Rarotonga

Rarotonga felt like a dream even if the weather was a bit cloudy while we were there. The experiences were unforgettable, getting to know a culture up close and personal through IES Abroad’s help was magnificent. When we arrived the airport was so tiny, you would get off the plane straight outside. Although since it is so small it was easy to have everything checked and everyone out to meet quickly. The first day we went to the market and I got the cutest dolphin necklace and a beaded bracelet. There were plentiful food stands to get breakfast, I had pork and explored all the little shops. As time went on there were people that were performing dances. I was mesmerized by the footwork and outfits. Their outfit colors and flow were so elegant when they moved. Then after came a jet lagged nap before we went over to the Marae. We learned about their native farming techniques and how those changed when colonists came. The food we made there from scratch was divine. We husked the coconuts ourselves and watched as they cooked the meat underground in a traditional way. While waiting for the food to be ready we learned about the movement to get rid of the taramea, an invasive sea star that is destroying the reefs in Rarotonga. We played games with the kids and played some instruments such as the ukulele and guitar. 

The next day we had our cross island hike which you definitely need bug spray for. As you cross the island there are chickens that are roaming around in the forest. I did end up catching one, since I have experience raising chickens as a child. My friend did have a rough time being gluten free and not getting enough food prior. I recommend bringing some snacks if you are gluten intolerant on this trip. At the top was needle point, this was a culturally significant spot where people would come to pray. That night we went to the night market and had delicious food once more. 

The free day was one of my favorites, a group of six of us biked 18 miles around the whole island. It was rather windy so I was grateful for the challenge to bike against the wind. We made stops to swim and build creations in the sand. We also hit the jackpot and saw a humpback whale from the shore. Our lunch was at Saigon shack, my favorite meal place of the whole trip which also has good vegan options. That night we went to Coastal Kitchens where we learned and helped make some food. We learned how to do some traditional dancing that I felt in my quads due to that bike ride earlier. My favorite foods were the coconut cream bread and these sweet pastries. I also tried to make a flower crown and unfortunately failed. The people that chose to weave hats did much better. 

My lax day was at the Bergman art gallery which was cute and small. We walked over for lunch and ice cream. Then had a break back at our accommodations. I took a nap out in the sun on the chairs. Dinner that night was one of my favorites. We danced and caught little white crabs that came out of the sand at night. The stars were the real highlight though because never in my life had I seen the stars that clearly.

Our final day, the sun was shining hard and we snorkeled with the fish. The pufferfish was a personal favorite of mine. We watched people haul themselves up coconut trees and husked more coconuts. We had live music on the boat and shook our hips to the beat. The final dinner had darts and raced on the beach which I only won at one of these events haha.