Pacific Resort Aitutaki, 3 nights, Bungalow No.114
Arrived to Aitutaki Lagoon, 220km north of Rarotonga. This place is far from everywhere. The last day in Rarotonga went at poolside. From Rarotonga International Airport by small Saab 340 A twin-engine turboprop, Air Rarotonga has only one such plane, to Aitutaki. Our hotel The Pacific Resort, beachfront Bungalow. Hotel was just 6km from Aitutaki Airport which in 1950s was the first international airport in The Cook Islands, next came Rarotonga.
Map stone in front of airport building. Aitutaki Lagoon's main village is Arutanga which also has a harbour. No mountains, the highest peak Maunga Pu is 124 meters above the sea level.
AITUTAKI LAGOON BACKGROUNDER
• 900-1000 Polynesian settlers arrived to Aitutaki
• 1789 HMS Bounty discovered Aitutaki, Captain Bligh
• 1821 Aitutaki accepted Christianity, John Williams
• 1942 WW2, one thousand U.S. soldiers built two runways
-- after WW2 some servicemen remained and married locals
• 1950s Aitutaki for refuelling seaplanes on Coral Route
• 2000s Reality TV: Shipwrecked; Survivor
• 2010 Lonely Planet: The World’s Most Beautiful Island
• Population 2200, land area 18km2, island and 20+ islets
A tiny place in the vast Pacific Ocean. We got lays around necks in Aitutaki Airport. We were curious to 'meet' this most romantic place in the world.
Music trio singing and playing during a hotel dinner.
Hotel Pacific Resort Aitutaki. Days started at the pool and in coral lagoon. Excellent views.
Another hot day. Photos. Play. In the afternoon: diary and math tasks. Hotel had bicycles and we biked Aitutaki's main road passing Arutanga Harbour. Only a few cars. Aitutaki is calm and peaceful, harmounious, in slow motion. Dinner in hotel's main restaurant was excellent: sushi, lamb rack, steaks.
- During the nights stars were much, much, brighter, brighter!
AITUTAKI LAGOON CRUISE with Captain FANTASTIC
Kia Orana! Aitutaki of The Cook Islands with Captain Fantastic alias Mr Andrew Katu. A full day trip named Kia Orana Lagoon Cruise. Captain Fantastic picked us from the hotel, the cruise started from nearby Arutanga Harbour. We visited seven tropical lagoon islets.
• Rapota Islet and Motu Rapoata
• Moturakau Islet
• Akaiami Islet, volcanic path
• Tapuaetai One Foot Island
• Motukitiu Islet
• Maina group, Honeymoon Island
• Maina Islet, grill lunch
Turquoise lagoon around, visited seven islets. The boat was made in Aitutaki near airport. Yamaha 150hp V6 engine.
A fallen tree on an islet.
Akaiami Islet. Most lagoon islets had small jungle in the middle, we could do jungle trekking through. Small bananas, exotic birds. Volcanic or sand.
- Let's get volcanic!
According to Sir-D and Sir-K, Aitutaki lagoon islets are borderless.
Jungles. She lives happily in the middle of Tapuaetai Islet aka One-Foot Island in a mini jungle.
- This bird was not afraid, I went beside and she just stared back
Captain Fantastic stamped our passports while we scouted across the hot Tapuaetai aka One-Foot Island.
STORY of THE ONE-FOOT ISLAND
Other clan's men wanted them but these two persons, father and son, escaped to this little islet with a small jungle. Father made only one steps trace on the coral sand, he carried his son. Father was caught and killed (probably eaten) but the son stayed in hide and survived.
Maina Islet, Captain Fantastic prepared our lunch in a hut under palm trees. Buffet on clams. Fruits and grilled chicken laid on banana leaves.
Captain Fantastic took us to lagoon snorkeling places, to meet the big fish and huge clamshells. Seven Aitutaki islets with hot jungles around the lagoon. One islet was a low, long sand dyne, the vast ocean around it. Colours were paradisal and feeling ultimately relaxed.
Short shadows on Maina Honeymoon Island.
- MaMa shows how to spend a day on lagoon islet
Lagoon colours: light green, turquoise, bright azure blue, deep cobalt blue.
AITUTAKI VOCABULARIUS
Island - any piece of land surrounded by water
Islet - a small island formed by broken coral, sand near larger island
Coral - a tiny animal living in colonies, making atolls
Reef - a rock, sand or coral lying below water surface
Lagoon - builds over the volcanic crater (caldera), has coral
Lagoon - area between the reef which stops ocean waves and the beach
Atoll - an island with ring-shaped coral reef surrounding it with lagoon which has islets on reef platform
Back to Arutanga Harbour near our hotel. FANTASTIC day criss-crossing the corals, visiting islets, and meeting many kinds of lagoon creatures on turquoise, blue sea. We scouted on seven islets. Aitutaki - just amazing.
Dinner show in Hotel Pacific Resort. Speedy Polynesian drumming and warrior dances. Another show that we had every evening was the colourful sunset over Pacific Ocean. Hotel restaurant served excellent tuna steaks, sushi, lamb, ice creams and sweets. And fruit cocktails.
