Cooked in the Cook Islands: Laid Back in Aitutaki

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Laid Back in Aitutaki

It's the second day here on Aitataki and I still DON"T know what I'm doing when I try to drive the motor scooter but I manage to get from place to place (so far)- except when I sort of rolled backwards down the grass slope by my house and fell off – like Arte Johnson on the kids trike in Laugh-In - no damage to me or the motor scooter. No one, and I mean no one wears helmets here. I don't think they even have helmets. Kids go to school standing up in the back of a pick up truck.

At dinner last night the local people put on a song and dance show - just for the heck of it - and it was unbelievably good. Left my moped at the lady’s house that invited me to the wedding and walked there and back. As everyone left they past me honked and waved. Funny thing though, none of them offered me a ride. Maybe they only do that when it’s light out.

I went reef fishing with a local guy today and we caught a whole bunch of fish (which I left with him).

I will say that Aitataki must be what Hawaii was like in the 1930's, quiet and laid back where everyone waves at you and has a moment to chat. The Neighborhood kids come by to visit, and despite my first impressions about what I got myself into, I've come to love this island. If you really want to see the South Seas like they used to exist, this is as good as it gets.

I spent the afternoon looking for presents for everyone, and have given up. Everything is cheap, gaudy and expensive, so these expensive emails are your gifts.

I'll try and write one more time. I leave tomorrow night. The locals are pretty insistent about me staying and going to the wedding, but I'm getting nervous about make my connecting flights, but it wouldn't take much to keep me here longer.

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Why The Cook Islands? Why Me?

I never really intended to take this trip. I got cornered into it. Just like I managed to actually paint myself into a corner when I was about 13 (painting the patio at my folks home).

My daughter works for a Canadian Airline: Westjet – a great airline. One of the perks of having a child work for an airline is that the parents have travel privileges - not only on Westjet but on certain “sister” airlines. The downside is that you have to travel standby. Other people’s luggage has more priority than you do.

I happened to mention to my friends and co-workers about my good fortune. The conversations usually went:

“So I could travel almost anywhere for next to nothing.”

“So why don’t you?”

“I could if I wanted to.”

“So why don’t you?”

and so on. This worked until two years until my daughter mentioned she might not always be working for the airline, and if I was planning to ever use the privileges I’d better get on with it.

Suddenly, the corner I was painting myself into got smaller. Any excuse I found for not going was quickly dismissed.

“I’m needed at work.”

“We can work without you. It will be quicker and quieter without you around.”

“What if I get trapped and can’t get home?”

“We’ll take up a collection.”

Finally I gave in. I was thinking of going to Hawaii on Aloha airlines, and checking their Website I saw they also went to the Cook Islands. That sounded a lot more exotic than Hawaii. Besides, I’d always wanted to go the South Sea Islands.

However the thought of traveling alone, and knowing not a soul where I would be going was truly terrifying. I’m sure I’d be like Mr. Bean on Vacation: All by myself on the beach muttering incoherently to myself.

Then I had a great idea. I work in TV. I noticed on the Cook Island Web Site that there was a TV station on Rarotonga. I emailed the station saying that I work in TV and would love to see how they produce television in the Cook Islands. I was thrilled when I got an email a few hours later from George Pitt who not only owned the TV station in Rarotonga but the one radio and newspaper as well. He’d be thrilled to meet me. Not only that he had a new motel that he’d give me a special rate for.

I always wanted to go deep-sea fishing, so I tried to book a trip online. The fishing charter company I chose answered. The woman, Sharon, was from Squamish, B.C. just up the road as it were from where I live in Richmond, B.C.. Her husband and her didn’t own the boat anymore, but would arrange a charter for me and even have me over for dinner! At this point things were looking up.

It was going to be a great trip. So suddenly from not knowing a soul, I had two new friends, a fishing trip, a dinner invitation and a cheap place to stay. What could possibly go wrong?