Cook Islands - Day 7
Well, it looked like the weather was turning yesterday and it did. Wild wind and rain all night. It's no surprise to wake to the messages from some of the gang saying their trip to Aitutaki was cancelled; not before driving all the way to the airport at 630am though!
It's a slow start for us. Breakfast is the usual routine. It's quite nice to have nowhere to be today, but at the same time a full day of indoor activities could get old.
We head back to old faithful Beluga Cafe. The food was great yesterday and their was plenty of good options on the menu, so we play it safe. It doesn't disappoint the second time, although Jack isn't too thrilled with the hospitality of our server. Jeff had to go on a charm offensive to get a smile. He sets the Cafe abuzz with a request to add a shot of coffee to the banana and chia smoothie. It was brilliant though.
We head back to the villa and play some games. Cal heads off for a snorkel in the rain and can't get any other takers. There is Kath and Kim on the laptop and then some yoga.
Jeff finally gets cabin fever and goes for a walk. He gets chatting to a local who has just harvested a wheelbarrow full of taro, a common crop here. The farmer is a government employee by day and spends about an hour a day tending to the taro. He says he enjoys it. He enjoyed it more when he has his son to help, but he's moved to Melbourne. He says they needed this rain, so he's happy to be out getting wet.
Jeff asks about the chickens. Yep, they're just wild chickens, no one owns them. Yes, they are killed for food by whoever needs it. And the eggs can be taken as well if you know where they are laying, but he doesn't personally.
Jeff reaches the beach and heads left. The current looks strong in the shallow waters and there isn't many people out. Just someone fishing or collecting something from the sea.
Some of the local dogs join him, not before giving a little scare with some charging and barking. Takes a bit of effort to remain calm.
Courts makes a friend in the local cat by giving a little bowl of milk. If it's a smart cat she'll know to not stray too far while we are the residents.
In theory the crab racing is on tonight at The Rarotongan resort about 15 mins up the road. The weather is still a bit dicey so we don't know if it'll be on but most of us jump in the van to have a look. We park up and head to reception and ask about the racing. The receptionist gives us a hesitant look and mumbles something about it being for guests only before confirming with a fake call to "her manager".
Not to be deterred (Jeff is anxious to bet on something!) we decide to sneak in and see if we can make it to where the crab racing is. The resort is huge. We wander by a gym and many signs stating that this is a private resort for guests only! Ben is getting nervous. We spot where the event likely is but it looks like there is a big "local experience" show going on, with drums and dancing and whatnot. We decide to back out of the plan and head home. Mission Impossible turned out to be a Mission Failure. Ah well, it was worth a shot and we got a cheap thrill out of seeing the fancy resort.
We pick up the Cook Island News on the way home and Courts gives us the updates on the hit-and-run case then we all head to bed and hope for better weather tomorrow.
