We arrived outside Avarua Harbour in Rarotonga, Cooks Island, early in the morning in a rought sea and brisk winds. Tendering into the smaller harbour of Avatiu was bouncy, but possible for the able bodied.
It drizzled tepid rain most of the day. Although the islands are prepared for visitors (80% of their economy consists of tourism) Holland America had neither any organised tours, nor had the local agent advised the population of the arrival of hordes of tourists eager to spend money on local souvenirs, liquor, transport and beach fun.
Not a problem, the commuter buses run round the island every half hour, clockwise or counterclockwise, and the whole trip takes 50 minutes. I went both ways, just to make sure I saw different 'perspectives'.
Shops opened at regular hours, mopeds and bikes rental places lined up their vehicles on the sidewalks, bars and restaurants invited to a cool drink under umbrellas and porches, and little tourist vans appeared magically at the dock taking visitors to dive sites, beaches or just for a drive.
Some of the highlights of the round the island trips: some VERY beautiful resorts grace the island. There is an international airport (Los Angeles to Rarotonga direct as an excample). Residents bury their relatives inside their property perimeter (some using their carport to house tombs instead of cars). A coral reef surround the entire island and teems with colourful fish.
Through the mist, craggy verdant mountain ridges and towering peaks soar into the sky. A hospital is located on top of one of them (original reason for the lofty position was to quarantine infectious diseases). There is a prison (Yes, even the gentle Cook Islanders have their share of petty criminals). There are dive sites, hiking trails, even trail riding.
Banks are at every corner (the ATMs work), a few colourful service stations dispense gas at $2 a litre, schools and libraries galore, and churches everywhere. The little harbour has a dock large enough for a small container freighter, as well as a couple of sailboats ( one from California USA, and one from Regensburg in Germany). One drives on the left British style, and there is not a single traffic light around. There seems to be strong environmental awareness. Recycling bins separating different materials are located all over the island. However, the humble trash bin still plays a role, of only to feed the hundreds of chickens running about, tiny chicks in tow. Dogs and cats decorate backyards, docksides and roundabouts - there is one of those one the island.
I spent the whole rainy day either sitting behind rain-blurred windows in the local bus, (which was quite fun), walking through the length of the little town, and testing a locally brewed Cook's Lager. The latter only set me back $4 New Zealand Dollars, which was far less than any similar brew in the Hawaiian Islands. How about that for economic statistics and comparative shopping?
