Cook Islands - Day 3
Later start this morning and straight downstairs for some homemade coffee and breakfast with the gang. Bacon and scrambled eggs for all.
The weather is good and the water looks great so everyone is keen to get the sunscreen on (properly this time...) and get out there.
Jeff and Cat take a kayak out towards the rim reef and park the kayak on a rock and jump in with the snorkels. The water is still only ever about chest deep at most and the way the rocks are set up it's like being in an aquarium. The water is warm and clear, so it's perfect for exploring. Plenty of different fish to see everywhere you look. Cal and Issy paddled over on their stand-up paddle boards and joined in.
We head back, very mindful of not staying out too long in the sun this time.
Courts and Jeff jump in the car and go exploring, taking some turns off the main ring road and up towards the mountains. You get a bit more of an idea about how the locals live like this, but there is still a lot of holiday accommodation around and lots of diversity in the houses and blocks of land; everything from makeshift shack to colonial style houses with manicured lawns.
We realise that the van's fuel tank is still sitting on above Full, which clearly means its broken and decide we better fill up to be sure. We also grab a few supplies and an ice cream and a coconut (no beer sold on Sundays).
We head back and hang out with the gang for a bit before wandering up the street to a bit of a Mexican fusion tapas place. We grab some bao burgers and tacos and try not to feed too much of it to the goodest dogs being on their best behaviour. One of them has mastered the "please feed me, I'm so cute" face.
A few of us wander up the beach for about a kilometre to see what we can see. It's lovely, as expected. Can confirm it's still a tropical paradise here. The island dogs are living their best lives. This time of the afternoon seems to be their witching hour. A lot of fun and games as they are running up and down the beach as a gang.
An afternoon Aperol Spritz and the SMH weekend quiz is in order. We do it as a team and do pretty well.
There is a night market within walking distance from our place, so off we go for an early dinner. Lots of great food options and of course another Nu is in order. Courts gets the lamb chops and Jeff the yellow fin tuna sashimi. The lamb is huge and decently priced. Chatting later to a jewelry vendor they mention that they're good here, always with "locals serves".
Courts buys a little braclet with a pearl and crop top. We were impressed with all the clothing designs we've seen. Lots of cool stuff and we'll probably need an extra shirt or 2.
Back home and it's a low-key games night. Anomia (didn't like), Codenames (good) and Bananagrams which is turning into the game of the trip.
We're planning on getting up early to see the sun rise and beat the heat on the water tomorrow so it's an early night for us.
