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... 17:55 Muri Beach, Rarotonga. I have been on the move now since 09:00 EST. Though the miles travelled, the time zones crossed and the jetlag accrued, nothing compares, nothing at all to the distance in emotion, and personal endeavour...<br /><br />

"Kia Orana" - Leg Two

Asha Patel
2006-02-27 19:53:26

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... 17:55 Muri Beach, Rarotonga. I have been on the move now since 09:00 EST. Though the miles travelled, the time zones crossed and the jetlag accrued, nothing compares, nothing at all to the distance in emotion, and personal endeavour...

...The South Pacific Ocean. A seemingly endless stretch of turquoise blue - the sight and symbol of tranquility itself. And somewhere, just east of the international date line, rising up magestically through the clear waters is a volcanic island. Dense, deep...LUSH. Fringed and softened by a ribbon of white sands stands Rarotonga. The whitish colour sandwiched between the vibrant green of the island and turquoise blue of the sea is enough to indulge any artist. Still, if that were not enough, there is a passionate alluring, a teasing, of every other human sensory perception - hot air, sweet smell and the sound of silence. Wildlife, flora and fauna prettier and more colourful than any I have ever seen. And fruit - on every tree there is to be found papaya, banana, mango, lychee, coconut... one would never go hungry here. And, in all it's natural abundance, Rarotonga provides further still. Her greatest and by far her finest resource are her people. In their eyes I see a kindness and in their Being, a stillness that is unmistakable...

...And that, is where I begin my story. For having wanted initially to boast about the material adventures of the day, it all pales into insignificance when I consider the encounters that I have experienced...

...Aware (just about) that it was a Saturday and I had to move quickly to get myself prepared for the weekend, I stood out in the searing heat in search of cash access and other supplies. As I waited for the local bus, I met a gorgeous young Maori couple from New Zealand. Our discussion ended with a discovery that her best friend and I are of the same ancestoral origins! It was quickly becoming apparent that this tour would be ...