Aitutaki
26 October 2009
We arrived in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands last Thursday. Friday we rented scooters and have been bombing around the island ever since!!
The island is stunnningly beautiful. The gardens all look as if they have been professionally landscaped and the smell of gardinia is EVERYWHERE!! I have started walking in the morning not one person goes by on their scooter(which his the form of transport here) without smiling and saying hello.
The island is surrounded by reef which is teeming with fish, the water is crystal clear, the beaches have great shelling, so life is good.
The islanders are very religious people. I have seen churches I have never heard of and there are lots of them. I'm not sure how many attend each one considering there are only two thousand people on the island..maybe they rotate.
The other day we stopped in a grocery store to check out prices(which are MUCH HIGER THAN FRENCH POLYNESIA!!!!). First we check the beer price, then milk and then chicken..ANYWAY, the owners were sitting relaxing on a bench. I went over to ask the shop hours for Saturday and Sunday. They told me that they do not open until 6pm on Saturday. I asked why so late. They replied that they are Seventh Day Adventists and have church from 9-6 pm. Then in typical me fashion, I replied, " MY God, that's like a job!!". As soon as I said it I wanted to take it back but it was out there. The man replied "No, it is actually very relaxing". I stumbled and said "OH, of course, I just meant that I admire your dedication etc. and excused myself...when will I ever learn??
So, today is a National Holiday..Gospel Day. We are goingt o the GOspel festival on the other side of the island. Lots of singing, dancing bbq etc. It is suppose to be quite something.
Tomorrow we will leave for Palmerston.
I am at an internet cafe so have to run.