The Cook Islands Weather Forecasters....

Canoe on Muri Beach (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 9 July 07)
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....couldn't have got it more wrong. At this time of year (winter in the Cooks, as we have just crossed the Equator), I guess that they could be forgiven for being a little "off the mark", but 2 tropical rainstorms in 4 days?!

Nevertheless, we have managed to have some great fun in this stunning Robinson Crusoe like place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Rarotonga is the main island of many scattered  around the region, and with four days here we thought we would just visit this one to get an idea of what the country is like.

The Weather Rock on Muri Beach (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 9 July 07)
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We lucked out, with our hostel being on the beach and with a view of 4 uninhabited islands from the deck area as well as a very quiet beach, all tucked in a clear turquoise lagoon behind which lay an angry ink blue sea. The islands sheltered the beach nicely and calmed the winds, making our windsurfing efforts stately but safe.

Whilst we were supposed to be chilling out, the challenge of an island circumnavigation by bicycle proved too hard to resist, and we made a day of it, returning sweatsoaked to the incredulity of our fellow hostellers, who had spent the day on the beach with the most activity being reapplying sunscreen!

Rob windsurfing on Muri Beach (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 10 July 07)
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A couple of voyages (by wading mostly) to the islands nearby revealed a wealth of exotic tropical fish (including the well known "stripey!" and "electric blue with yellow fins!" kind) and some very cool hermit crabs, taking advantage of all the gorgeous shells that were washed up on the beach to make some very glamorous homes.

In a place where the most dangerous thing to happen was to be hit by a falling coconut or investigated by an escapee pig or chicken, the food and drink was worth investigating. I have to say that whilst I am never going to be a fan of octopus curry, prawn and pawpaw does go down a treat.

V windsurfing on Muri Beach (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 10 July 07)
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Rob was happy to find a couple of off-season cricketers having a bit of bowling practice (using the side of the butcher's shop as the pitch and an upturned picnic table for the stumps), and availed his bowling abilities. He was pronounced capable by the Rarotongan Golden Oldies captain, and invited back for a game!

It will be all change tomorrow (or the day after, as we cross the International Date Line) when we hit NZ - rellies there tell us tales of frost and freezing pipes... and snow!

A great view from the Hostel deck (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 9 July 07)
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V&R