Swimming with the fish

Monday 6^th March

Kia Orana from our tropical paradise island.

Our last full day on holiday with just a marathon of flights to tackle; we are feeling a bit sad that it is all coming to an end.  There is a mix of, “where has all the time gone?” and “we have been away for a long time” – quite a paradox.

Yesterday was a real highlight; the Koka Lagoon Cruise.  We embarked on our glass bottomed boat with six young Cook Islanders in charge who were fantastic throughout the four hours of the trip.  They started as the band - drums and ukuleles - with local songs that had a real beat.  We motored slowly over the lagoon with super views of the main island which rises out of the sea with steep, jungle shrouded hills up to a cloud covered top. 

Our first stop was the marine reserve where we watched the lads feed the fish - giant Bluefin Trevelly and smaller yellow butterfly fish were the ones that caught the eye but there were thousands of different varieties of all shapes, sizes and gaudy colours.  There were also giant clams - mega mother of pearl shells if they were opened. Then it was our turn!  We donned masks and snorkels and in we jumped!  The water is like a warm bath but teeming with wildlife!  It was crystal clear and soon we were swimming to a couple of points where the conservationists were trying to re-introduce the coral and clams.  The hour or so we spent snorkelling was memorable as we drifted around the coral with fish just a few centimetres away.  I was hooked (sorry about that) and although I am not a strong swimmer, I loved the whole activity.  Meanwhile 'the lads' were trying to find Roger the Conger Eel but he was not coming out to play that particular morning - not sure that I wanted him to as he is 3m long!

Back on the boat and to some very rhythmic drumming, playing and singing we made our way to an island ('Mutu') in the lagoon - the one opposite our hotel.  Here we were treated to a delicious BBQ which included grilled tuna, which was the best I've ever tasted, and salads.  There was lots of entertainment in our jungle clearing; as well as singing and playing we had a coconut demonstration where we were shown nuts of different stages of ripeness (for drinking through to coconut flakes) and how to de-husk and open.  There was much audience participation including OF1 who was handed a large knife to open the coconut.  This was pretty entertaining as she nearly took the hand off the lad who was holding it at the time!  We also had a coconut climbing demonstration which was very impressive - climbing with just a rope around the ankles and jumping frog-like up the tree.  Some of the tourists had a go but then a member of the crew leapt like a salmon up to the top of a 50' tree and cut some coconuts.  The pareu (sarong) tying demo using the visitors as models was a hoot (the men's 'g-string' pareu was eye watering), as was the hermit crab race.

Ali of this was interspersed with more music and lots of local information.  The six crew members did not stop - boatmen, musicians, cooks, entertainers and happy, smiley people to boot.  

In the late afternoon we slobbed back at the ranch - swimming, reading, painting etc. before launching out into the humid evening to the Muri Night Market.  This is actually a street food market which seemed popular with locals and visitors alike.  I opted for a coconut lamb curry and OF1 for a chicken and spinach one - yummy.  A little belatedly (for Shrove Tuesday) we had a pancake for pud, this was a lemon and sugar crepe.

Today we are having an easy day as the heat seems to have been turned up a notch. We have ventured out for coffee at the trip-advisor rated, deli-licious cafe - it was.  It is on the roadside (as everything is really) and there was lots of people watching whilst sipping our flat whites.  Throughout NZ the system is: order your coffee and be given a number then wait until it is served.  So much better than hanging around Starbucks or Costa for a long time whilst the barista makes the coffee.  Most are straight numbers, others hand with numbers but at the Deli-licious we were given a large plastic animal - we had an elephant.  It was lovely sitting under a tree (this one is very common - very fine leaved and covered with lovely red flowers), with birds, chickens and the ubiquitous dog and watch the world go by.  There is an expression here, "island time" which contributes to the laid back atmosphere; there is no fast food as it all comes when it is ready.

We are now preparing for an island time afternoon.....