May 9th, 2006 Cook Islands
Got up early today to be on the main road for 8:30 am to get picked up by Raro Tours. This tour consisted of three Land Rover vehicles that took us all over the island and in the mountains. It was an awesome tour and very informative. We learned how the Cook Islands used to be THE orange producer for the pacific, but lost the market to competing countries and the same thing happened with pineapples. Right now the biggest crop is Paw Paw or Papaya and they are supposedly the best. New Zealand can’t get enough and they sell for like $5.50 NZD in Auckland at the grocers.
We also got to see the site of the $120 million scandal were the Sheraton hotel was supposed to be built. The politicians at the time were involved and they basically got in with an Italian company without checking them out well enough and the Italian company turned out to be a front for the Italian mafia and the island was taken advantage of. Finally, a Cook Islander developer living in New Zealand is very close to bringing the project into reality. It will be awesome it is goes ahead, they are actually going to divert the road and dig up the existing road and bring the lagoon right into each villa’s deck area.
There are no big hotels or resorts here (which is a good thing in my book). No building here is taller than a palm tree. What makes this place so unique is its lack of commerciality and friendliness of its people. Can you imagine a stranger in the USA stopping to pick you up? Better yet, would you be crazy enough to get in the car with a stranger in the USA or Toronto, Canada? It would be a good way to end up in the trunk of someone’s car. People here mean you no harm and trust is a given. People do not fear their neighbors here, xenophobia is not an issue.
Got to see where the prison is located as well. They only have 18 prisoners and 2 are maximum security for murder. The prison is cheapest place to buy a ukulele as the prisoners make them ($40 vs. $80 in the stores). Prisoners can also be rented out for the day to do any type of work you want them to. The state charges $28.50 and of that the prisoner get $5 deposited into their savings account. The maximum sentence here is 14 years and you only serve 1/3 if you are well behaved.
Like Newfoundland, out-migration is an issue. This island used to be 22,000 in population in the 90’s now it is only 12,000. Cook Islanders have New Zealand passports and thus are entitled to live and work in New Zealand and Australia. Many leave for school, many do not return to live. It is sad as this place is about as perfect as you can get.
Anyway the day ended with a barbecue on the beach of swordfish steaks, barbecued bananas, salad and fruit. It was very nice and tasty. The couple just married from Ireland that we met when we first got here was on this excursion with us. They are off to Aitutaki today for 4 days. We are doing a day trip there on Monday. It is only a 30-minute flight. It should be great.
5:00pm
Went to the store just now on our mountain bikes. One 6 pack of beer, one papaya, three bananas, one bag of chips and a piece of banana bread $25 NZD. Got caught in yet another downpour on the way back but seems to have stopped now. Also dropped a CD full of Newfoundland music to Dougie’s. Not sure if he will like it or not but he collects music and books from all the backpackers that go in and out of his place.
6:30
Going to the Flame Tree restaurant tonight for supper at 8:00pm. Should be good.
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