Cook Islands

Sheila and Gnapp Take a Trip Down Under

The Cook Islands operate on what the locals call Raro time. It is very laid back. Sometimes too laid back for those of us use to the US city living way of life. Once we got into the atmosphere and the casualness of the island, we laid back and enjoyed as time went by with or without us.

If you visit the island in the summer months, make sure you have accommodation with at least a fan as some of the rooms can get a little toasty. Being near the Muri lagoon is also a plus as they have some of the best waters there for swimming and snorkeling. Moana Sands Rarotonga was our hotel of choice. The rooms were clean and spacious. We walked right out of the sliding doors from our room onto the beach only a few feet away. It was incredible, laying in the hammock on our porch whilst we watched the palm trees sway with the evening breeze and listened to the waves out on the ocean. If you can ride a motor scooter or are willing to learn how to, then do it. Most hotels rent them for around NZ$ 20 a day and they are the best way to get around the island. There are buses, but these have odd operating hours and on public holidays, they are few and far between. There are taxis if you don't mind waiting and paying a small fee.

There are many dogs on the island. Most are harmless. That is with the exception of a couple Gnapp and I had an experience with on the beach. We were in the water floating around in the warm, clear water. My shoes and sarong were on the beach. We were watching the dogs play on the beach, thinking how cute some of them were, when one of them walked over to the sarong and peed on it. That was followed by several other dogs doing the same thing. All we could do was watch and wait until they had finished. Note: if there are dogs on the beach, put your belongings up on a rock or high place if possible.

Gnapp had a great time scuba diving and completed a certification course at half the price than the courses are offered in other places. He said the groups were small and the instructors reliable.

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