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TR of The Cook Islands Departure day & day 1 & 2 in
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theshopper3
- Posts: 523
- Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:27 pm
- Location: Canada
TR of The Cook Islands Departure day & day 1 & 2 in
G'Day Mate's
I guess the mini trip report didn’t quite cut the mustard, so here is a full blow report on the week we spent in Rarotonga, Cook Island.
I thought I would share our travelling route so you will all know how crazy we are.
Flight #1 Toronto Ontario to Vancouver.
Great flight to Vancouver, I was amazed to see the beautiful Canadian Rockie Mountains still covered with snow over both Brandon Manitoba & BC. We chose to spend the night in Vancouver just to break up the long flights.
Had a beautiful late afternoon walking around the marina’s taking in the views of mountains, & enjoying a lovely dinner. Larry had a yummy Salmon burger.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/cDw ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfew_ ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/gNs ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXM3 ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/1la ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXMn ... 8.JPG"></a>
Flight #2 Vancouver to LAX
Again a great flight.As we had a 6 hour layover, we decided to hop out of the airport & head to Manhattan Beach. We were lucky as our luggage had been checked all the way to Rarotonga, so once the plane landed it was grab the carry on & out to hail a cab.
Did a bit of a walk around, but it was really cool & we were not dressed to be sitting on the beach. Had assumed it would be warmer….. NOT. Oh Well, I got to see the beach & stick my feet in the water, & walk on cold sand.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/y-v ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNO ... 2.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/gYE ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNQ ... 3.JPG"></a>
Grabbed a quick dinner at a little bar & cab back to LAX for our flight to Rarotonga.
No problems going thru customs.
Flight #3 LAX to Rarotonga ( 10 Hours)
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:30, uneventful boarding. As we are sitting there we notice the stewardess looking out one of the window & talking. Next thing you know the captain is telling us that there will be a delay at least that is all he hopes. If you can imagine some idiot hit the back of our plane & broke off a part of the washroom thingy…. How can you not see a plane?
So after a short time the captain advised that they believe they have the part just need to confirm with New Zealand the part number matches & once installed we will be good to go. So 2 hrs later we are finally take off for our 10 hr flight to Rarotonga. As the plane was not full we were able to change seats so that we each had a double suit to give us room to sleep.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/HoU ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfe2k ... 9.JPG"></a>
Air New Zealand was an awesome airline to fly with, the seats are a little roomier, and each seat has its own TV that had so much to offer, about 40 new movies, over 100 TV shows plus music stations. Something for everyone. They even provide the ear phones,a big blanket & pillow at no charge.
Had a good meal shortly after take off, watched a movie, popped a sleeping pill & had a fairly good sleep for 5 hrs. A few hours after we were awake they came around with breakfast & free champagne…. YUM.It was so different to have free booze on the plane.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/VXW ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexH ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/NJD ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexI ... 2.JPG"></a>
We arrived in Rarotonga at 10:00 AM there time and were greeted by our host Ivan. Greeted with the Island Lai & taken to our home for the next week. We had packed a small bottle of Champagne to take to the beach on our first morning & asked Ivan to stop so we could pick up some orange juice, which he very graciously did.
Ivan showed us around & said he would check back in with us the next day to settle our bill as he knew we would be tired. We had been up about 24 hrs by this time.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/pkk ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXOc ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/s2X ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNh ... 0.JPG"></a>
We spent a few hours getting to know our surroundings & enjoying the wonderful warm weather. By mid afternoon we were ready for a nap so after grabbing a lunch, hit the sack & set the alarm so we wouldn’t wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/8OU ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexM ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/JMr ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfo3z ... 6.JPG"></a>
When we got up we checked out the stores that were in the area to get groceries (takeaways) as they are called in Raro. Well, there was not much of anything on the shelves, so we grabbed the essentials … BEER & RUM, and ate our dinner at the Pacific Resort, that was just the other side of our place. We would go into town the next day to pick up some things.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/ZMk ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfexg ... 6.JPG"></a>
Tuesday morning we hopped on the local bus at the main road 2 minutes from our villa. They have a pretty good bus system. It takes 1 hour to go around the whole Island & costs $4.00 1 way or $7.00 round trip.
Found the main grocery store & Booze store, stocked up & hopped back on the bus.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/Q5Y ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfext ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/9AL ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXN- ... 1.JPG"></a>
It was a great way to get a full view of the whole Island.
Back to the villa & hit the BEACH for the rest of the day.
The Shopper
I guess the mini trip report didn’t quite cut the mustard, so here is a full blow report on the week we spent in Rarotonga, Cook Island.
I thought I would share our travelling route so you will all know how crazy we are.
Flight #1 Toronto Ontario to Vancouver.
Great flight to Vancouver, I was amazed to see the beautiful Canadian Rockie Mountains still covered with snow over both Brandon Manitoba & BC. We chose to spend the night in Vancouver just to break up the long flights.