Sir-D and Sir-K got smiling hats. Hotel shop, we bought a greenish porcelain Fat Chicken. We managed to carry it long way to home in one piece.
Aitutaki! Before leaving we spent all day at the pool. Turquoise lagoon view. Some 800 meters away over the lagoon the ocean waves crushed onto vulcanic reef with white foam, periodical roars. Looking for honeymoon spot? It's Aitutaki.
• Main island Aitutaki and visited seven islets
• Lagoon views, colours and islets were fantastic
• Hotel Pacific Resort and Lagoon Cruise: full points
Back to Rarotonga, The Cook Islands
January 5, 2017
• Flight from Aitutaki back to Rarotonga, 50 mins, Saab 340A
-- aircraft felt almost new, so we checked: in production 1983 to 1998
• Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, room 44, one night
December 29, 2016.
• Flight from Tahiti to Rarotonga, The Cook Islands, 3 hours
• Hotel Pacific Resort, Muri Beach, Rarotonga, room 209, 4 nights
Flight day started with breakfast Eggs Benedict, fruits and juices. Pickup car, we left from hotel Inter-Continental to Tahiti Airport. Short drive. On the way we got strong tropical rain.
We landed to Rarotonga International Airport near capital town Avarua, the main gateway to The Cook Islands. It was raining when we walked from airplane to airport. I got wet again. Inside the airport an old man played melancholic tones by guitar while we waited luggages. Immigration process. 20 mins drive to Hotel Pacific Resort at Muri Beach area on east coast of Rarotonga. They say the most beautiful area of Rarotonga.
Island-Hopping World Tour
• Rarotonga and Aitutaki were stops during our World Tour
• World Tour from December 10, 2016 to January 26, 2017
• Beginning of the tour I was 8 years 11mo old
• World is not flat, we went to the left, arrived back from the right
• After 21 flight hours over Pacific Ocean the world feels still big
• Got some mosquito bites, nothing more serious
TOTAL 48 days including starting and ending days
Our World Tour route from right to left
World Tour Islands
From Helsinki to
1. The Bahamas, Nassau (via Miami, USA)
++ Hotel Atlantis Resort, waterpark, dolphins, scenery, quality
-- No problems
2. Easter Island, Chile (via Santiago)
++ Moai era, BirdMan era, nature, touring trips
-- Mosquitos, street dogs, Internet problems
3. Tahiti Island, Papeete, French Polynesia
++ Hotel InterContinental, views, pools, dinners, dance shows
-- Mosquitos
4. BoraBora Lagoon, French Polynesia (visited 3 BoraBora islands)
++ Lagoon, beach, mountain, service, shows, lagoon/jeep safaris
-- Mosquitos, main island street dogs and forest dogs
5. Rarotonga Lagoon, The Cook Islands (via Tahiti)
++ Muri beach, pool, jeep safari, lagoon, shows, jungle
-- Mosquitos, hot, beach dogs, pricing of breakfasts elements
6. Aitutaki Lagoon, The Cook Islands (visited 8 Aitutaki islands)
++ Hotel Pacific Resort, views, pool, dinners, lagoon cruise, shows
-- Mosquitos
7. New Zealand: Auckland, Rotorua, Tongariro, Wellington
++ Views, dinners, geologic, nature park, cafees, hotels
-- No problems
8. Bali Island, Amed, Indonesia (via Melbourne, Australia)
++ Views, friendly service, dinners, juices, jungle temple
-- Mosquitos, hot, angry monkeys
9. Singapore
++ Hotel Shangri-La, quality, service, pools, restaurants, Orchard Rd
-- No problems
Back to Helsinki
FLIGHTS
No.1 from Helsinki to Miami, 10,5h night flight, Finnair
No.2 from Miami to Nassau, 30mins, American Eagle
No.3 from Nassau back to Miami, 30mins, American Eagle
No.4 from Miami to Santiago, 8h night flight, Latam
No.5 from Santiago to Easter Island, 5,5hours, Latam
No.6 from Easter Island to Tahiti, 5hours, 5 time zones, Air Tahiti
No.7 from Tahiti to BoraBora, 50mins, Air Tahiti
No.8 from BoraBora back to Tahiti, 50mins, Air Tahiti
----- flight had a stop on Raiatea Lagoon, French Polynesia
No.9 from Tahiti to Rarotonga, 3hours, Air Tahiti
----- flight got a technical problem, back to Tahiti, 2nd try ok
No.10 from Rarotonga to Aitutaki, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.11 from Aitutaki back to Rarotonga, 50mins, Air Rarotonga
No.12 from Rarotonga to Auckland, 4,5h night flight, Air New Zealand
----- NZ car tour from Auckland to Wellington, around 800km
No.13 from Wellington to Melbourne, Australia, 4hours, Jetstar
No.14 from Melbourne to Bali, Indonesia, 5hours, Boeing 787, Jetstar
No.15 from Bali to Singapore, 3hours, Jetstar
