Back to the Future!

June 29 (2nd time)
We arrived in Rarotonga, Cook Islands at 6pm on the Friday night. Yep thats right, the night before we left. Didn't think they had invented a time machine, its just like being in back to the future - where's the Doc?
After all the excitement and a bit chillier than Fiji (around 22 degrees) we were left deflated when we got to the checking in desk for our accomodation. I booked it ages ago as we were recommended it (ta Laura) and were told they got busy so when we gave our name, to our horror (or rather Trace's) we weren't on the list and they had no rooms either. We had the confirmation in our hands and trace was not best pleased with the woman.
Another couple also got turned away and had heard that the other backpackers that were recommended were awful so we decided to follow them to Aquarius. We queued up and when we got to the desk they had just given the last 2 beds away, just the luck! Trace was close to tears at this point and I think the guy felt sorry for us so rang his mate and got us booked in there - Lifesaver!
The mate, Malcolm turned up and gave us a lif to his Motel. He is a very eccentric sort of a fellow, was in the Marines and has a friend named Frank who lives in Southampton, unfortunately we don't know him.
We dumped our bags in the room and headed for Salsa bar and restaurant. After a few drinks and lovely meal we headed back to rest our weary heads.

June 30 (2nd time)
We were kept awake for most of the night with Cockerals cock-a-doodle-doing, then as James walked into the bathroom he noticed a dead Cockroach - pleasant!
Malcolm the owner tried to help us sort out some other accommodation whilst we are here, but we said we'd stay at his for a few nights, especially when he said he'd give us a cheaper rate!
We walked into town to use the internet briefly to send a not very nice e-mail to the people we booked our room through. Then headed towards the market. On our way we decided to hire a scooter, they only had one left so it was decided we would only get the one. They also only had one helmet left so Trace took it quick! As James was driving with Trace on the back across the road to leave he misjudged the corner (think he was thinking he was driving the RV) and we hit the kerb. Neither of us we injured or hurt, just a little embarrassed as it happened right infront of the woman we hired it from and James said he had driven bikes before!!
We had to go to the Police station next so James could do his Motorbike/scooter test and get a Cook Island licence (not because he crashed, it customary here!). We waited around for ages, finally it was his turn. He passed and got his new licence!
We then headed out to the open road. Raroptonga is only 32km in circumference, thats 20 miles, so we set off at a reasonably slow pace as we didn't want to get round too quickly. We stopped at a beach about 1/4 way round the island, it then started to rain so we headed back to the motel - only fair weather drivers!
In the evening we went to Trader Jacks for dinner, they were full but we waited for a table to become free and sat at the bar. Trace's cocktail tonight was a Yellow Fin (Archers, vodka, malibu, pineapple and cranberry juice). For dinner we decided on a seafood platter - had oysters (Trace ate both of them), calamari, prawns, fish, some raw fish, sushi - all very yummy!

July 1st
We went out on the Scooter again this morning and went staright to Vara's to see if we could sort something out to stay there for the rest of the time. We got it sorted, not a place on the beach that we originally booked but near by.
We set off around the island again, stopping at some of the beaches but were too windy to stay. We popped into a couple of dive places to check out prices for later on in the week.
We finally stopped at Black rock lagoon. At this point we realised we left the snorkel and mask back at the room so James set off on the bike while Trace lay on the beach! About 10 mins later James was back and we headed into the crystal clear water for a look around.
In the evening we decided to try a new bar for dinner, except it was closed, the next place was closed for private function and then the next place was also closed. It seemed the only place open was the Indian, so we went there!

July 2
This morning we decided for something different we would go round the island anti-clockwise. We stopped at a beach for snorkelling. Only James went in as it was really windy, so Trace sat on the beach reading, wrapped in a towel! When we went to set off again the scooter wouldn't work. We rang the hire company from a phone in Raro Fruits, also bought a scone and ice cream there as felt guilty for using the phone! The bloke arrived, he also couldn't get it started so he left it there and took us to the shop to give us another scooter.
We were then free again to ride the road. We headed for the same beach as yesterday to do a bit more sunbathing, before it started to spit and we ran for the cover of the trees!
In the evening we didn't know where to go so we went to 'Whatever' bar and had a steak (it was pretty much all they had on the menu!)

July 3
This morning we moved out of Malcolms place. He asked us how much we owed him - Legend!
James took the Scooter back. He had a bit of a disagreement with her as she said we owed her $75 dollars for the damage to the bike when we crashed it when we left her (crash is a little over exaggeration!) James said we would not pay it and would like to see the evidence of this new damage for himself before he agreed to anything. The woman said the bike had been rented out again, she then spoke to her boss on the phone and said James was right and they couldn't charge us. The woman had changed her copy of the contract by saying there was only a crack on the right of the bike, on ours it had all over - we won!

written by

James & Tracey on June 29, 2007 from Avarua, Cook Islands

from the travel blog: James & Tracey World Tour

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Shame you've had a few problems, Rarotonga RULES!

We stayed at Varas in a little house up the hill... might be the same one :)

Make sure you visit the brewery (it was shut when we were there) we hired windsurfs from just down the beach as well and went out across the lagoon!

written by Jon on July 5, 2007

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