electricspells

peregrination :: island holiday on Cook Islands – February 2015

Sunday, 1 February

I rented a bike and road into ‘town’ (Avarua). Being Sunday, it was closed.

I got some cash from the ATM and checked out the closed shops planning future visits.

View inland from resort driveway
View inland from resort driveway
View over Avarua from crest of hill above Avarua
View over Avarua from crest of hill above Avarua
The beach in front of Avarua
The beach in front of Avarua
The town centre, closed for Sunday
Avarua town centre, closed for Sunday
The town centre, closed for Sunday
Avarua town centre, closed for Sunday

When I got back to the resort, I set off for a walk South along the beach then back to the resort on the road.

Archetypical view of the beach at Manuia
Archetypical view of the beach at Manuia Beach Resort
Classic tropical island view
Classic tropical island view where I left the beach to walk inland to the road
The palms on the beach are coconut palms
The palms on the beach are coconut palms

On the road back, I discovered the traditional internment practices.

Graves in an open-air mausoleum
Graves in an open-air mausoleum
These are family graves on private property
Older graves without cover
Older graves without cover
Graves in an open-air mausoleum
Graves in an open-air mausoleum
This fancier larger mausoleum suggests a wealthier family
New church with no graveyard
New church with no graveyard

I returned to lounging and reading until ‘Happy Hour’.

Lounge chairs on the beach at the resort
Lounge chairs on the beach at the resort

At drinks I met a Canadian couple (Lauren and wife) and an English volunteer vet, Neely, with whom I had dinner at On The Beach.

The resort faces due West. Sunsets are everything.

These photos are a selection of those taken on the day.

Manuia Beach Resort from the shoreline
Manuia Beach Resort from the shoreline
Manually created panorama