No.16 from Singapore to Helsinki, 12h night flight, Finnair
TOTAL 16 flights, 65 flight hours, 48.000 kilometers
HOTELS
No.1 Miami - Hotel Element, rm 249, one night
No.2 Bahamas - Hotel Atlantis Resort, rm 8549, 4 nights
No.3 Easter Island - Hotel Ota'i, Hanga Roa, rm 135, 4 nights
No.4 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 180, 2 nights
No.5 BoraBora - Hotel Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Bungalow No.50, 7 nights
No.6 Tahiti - Hotel InterContinental Resort, rm 386, one night
No.7 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 209, 4 nights
No.8 Aitutaki - Hotel Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Bungalow No.114, 3 nights
No.9 Rarotonga - Hotel Pacific Resort Rarotonga, rm 44, one night
No.10 Rotorua - Holiday Inn Hotel, rm 615, 3 nights
No.11 Tongariro - Hotel Chateau Tongariro, rm 121, one night
No.12 Wellington - Museum Art Hotel, rm 343, 5 nights
No.13 Bali - Hotel Griya Villas and Spa, Villa No.14, 3 nights
No.14 Singapore - Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, rm 683, 4 nights
TOTAL 14 hotels, 43 hotel nights, 4 night flights
SAFARIS, TOURS, MUSEUMS, POINTS OF INTEREST, SHOWS
• Bahamas Nassau Airport - Welcoming 3-man guitar band
• Bahamas hotel - Birthday drumming show during dinner
• Bahamas - Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park
• Bahamas - Dolphin Cay dolphin show and photos
• Bahamas village - Jazz band at a street restaurant
• Easter Island - Museo Antropologico P. Sebastian Englert
• Easter Island - Moai, BirdMan tours with Mr Roberto, 3,5 days
• Tahiti Airport - Welcoming Tahitian guitar and singing group
• Tahiti hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Tahiti hotel - Great views at Hotel InterContinental Resort
• BoraBora Christmas Eve - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 1.
• BoraBora Christmas Day - Polynesian Drum/Dance dinner show 2.
• BoraBora - Shark-Feeding lagoon Safari with Captain Will
• BoraBora - Jeep Safari day with Mr Steve
• BoraBora - Kayaking trip to the edge of islet Motu Tevairoa
• Rarotonga Airport - Welcoming guitar music by an old man
• Rarotonga New Year - Polynesian Drum and Hip-shaking dinner
• Rarotonga - Jeep Safari day with Mr Chico
• Rarotonga - Trip to Punanga Nui Market near Avarua Beach
• Aitutaki hotel - Aitutaki trio, harmonic music during dinners
• Aitutaki hotel - Polynesian Warrior Drum and Dance dinner show
• Aitutaki - Lagoon Cruise Safari with Captain Fantastic Andrew
• Aitutaki - Bicycle trip from hotel passing Arutanga Harbour
• Rotorua - HoBbiToN Movie Village tour: Lord of Rings, The Hobbit
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park geothermal and Maori culture show
• Rotorua - Te Puia Park Maori singing, warrior dances, faces
• Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, geyser
• Lake Taupo - Huka Falls on Waikato River
• Tongariro National Park - Happy Valley, Whakapapa village
• Tongariro National Park - Ruapehu volcano, Tawhai Falls
• Waiouru - National Army Museum of New Zealand
• Wellington - Museum Te PaPa of New Zealand culture
• Wellington - Waterfront and Hikitia steam-driven crane boat
• Wellington - Cable Car Museum and Wellington Botanic Garden
• Wellington - Hippopotamus Restaurant in Museum Art Hotel
• Bali hotel - Band, movie music, popular olds, Beatles
• Bali - Pura Lempuyang Temple Safari and Mount Agung
• Bali - Tirta Gangga Water Palace Safari near Mount Agung
• Singapore - ArtScience Museum: NASA, A Human Adventure
TOTAL 38 experiences, over 30GB photos and video
GET-PREPARED FOR WORLD TOUR
• Vaccines: Hepatiitti-A; Hepatiitti-B; Tetanus
• Insurance: Persons; Things; Contact info
• VISA: ESTA.org for USA entry
• Medicine bag: Travel; Adult; Junior; Care things; Docs
• Hygiene bag: Dental; Shampoo/care; Combs; Scissors; Shaving
• Electronics: Phones; Cameras; iPad; Cables; Plugs; Loaders
• On-Travel: Clothes; Flight pillows; CabinBags; CargoBags
• Holiday clothes; Shirts and all
• Sunglasses; Sun hats; Sun oils
• Swimming: Snorkeling; Fins; RashGuards; Shoes
• Trip arrangement by Aventura, Helsinki
• Trip schedule and budget
• Trip process: Targets ➙ Flights ➙ Hotels ➙ Pickups ➙ Tours
• Trip documents: Tickets, Vouchers, Schedule, Contacts
• Other documents: Passports, Credit cards, Driving licences
• Principle: less to carry is better
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