Vaka 117 October 2010

Date: 25 October 2010

Message: “Together everyone achieves more” (James Puati)

Journal Entry: 22 – 23 – 24 October

Name of Writer: Mike Slade

Arrival Friday from Auckland. Clockwise bus to Muri Beach Sail Club with Cookie, Anne, Kate, Janet. Lovely fish dinner with awesome moon rise over lagoon islands. Night-long concert from resident Kii Kii roosters.

Saturday meeting 14 VAKA 117’s for orientation, then off with James to Punanga Nui Markets for local crafts, food, jewelry, handmade fabrics. I bought some amazing huge bananas which several of us enjoyed. We bought some local cloth, shells and lunch of barbequed lamb and curried chicken which we brought home on the clockwise bus. I admired the shell craft and was invited to tour a crafts factory. People were very friendly.

Back at Kii Kii, Nancy and Joe said the snorkeling was good at Fruits of Rarotonga, so we got our gear and took the bus, had a good time. I saw probably over 100 species of fish, including grouper, moray eel, giant clams, moorish idols and fabulous fish. We were concerned not to miss the bus at 4:18, as it was the last until 6:00 pm and we had a meeting at 5:30. Of course we forgot that the bus did not go past Cook’s Corner. I asked the driver what we could do so we could be on time for the meeting. He said, “We’ll work something out.” And after the bus emptied out, he drove us to Kii Kii, then turned around and went back to town. We will never forget that unexpected act of kindness. The work assignments meeting was followed by a very nice dinner of mahi mahi and broadbill fish by Rosie.

Sunday, a good breakfast and orientation with all 16 team members present. Then many of us went to local church services to experience the music and joy of the members who all thanked us for coming and even made some refreshments for the visitors and explained a bit about the church. It was great to see women dressed in beautiful dresses with fabulous handcrafted hats. Very special, then another snorkel stop, lunch overlooking the lagoon and kite sailors. Then back for second orientation, dinner, work assignments and introduction to Maori language.