I was awakened from a deep sleep by G shaking me gently and saying "Hurry! Come see this!". He led me to the wide open sliding glass door at the front of our bungalow and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The sunrise was occurring right in front of the Muri Beach Hideaway and the entire sky was lit up in pinks and oranges. I grabbed my iPhone and stepped out only as far as our covered deck ('cause I wasn't exactly decent) and took a photo that has to be seen to be believed. No, even seeing it won't be enough; everyone will think I Photoshopped it but, hand to heart, I'd didn't.
Hitchhikers
Our first sunrise
G had already been exploring the contents of our kitchen and was excited that it is equipped with an induction hot water kettle that heats water to boiling in about 30 seconds. He made himself some instant coffee and I made tea and we sat out on our deck for the first of many times today, watching as the sky continued to change colors. What a nice way to start the day!
We eventually showered and attended to morning ablutions (Counter space! We have counter space! And hot water and strong water pressure and a sewage system that can handle toilet paper!!) and then set out to find something for breakfast. Right across the road is a bakery that was highly recommended on Trip Advisor, and when we couldn't find eggs in any of the little markets nearby, we returned there and selected a couple of pastries and some yogurt and carried it all back to our deck. Really...why would we want to eat anywhere else but where we have peace and quiet and a gorgeous view?
On the way back to our bungalow, we walked down the next side street to the waterfront where the office of Captain Tama's lagoon cruises is located. Captain Tama is a legend in Rarotonga, and he offers a snorkel trip/ motu BBQ/ Polynesian entertainment combo that is very popular. We signed up for the trip at 11am today and returned to the Muri Beach Hideaway via a short walk down the beach.
G commented that what we were doing- having breakfast on a covered deck while enjoying the view- is exactly what we do at home. Maybe that's why I'm enjoying this side trip so much. It just feels so comfortable. We eventually gathered up our snorkel gear and walked back to Captain Tama's to board our glass bottom boat. We first went west along the southern Rarotonga coastline to snorkel, and I was fascinated by all the fish varieties I'd never before seen, in about only 15 feet of water. Most fun was the huge (about 6-8 feet long) moray eel that our divemaster could coax out using fish parts. The water was not cold but it was definitely cooler than in French Polynesia, at almost the same latitude.
We stayed in the water for about an hour and then cruised back past the first motu (which lies to the right of the Muri Beach Hideaway to the second one (on Muri Beach Hideaway's left). There was beach there where people were grilling blue fin tuna and onions and bananas. We soon ate, and enjoyed potato salad and coleslaw and fresh papaya and coconut, too. Lunch was delicious (and healthy! We're finally getting some protein!), and we really enjoyed talking with some of our fellow participants. Most people here are from New Zealand (Auckland is only a 3-4 hour flight from here, though it's a day ahead) but there are many from Australia, too. We even met a couple from Oregon today, but on Rarotonga it is our accent that attracts attention.
Afterward, there was a wonderful cultural demonstration that seemed to combine a little of everything: coconut palm tree climbing with bare feet, a demonstration of husking and opening a coconut, pareo tying and live music. Captain Tama is the Rarotonga's version of Patrick on Bora Bora, just not as fancy (and less than half the price). It was a fun afternoon.
We returned to our bungalow by 3:30pm and I washed my stuff out and either hung it on the little 4-line clothesline behind our bungalow (yep Mom, I used a clothesline!!) or set it on our deck to dry. That we can safely leave things out there overnight without fear of theft is a real bonus on this island.
And that was as far as we went today. G had bought a case of beer this morning and we enjoyed some of that as well as our leftovers from last night's market for dinner. Even the second half of my seafood pasta made for a huge serving, but I didn't want to hold it over for a third day. We sat on the cushioned wooden deck chairs in our swimsuits with our feet propped up on the railing, mesmerized by the repetition of the waves crashing on the reef. Eating dinner in a swimsuit...that's my idea of a vacation!
It started to sprinkle around 8pm and we came inside for the night. Two days of rain are forecasted; followed by better weather starting Monday. I will cope just fine; I have yet to read a single book since we left home. But I'm a little concerned about my action man. We do have a TV, but it gets only one channel. G turned it on tonight to find, at least at that moment, that it was the bereavement channel. Really. While a choir softly sang Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven in the background, obituary after obituary was shown on TV and an announcer read the names of the deceased and relayed the date, time and place of memorial services. We had just walked past a funeral procession this morning. The casket was carried on the back of a flatbed truck while family and friends also sat on the back of that truck and two others, legs dangling off the sides and singing.
When was the last time we saw something for the first time? Something tells me we saw it for the last time, too. ;-)
