COOK ISLANDS

We only had time to visit 1 of the Cook Islands - Aitutaki. We moored up in the small harbour by dropping bow anchor and stern line to shore. The pass through the reef was narrow and very shallow. We only touched bottom once. The local people are Mauri related and speak English with a New Zealand accent. It was great to see rugby pitches everywhere. They also drive on the right. The people were very friendly and the island has not been ruined by tourism. The church was established by Rev. John Williams of the London Missionary Society. It was the first church in the Cook Islands. Rev. Williams was later eaten on Vanuatu. When people die they are buried in the front garden and most houses have graves in their gardens. The local children danced for us the youngest being 20 months and yes she could wiggle her bottom with the best of them. In the lagoon they are farming giant clams and coral for conservation purposes. Red tailed tropic dirds nest on the islets and there were lots of chicks. We have now arrived in Tonga after a very stormy passage lasting 7 days.