We had success today! We awoke at 6:30 am to calmer seas and that looked promising to get tenders ashore in Aitutaki, Cook Islands. So J and I hustled to eat breakfast and pack bags to go ashore for a day on a small boat where we would go snorkelling!
We were in the Billboard Onboard lounge at 7:45 am, and were given tickets to the first tender going ashore at 8 am. We booked an independent excursion with Teking Lagoon Cruises. Once the tender pulled ashore in Aitutaki, we walked straight over to a van parked 100 metres away which had Teking Tours written on the side. This excursion was 150 New Zealand dollars or about $118 Canadian. We had paid for our tour in advance but many others paid cash in New Zealand dollars. They accepted American money at par (banks post the exchange rate at $0.58 for US dollars - but that is not available on the island!) So best if you have New Zealand dollars here in hand. Teking (the owner) said that they have to fly to New Zealand to exchange money so that is why they charge it at par.
We had 20 guests in our boat. There were two other boats with 6 guests in one and 8 in another. Princess was our guide (and Teking’s wife) and the boat was driven by an experienced local pilot. Our first snorkel spot allowed us to see giant trevally! The giant trevalli were mesmerizing. You could look them in the eye and they were huge (maybe 3 - 4 feet long and 16 inches tall).
We clambered aboard and jetted to our next site a few minutes away to spot really big clams - maybe 2 feet across the mouth.
After this we went to Honeymoon Beach where we walked into the water and along a long spit of white sand beach spotting coral and shells all along the way. We ran into a few other ship people here who were touring with another company called Captain Fantastic. This was their fifth island to visit - but had not yet snorkelled. The forecast was for rain and maybe a thundershower in the afternoon so their Captain was trying to help them get idyllic island shots while the weather was good.
And we have less than stellar pictures from this day as we were focussed on snorkelling!!
After this beach we visited another beach where lunch was prepared exclusively for Teking Tour guests. It included: barbecued chicken, banana, egglant and pumpkin, along with salads (green, papaya with coconut, potato, cole slaw) and watermelon. Cold water was offered onsite to drink. A person could buy Heiniken beer for $7 NZ or sprite or coke for $4 NZ. One couple bought a beer and soft drink, but most just had water.
After our very tasty lunch, we went to One Foot Island - which many people like to visit to get a stamp in their passport. We don’t have passports - so the appeal was really to see this beautiful beach and snorkel one more time! We walked down the beach and drift snorkelled back to the boat. We saw giant clams and the drift part was fun! J was hearty enough to swim against the current where he had to swim nonstop to hold his place! Kind of like swimming in a rapids!
The wind had picked up and we thought there was a possibility that the Captain may have pulled the tenders out of the water but the direction of the wind, meant the water was calmer when we returned to Aitutaki to catch a tender back to the ship.
As today is Halloween, there were a number of pumpkins decorated and on display in the Lido. There was a bucket of mini chocolate bars when we entered the dining room. J and I each took one - I hoped to take one as we left the dining room but the bucket was gone! After dinner J stayed in our room as his knee was giving him grief after jumping out of the boat into shallow water today (he had been told it would be 1 - 2 metres!). I went to the Billboard Onboard lounge for the double pianos (two people singing and playing together) and to the Rolling Stone lounge where there were lots of people were in costume. This was a happening ship tonight! It was nice to see it so lively!
Halloween Party at Rolling Stone lounge!
We felt particularly fortunate to set foot on land in Aitutaki today as the seas have been stormy and many of these tender ports seem at risk. Hallelujah!!
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