Aitutaki - Day 3, Wednesday

I really should keep a travel journal as I'm traveling, but it has gone the way of the dodo. Like most print media. Anyway.

Besides, I'm really too busy for great big exposition. If you want words, read my novel. And really, you just want to see the pictures.

Wednesday morning: the birds were singing, the roosters were crowing, and...it was SUNNY! Bright and sunny and marvelous. THANK GOD. The perfect day for a lagoon cruise!

The island of Aitutaki is surrounded by a reef. Within that reef are several small islands, which they called motus. The snorkling and beaches are lovely within this area, and the waters are bathtub warm and calm.

But first, a good breakfast (Etu Moana gives you breakfast, simple stuff, coffee, tea, toast, tropical fruits, cereal). I fell in love with the papaya there. So, so good. It was sort of a cross in texture between a really ripe mango and the kind of papaya you can get at New Seasons (miradol, I think it's called?). Papaya in the Cooks is called "Paw Paw." Most of their paw paw comes from Rarotonga; the cyclone in Feb wiped out most of Aitutaki's fruit. I freakin' love paw paw.

Though I don't seem to here. Justin is bemused, as usual.

Breakfast is served by the pool:

There are also these kind of awesome and somewhat loud birds that come visit you and if you leave your table unattended to get some more, say, paw paw, they will treat your food like an interloper at a Vegas buffet and dive in accordingly. I can't remember the name of these birds, but should you run across one in the proverbial dark alley, they look like this:

Off to the lagoon cruise!

There are numerous lagoon cruises you can take in Aitutaki. We chose Aitutaki Adventures, as the boats were a little smaller, and they spend more time on land and less time snorkeling. This came to be a good idea, because of something I forgot: I am completely claustrophobic. I mean, I knew I was, but I'd thought it was more "in crowds, I freak out."

No. I actually freak out even more when I have a snorkel mask squeezing the crap out of my face. Snorkel FAIL.

It was bad. I hyperventilated. My pulse pounded. I started crying. I was like, that person.

God.

The story does get better though. Just wait. But in the meantime, that meant I was stuck to swimming. Which, really, in water like this isn't really that much of a punishment.

Plus: GIANT CLAMS!

Insert your own joke here.

The next stop was a place called "Honeymoon Island," where we were dropped off a ways away and told to walk to the other side, where the boat would meet us.

The palm trees, were, literally, swaying in the breeze.

And a landscape that looked like this:

Justin is not that enthused about having to walk (yellow boat in background):

The cool thing was that we got to see coconut palm trees actually, you know, growing out of a coconut. Nature at work, man!

This is how clear the water was (excuse weirdo leg shot)

It really does look like a postcard:

Or a screensaver?

Demonstrating the "gee, honey, you smell terrific pose":

I kind of love this photo of Justin, very end-of-the-world-yet-we're-in-paradise:

It will probably be another to add to the fridge.

I kind of like (!) these two self-portrait photos of us; we look very Hollywood On Vacation:

Oh, hell, here's another gratuitous shot in hopes of making it onto the family fridge:

Then it was time for lunch. Justin and I were both pretty ready to eat:

I have a photo not unlike this one taken in Brazil (10 years ago!). Honey, you still look the same. No, wait: better.

Anyway.

The food was fantastic! It was a feast! Mounds of tuna, rice, meat, salads, taro, potatoes, watermelon, and a new dish I simply must replicate: curried pawpaw. Holy crap, that was amazing. I went back for thirds. What?

Then more snorkeling. I tried, I really did. But it was not to be. I got to go swimming and feed the fish, though. Justin saw a Moray eel!

Back to Etu Moana to shower, change for dinner, watch the amazing sunset:

With a glass of wine from a bottle we picked up in town (really good wines, makes me want to try more New Zealand wines!):

That shine on my legs? Bug repellant.

We went to Tupuna's for dinner. Delicious. Best meal the whole trip. On the way back, we got a ride from a wonderful woman and her sister who taught us a new song. Sung to the tune of "When the moon hits your eye..." you know, that song from Moonstruck?

When an eel/

Bites your hand/

And you bleed in the sand/

That's a Moray...

Justin and I were laughing about this the whole rest of the trip.

It's still funny.