Had a beautiful late afternoon walking around the marina’s taking in the views of mountains, & enjoying a lovely dinner. Larry had a yummy Salmon burger.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/cDw ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfew_ ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/gNs ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXM3 ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/1la ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXMn ... 8.JPG"></a>
Flight #2 Vancouver to LAX
Again a great flight.As we had a 6 hour layover, we decided to hop out of the airport & head to Manhattan Beach. We were lucky as our luggage had been checked all the way to Rarotonga, so once the plane landed it was grab the carry on & out to hail a cab.
Did a bit of a walk around, but it was really cool & we were not dressed to be sitting on the beach. Had assumed it would be warmer….. NOT. Oh Well, I got to see the beach & stick my feet in the water, & walk on cold sand.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/y-v ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNO ... 2.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/gYE ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNQ ... 3.JPG"></a>
Grabbed a quick dinner at a little bar & cab back to LAX for our flight to Rarotonga.
No problems going thru customs.
Flight #3 LAX to Rarotonga ( 10 Hours)
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:30, uneventful boarding. As we are sitting there we notice the stewardess looking out one of the window & talking. Next thing you know the captain is telling us that there will be a delay at least that is all he hopes. If you can imagine some idiot hit the back of our plane & broke off a part of the washroom thingy…. How can you not see a plane?
So after a short time the captain advised that they believe they have the part just need to confirm with New Zealand the part number matches & once installed we will be good to go. So 2 hrs later we are finally take off for our 10 hr flight to Rarotonga. As the plane was not full we were able to change seats so that we each had a double suit to give us room to sleep.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/HoU ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfe2k ... 9.JPG"></a>
Air New Zealand was an awesome airline to fly with, the seats are a little roomier, and each seat has its own TV that had so much to offer, about 40 new movies, over 100 TV shows plus music stations. Something for everyone. They even provide the ear phones,a big blanket & pillow at no charge.
Had a good meal shortly after take off, watched a movie, popped a sleeping pill & had a fairly good sleep for 5 hrs. A few hours after we were awake they came around with breakfast & free champagne…. YUM.It was so different to have free booze on the plane.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/VXW ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexH ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/NJD ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexI ... 2.JPG"></a>
We arrived in Rarotonga at 10:00 AM there time and were greeted by our host Ivan. Greeted with the Island Lai & taken to our home for the next week. We had packed a small bottle of Champagne to take to the beach on our first morning & asked Ivan to stop so we could pick up some orange juice, which he very graciously did.
Ivan showed us around & said he would check back in with us the next day to settle our bill as he knew we would be tired. We had been up about 24 hrs by this time.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/pkk ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXOc ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/s2X ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXNh ... 0.JPG"></a>
We spent a few hours getting to know our surroundings & enjoying the wonderful warm weather. By mid afternoon we were ready for a nap so after grabbing a lunch, hit the sack & set the alarm so we wouldn’t wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/8OU ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/SfexM ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/JMr ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfo3z ... 6.JPG"></a>
When we got up we checked out the stores that were in the area to get groceries (takeaways) as they are called in Raro. Well, there was not much of anything on the shelves, so we grabbed the essentials … BEER & RUM, and ate our dinner at the Pacific Resort, that was just the other side of our place. We would go into town the next day to pick up some things.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/ZMk ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfexg ... 6.JPG"></a>
Tuesday morning we hopped on the local bus at the main road 2 minutes from our villa. They have a pretty good bus system. It takes 1 hour to go around the whole Island & costs $4.00 1 way or $7.00 round trip.
Found the main grocery store & Booze store, stocked up & hopped back on the bus.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/Q5Y ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/Sfext ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/9AL ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__-7EsMmpka4/ShXN- ... 1.JPG"></a>
It was a great way to get a full view of the whole Island.
Back to the villa & hit the BEACH for the rest of the day.
The Shopper
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<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
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StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
-
California Girl
I'm loving this report, Ruth! The sailboat picture is incredibly beautiful!
Yesterday two American Eagle planes backed into each other at LAX and crunched both tails!
Stuff like that happens there too often for my liking, so that's why I prefer to fly out of San Diego. Unfortunately LA's almost always cheaper, though. 
On to Part 2!
Yesterday two American Eagle planes backed into each other at LAX and crunched both tails!
Stuff like that happens there too often for my liking, so that's why I prefer to fly out of San Diego. Unfortunately LA's almost always cheaper, though. On to Part 2!
Thank you for the report and the great pictures. So interesting and gives me lots of memories. It looks like you were at the Muri lagoon somewhere. Where did you stay? We stayed in Rarotongan resort. I also remember that bus, you could go clockwise or anti clockwise and it worked well most of the time. When it didn't they said "coconut time"! So charming.
Agree about Air NZ. They were really good.
Did you go to Aitutaki?
Agree about Air NZ. They were really good.
Did you go to Aitutaki?