Cook Island Adventure

I am leaving from Canada to the Cook Islands in 13 more days for a wonderful two week stay in "heaven". I am planning this trip as a surprise to my husband who has no idea where we are going until we leave the Los Angeles airport where I will present him with a book that I have put together on our special paradise. (He will have the next 10+ hours to read all about what we are going to experience.)

I am looking for some ideas to make this trip one of a lifetime. As each day turns I want to experience and get involved in the Cook Island life. Can anyone make some suggestions of how I can add to this already exquisite experience.

I have planned the all out vacation and am staying one week at the Aitutaki Pearl Beach Resort OW bungalows and then the last week at Reflections villa. Has anyone seen/stayed at Reflections, I understand it is very new.

A couple unusual questions that I was hoping someone could answer would be where could I find someone who would be willing to show me how to cook "Island Style". Should I bring along some type of small hand held blender to make us some slushy tropical drinks to enjoy on the veranda? What can you tell me or recommend for fishing tours on both Raro and Aitutaki.

I would also like to bring some small little Canadian soveneirs for the kids - what do you suggest - Canadian Pins, flags, Candy, etc. I have planned for us to attend church on the Sundays, but what kind of effect does the Easter celebration have on things being closed. Do the children there believe in the Easter Bunny. I have four kids staying at home, would love to share the Easter fun with the Islanders.

Remember this is all a surprise and I would appreciate any and all info sent my way. I am looking for that special touch!

Cheers
Rochelle

Q's
Sounds like a fun trip!
Don't bring an electric blender, it's 220volts here, 110v in Canada. Most places have a blender you can borrow, I would think.
Fishing on RAR you can try Pacific Marine Charters, Seafaris, Brents Fishing, there are a couple of others. Look in the "What's On" booklet for more of these things. Also, check out http://www.ck</A> if you haven't seen it yet.

As to Reflections, I wasn't sure it was even open yet, maybe it is. A few weeks ago (maybe longer) I drove by and it didn't look finished, may be so now.

As to local cooking, that's a tough one. go the the open air market on Friday afternoon or Sat., and ask the people who make the local food plates if they might give you a lesson sometime.

Bring the flags, pens, pins, etc., (please leave the candy home, too many bad teeth here already!)

Most places will be closed on Good Friday, etc. Sunday most things are closed anyway.

Yes, there is a lot to do, but also it's nice to just do nothing for a while!

Have a good time!

Raro
http://www.shangri-la.co.ck</A>

Your surprise
Sounds like you husband is a lucky man! You seem to have this trip well planned.

Couple of suggestions for you:

Take a battery operated blender if you want the slushy drinks.

Go to an Island Night.

Go to Muri beach and take a picnic over to one of the Motu's.

Go to the market early Saturday morning for the best shopping.

Go play darts at the Tumunu on Tuesday night.

Get a Cook Island drivers licence. Even if you don't drive, it makes a great souvinier.

Tip the waitress/waiter to show your appreciation, they don't encourage tips, but they do appreciate them. One of the bars we went to had a jar on the counter with the saying, "Tipping is NOT a city in China."

T-shirts from Canada are also very much appreciated by locals, it will give them something to remember you by.

Bring some Canada pens and pencils for the kids. That way they can take them to school and show off.

Bring plenty of Mozzie spray.

Take LOTS of pictures, try especially to have someone take pictures of both of you.

Buy a bright colored sarong and wear it. (After you've learned to tie it, of course.)

When you get there, take off your watch and RELAX! The island is very laid back so take some time to stop and smell the flowers!

Have a WONDERFUL holiday!

Raro
Thanks for the advise, I am really looking forward to our stay there. Do you recommend bringing reef shoes or something like that? I am not sure if I have the water conception right, I believe there is alot of coral but are there still alot of places where you can stand in the water on the sand?

Getting Anxious
Rochelle

Vancouver
I assume that you are a Canadian and understand the whole concept of enjoying the slushy pina colada type drinks under the palm tree looking out into the clear blue sea! I have been emailing LordBalfor (Ken) and yesterday he lead me on to the Thorntree, Lucky guy is off to the Cooks in 2 days! He told me that you are also on you way there very soon, I hope you enjoy your holiday as much as you did on your last visit. I really appreciate your first hand experience on the cooks, and maybe if opportunity prevails itself we can meet up for one of those "slushy drinks" (I'll bring the blender). I already have plans to touch base with Ken and his wife.

