Our travel journal of Polyinesia
Australia 30th April 1998
On the 15th March we took our leave of South America. In the middle of the night we were welcomed to our next destination with music and garlands of flowers.
This was an infallible sign that we had arrived in the South Pacific. We landed in the - capital Papeete – (with 79'000 inhabitants) on Tahiti. The next days we spent in paradise, with a beautiful hotel directly on the turquoise blue ocean. Our island circled by a coral reef which brought the Pacific waves to roar.
We flew with a small propeller aircraft of the Air New Zealand to the Cook Islands (Discovered by James Cook 1772 – 1775). After an hour flight we reached our first destination Atiu. The South Pacific island has only 900 inhabitants. After our reception we made ourselves comfortable in a motel and started to make plans for the afternoon on a motorbike and with a couple from Canada accompanied by a Guide, we visited a cave. The visit was wonderful but also dangerous as the path was very slippery. This wonderful day ended with a barrel of schnapps with a group of the native inhabitants.
Two days later we flew to Atiutaki, the next island in this South Pacific paradise. This island is larger than Tahiti, however the runway is made from a substance which is in excess here – sand! We enjoy the snow – white beach and the beautiful ocean for the next 2 days. We learn a lot about the Polynesians and have the opportunity to join a folk – dance.
The next 2 days just fly by and then we visited the smallest inhabited island Mauke – here again we are greeted with lovely garlands of flowers around our necks and in our hair. Our hotel was the only lodge and we shared it with a couple from England. This couple were travelling with bicycles that they had brought with them from England. In our hotel there were no doors, but the entrance was covered with curtains which was very efficient, especially with a temperature of 35 degrees. With music and good simple food - this was prepared by the landlady - we had a wonderful time. The bicycles belonging to the English couple stimulated us to make a tour of the island. The islanders greeted us very friendly every where we went. The time here flew by to quickly but we had a time – table to keep and we have only 2 days more on the main island – Raratonga during these days the clouds had always hid the sun, but with a daily temperature of 30 degrees, we were quite happy. then with clear sunshine it would have been 45 degrees in the shade. For us as north Europeans just a little to much.
Our time here in paradise is over and our world tour continues.