Thursday, February 08, 2007
Cycling, Fishing & Dancing (just call us champs)
On probably the hottest day of our holiday, temperatures about 30 degrees, we decided to cycle round the island. We visited the harbour, post office (which sold us stamps for our postcards which were Christmas stamps from the 1992), bank (where I got a $3 note) and the oldest church in the Cook Islands which has an anchor hanging from the ceiling. Further round we reached a wharf for our first view out at the main group of motus (sandy islands).
At the second wharf we reached there was a boy fishing accompanied by his sister or young friend. We watched as he threw hermit shells to the ground to break the shell, ripped the body off and used it as bait on his fishing rod which was a bamboo cane, piece of string and a hook. He was very successful catching fish very quickly. The little girl was minding his catch of about half a dozen fish all wriggling about on a piece of wood - he didn't kill them, just left them to die. Occassionally one would fall off and she would pick it up and put it back in its place.
We both had a go at fishing and were successful, Dave even managing to land a fish that wasn't on the hook. It is somewhat easier to fish when you can see them biting. The clear water was a real bonus. We continued our cycle ride and stopped at a bar in an area that suffered so much from mosquitos that it anti spray on the bar for customers to use. We cycled further round the island and climbed the hill to see the views which were spectacular.
In the evening we went to an island night on the north east of the island. We watched the sunset behing the hill of the island and an obnoxious man spoke to us saying Sunsets were too commercial as too many people saw it and we should get up for sunrise. Thankfully we weren't sat too near him at dinner. The compere asked for couples celebrating to go on the dance floor and Dave and I lead the way followed by 4 other couples who were dragged up and we all received a garland of flowers round our neck. This was followed by a buffet dinner and then the dancers started. The men can move their feet so quickly and the women can wiggle their hips at a great speed. However, the dancing seemed to be lots of made up dances to enter into competitions as opposed to Samoa where they had been genuine traditional dances. Towards the end of the performances the dancers got people on the dance floor and Dave danced with two young girls. I did the apple pear dance which is basically wiggling your hips left, right, left, right, left, left, left, right, left, right, left, right, right, right.
We sat down and after the performance had finished they dragged the ten of us with garlands back on the dance floor and we took part in a dancing competition. Dave moved his feet so fast and I wiggled my hips and we were selected as winners and have a prize to prove it.
As we waited for the second transport home so we could enjoy a complimentary drink. We were talking to an Aussie girl who had been working as a doctor and she was telling us that if you step on a stoney fish the side affects are that you think hot is cold and vice versa. The treatment is to stand in as near boiling water as possible as soon as you can. She said there had been lots of locals ready with boiling water when one was stepped on by Miss Australia, compere to UK Survivor which had just finished filming.
At the second wharf we reached there was a boy fishing accompanied by his sister or young friend. We watched as he threw hermit shells to the ground to break the shell, ripped the body off and used it as bait on his fishing rod which was a bamboo cane, piece of string and a hook. He was very successful catching fish very quickly. The little girl was minding his catch of about half a dozen fish all wriggling about on a piece of wood - he didn't kill them, just left them to die. Occassionally one would fall off and she would pick it up and put it back in its place.
We both had a go at fishing and were successful, Dave even managing to land a fish that wasn't on the hook. It is somewhat easier to fish when you can see them biting. The clear water was a real bonus. We continued our cycle ride and stopped at a bar in an area that suffered so much from mosquitos that it anti spray on the bar for customers to use. We cycled further round the island and climbed the hill to see the views which were spectacular.
In the evening we went to an island night on the north east of the island. We watched the sunset behing the hill of the island and an obnoxious man spoke to us saying Sunsets were too commercial as too many people saw it and we should get up for sunrise. Thankfully we weren't sat too near him at dinner. The compere asked for couples celebrating to go on the dance floor and Dave and I lead the way followed by 4 other couples who were dragged up and we all received a garland of flowers round our neck. This was followed by a buffet dinner and then the dancers started. The men can move their feet so quickly and the women can wiggle their hips at a great speed. However, the dancing seemed to be lots of made up dances to enter into competitions as opposed to Samoa where they had been genuine traditional dances. Towards the end of the performances the dancers got people on the dance floor and Dave danced with two young girls. I did the apple pear dance which is basically wiggling your hips left, right, left, right, left, left, left, right, left, right, left, right, right, right.
We sat down and after the performance had finished they dragged the ten of us with garlands back on the dance floor and we took part in a dancing competition. Dave moved his feet so fast and I wiggled my hips and we were selected as winners and have a prize to prove it.
As we waited for the second transport home so we could enjoy a complimentary drink. We were talking to an Aussie girl who had been working as a doctor and she was telling us that if you step on a stoney fish the side affects are that you think hot is cold and vice versa. The treatment is to stand in as near boiling water as possible as soon as you can. She said there had been lots of locals ready with boiling water when one was stepped on by Miss Australia, compere to UK Survivor which had just finished filming.
# posted by D&M Travels @ 1:11 AM 