Enjoy you stay in Heaven,
C-U There!
Rochelle

Meeting
Yes, that would be wonderful! I've arranged for Ken to pick up our phone number at Ronnies Bar on the 30th when they're back from Aitutaki. Ronnies is our usual watering hole when we're on the island so you can usually find us there at some point in the afternoon. Just ask for Jack & Lorette.

We'll have to make a real effort to try to meet up as time has a habit of just slipping away on the island and before you know it, it's time to go home.

I'll add your name to the list of people that can pick up the phone number. We'll be in Raro from March 23 to April 15th so we should have plenty of time to get together.

See you there, blender in hand!

re #3
Hi
There are a few spots in the lagoon with absolutely no little bits of coral in the sand, but not many. I would bring reef shoes if you have the room. Or, in a pinch, you can use the cross-over sandals people use for walking around, it's just that it catches the water a bit when you lift your feet, so you have to shuffle rather than walk normally.
There are many many places all around the island where you can snorkel and see fish in water that is only 4 or 5 ft deep. Try the area from Taakoka Islet at Muri Beach down south and then west to Titikaveka, with the Fruits of Rarotonga jam/muffin shop a good starting point if you are not staying at Muri Beach or Titikaveka.

To btmBouncer, Vancouver and Raro
See you folks there!

Raro: Do you know how big the suitcase limit is on the Raro-Aitutaki flight? I thought I saw a post here about it, but now I can't find it (I must be going blind or something).

Ken

Ken
I posted it once, but forgot. Just phoned them again, it's 16kg per person, about 35lbs. Thagt's the weight limit of course. Not sure about dimension limits. You can phone them after you arrive. If your suitcase is too big ( a standard one, any style, probably would not be too big), then you can get cheap laundry bags at Vonnia's and put your stuff in there for the plane ride and back, and store your bags in the lockers at the airport, or at Raro Tours storage on the east side of the airport.
Raro

Thanks Raro,
As usual, you come through. My wife wants to bring her fins (I disagree). It means a bigger suitcase.

See your soon.

Ken

fins
For snorkeling in the lagoon you don't need regular size fins, they make smaller ones you might be able to find at a dive shop or large sporting goods store, these small ones would fit in most suitcases.

Raro, Vancouver, LordBalfor
Thanks guys for the vault of information greatly appreciated. Even with all the questions answered I don't think anyone will ever be prepared enough to imagine the incredible sights of the Cooks.

LordBalfor: Plans to meet on the two Islands as per our previous email.

Vancouver: Your Names and the meeting place down on my agenda, small hand blender ready to be packed. Looking forward to our meeting - that is if time doesn't slip away on us, but I promise I will make a great effort.

Raro: Took a look at your Shangra La site - looks fantastic, I will try to come your way also and experience Muri Beach and say Hello. I will let you know how much food I have burnt thus far on my Cook Island Cooking Lessons. Thanks for responding to the emails. Knowing that you live in the Cooks, anything I can toss in my bag and bring over to you. Would be more than happy to do it.

Thanks again!
C.U. in Paradise
Rochelle

I take postcards of my little town that the kids seem to like to look at and keep. sometimes people enjoy seeing pictures of your family. pencils pens idea is great - i'm putting that on MY list.

hey ken - good on ya buddy!! here's the air raro conditions of passage link:
http://www.airraro.com/Presentation/Presentation1.aspx?ID=22&IDType=2<BR>i didn't see mention of dimensions.

tracy

ken (and whoever's interested) - oh yeah to save you a trip to that link- you get 3.5kg carry on in addition to the checked luggage raro already told you about.

eliot - it's been a year since i've visited .. i assume your new units were completed last year. are you going to expand any more?

tjk

Hi Tracy---
All those you saw back then were finished long ago. We are now finishing #10, 11 and 12---then it's semi-retirement for me and my hammer!

Wow! This post is a blast from the past. This is back from before we left for the Cooks and were arranging to meet up with some fellow TT'ers. The December dates are December of 2001.

Nice memories, those.

Ken

so, ken - does that mean you DONT have a cook island trip planned for this year of 2004??? i was getting all excited for you..

No. We are hoping to go back next year. We had a number of major home-improvement projects which we did this last year that ended up costing quite a bit so no big trip this year. Went to Vegas for a few days instead just to have a little break - we don't gamble so it was pretty reasonable. Vegas was fun and we saw some terrific shows, but I feel like I've "been there, done that" now and probably won't ever return (I'd never been).

Still trying to see if a couple of other family members will be able to come.

Ken