Aitutaki Atoll
6 - 10 December
6 - 10 December
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Paradise Found!
Well, this is our last blog of the trip--the encore, ‘the save the best for last’ portion of the journey. We made our way from Auckland to Rarotonga (one of the Cook Islands) on a late flight, spent the night, and then flew to the atoll of Aitutaki. As the plane descended to land, there was a collective gasp from all on board the small plane. The island scene was just breathtaking! Think of the most beautiful South Pacific Island of your dreams, and there we were. A huge shallow lagoon and coral reef surrounded the island, with crystal clear water in all shades of turquoise fringed with sandy beaches. The island itself is an intense green with forested hills.
The Lagoon - Aitutaki
We were met by our hotel representative and driven to the resort. It only took five minutes to get from the airport to the resort. We and another couple from New Zealand were greeted in the lobby with a refreshing drink in a coconut by Steve & Amanda, a young couple from Vancouver, who left careers on Windstar Cruise Lines to manage this resort. We later found out that Amanda was the cruise director on a Windstar cruise that we took in 1999 in the Mediterranean.
The resort is a small boutique type of hotel composed of 8 bungalows set on or near the beach. We are currently sitting in our beachside bungalow enjoying tropical breezes. Our view from the front porch is of the lagoon and coral reefs. Further out, waves from the ocean are crashing against the reef. Ah, paradise! The sky is an intense blue, bluer than we’ve ever seen, probably due to the lack of any pollution in the air. The colors of everything here seem to be on steroids—ramped up several notches.
Our Beachfront Bungalow
This is truly island living. Dave, always up early, was out on the front porch the next morning drinking coffee when a family of chickens climbed the stairs to the porch for a morning greeting. Last night, the reception office staffer had to call ahead for us to see which restaurants were actually open for dinner. She also called and learned that the taxis weren’t operating that evening, so she gave us the keys to the hotel van to go to dinner. There doesn’t seem to be much stress here, but rather a laid back, enjoy life type of philosophy. Works for us, but could be difficult for others used to the fast paced American life, with nary a minute to lose. Australia and New Zealand also have a degree of ‘enjoy life’ attitude as well.
We’ve been snorkeling every day. A short walk from the bungalow to the beach to the water and there is our snorkeling adventure. You could literally snorkel for hours around the coral observing all of the beautiful fish, blue starfish, giant clams, sea urchins and interesting varieties of coral. The water is quite shallow and protected, so you literally feel as though you are snorkeling in a giant aquarium. It’s so relaxing just to float along and watch the fish dart in and out of the coral. The only negative is the huge quantity of sea cucumbers on the ocean floor. The sea floor is literally covered with them. They don’t bother you or anything. It’s just unsightly to see these slug-like creatures all over the place. Well, there is one more negative. We had just started to photograph the life of the reef underwater when the underwater camera housing got water in it somehow. So, now, no photos of life underwater!
Blue Starfish in the Lagoon
We also kayaked in and around the reef and were able to see all of the life in the crystal clear water. Again, the area was so protected that even a novice kayaker would have had no problem maneuvering around. Our days were so relaxing and enjoyable that at times we felt as though we were revisiting our childhood. The swimming, snorkeling and kayaking were reminiscent of summers long gone when there were no adult responsibilities with which to deal.
Kayaker and Umbrella Lady
We met a really nice couple from New Zealand with whom we ended up sharing our adventure over meals and a tour of the island in their rental car. It was great to meet new friends and compare notes.
As all good things must end, we reluctantly prepared to leave the island at the end of our stay. This island was the perfect way to end our long 5 month journey.
EPILOGUE
Statistics: 16 countries, 54 flights, 73,662 air miles, 76 hotels/lodges, 11,405 land miles, and 6 rental cars. All together, the mileage equals 3.4 times around the world at the equator.
One cannot make a trip like this one without finding new perspectives and world views. It’s a mind expanding experience. Occasionally, our limits were tested, as in the grueling 9 hour vertical hiking experience to see the gorillas. More than once, there was a feeling of, “I don’t think I can do that.” Then, you do it, and discover that what you thought was impossible was actually possible. Some have asked, “Aren’t you exhausted from all of the travel?” They’re surprised when we say that we’re not tired at all, but energized. The experiences of seeing so many earthly wonders all in one trip is beyond amazing. We feel so privileged and fortunate to have been able to have this experience. And, we look forward to more adventures in the future!
Pictures: Due to the additional number of pictures we wanted to post for New Zealand, please view them at our photo website below.
