Dave posted on May 21, 2010 11:58
This was just one piece of old world information we gained on our recent pioneering tour to the Outer Cook Islands. A group of eight visited Mangaia, Aitu and Mauke for two nights each, flying directly between the islands in a 15 seater plane.
We wanted to experience what life is like on these islands with populations of under 500 people and we certainly did this. The transport was all by ute – mostly double cab with the rest of the group on the back sitting on either cushions or a wooden board.
The food was mostly local – with bananas fried, fresh or in pancakes, rukau - the taro leaf and coconut gree veggie dish, breadfruit, taro, local pork, fish and chicken and to our amazment cray fish for breakfast on our last day!! Powdered milk is the order of the day as is coconut juice from the Nu, fresh fruit with lime and grated fesh coconut. All presented with no serving spoons and very little cutlery – so island style we became accustomed to-fingers.
All the islands had the rugged Makatea (raised coral bed) to negotiate – now covered with thick vegetation and ferns. The reefs that circled the island, only metres off shore so there are virtually no lagoons and little opportunity to swim. Tiny white sand beaches peep out from the rugged rocks. Sleep is to the sound of the surf pounding on the nearby reef.
We were welcomed and farwelled by elabarote flower eis – made from fresh boungonvilla, tiare maori, bread fruit and leaves from the Makatea. On departure from Mauke we had head and neck eis plus the very special green ei – now exported to Hawaii!!
Our guides shared their lives with us and life on the island – we visited a hospital and a school as well as had lunch in the home of two of our guides. On another day birdman George climbed a coconut tree for a coconut each for a drink, plaited our plates for lunch and served up bananas, star fruit, paw paw with grated coconut and lime for a healthy delicious lunch.
On one island we had water in our units but no power – due to the malfuntion of the generator – so it was to bed by battery lantern and torch.
A first for Eve on all her tours – both the meet and greet person and the local guide could not drive and asked us if one of us would be prepared to do so. Of course we did and the bonus was another of the group had a seat in the cab and fewer had to ride in the back – that day we had torrential rain and so three of us and the guide were soaked to the skin.
The stay in Rarotonga at Sands Villas was luxurious compared to the Outer Islands and the roads were smooth – not that the locals on Rarotonga think so!
All in all a tour to remember. We plan another in 2011 in perhaps August.