Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

“They all knew.”

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

So many bastards, so little time.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Is trump is trying to break black America over his knee? signs point to ‘yes’.

The way to stop violence is to stop manufacturing the hatred that fuels it.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Keep the Immigrants and deport the fascists!

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / Cook Islands / On The Road – way2blue – Aitutaki, Cook Islands [3 of 3]

On The Road – way2blue – Aitutaki, Cook Islands [3 of 3]

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way2blue

Aitutaki has a string of small islands, motu, along the outer rim of the lagoon.  We were able to visit a handful on a day trip.  Plus we hopped in the water at a couple snorkel stops.  The water was a bit cloudy at the first stop.  The second stop was glorious.  Several thriving coral heads to paddle around.  One of the other passengers had a frame she snapped her iPhone into that allowed her to take photos underwater.  Very cool, albeit, for me trying to take photos of darting fish would be too distracting.

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Motu Tavake

More linear hard grounds.  What can I say…

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Motu Tavake

Our skipper, Cap’t Cook, explaining the plan to plant coconut palm sprouts on a new island to help stabilize it.

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New Motu

En route to the new island.

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New Motu

Our sprout in the foreground.

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New Motu

Amongst a field of sprouts.

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New Motu

Shallow channel in the island.  (N.B., I have endless photos of sand, water & sky with islands in the distance.)

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Maina Island

While we were planting our sprouts, our skipper, who I took to calling Cap’t Awesome Cook rather than simply Cap’t Cook, prepared our lunch.  During lunch he told us the story behind the name ‘One Foot Island’ as he stamped my passport »

A father & son fleeing from warriors wanting to kill them came ashore at One Foot Island (Tapuaetai Island).  The father had his son walk in his footprints so it would look like only one person came ashore.  Then his son hid in a tree.  The father was killed but not the son.  And so it goes…

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Leaving Maina Island

On to our second snorkeling stop where a giant fish showed up.  I kept my distance, but apparently he’s well known and shows up a lot at this stop.  George thankfully moved slowly.  I also spotted a cannon resting on the sea floor.  From a colonial era ship.

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Port of Arutanga

Passing by the port on the way back to our landing spot (i.e., jump in the water & wade ashore).  As I mentioned in a comment in my earlier Rarotonga OTR series, ‘Kia Orana’ is the traditional greeting in the Cook Islands.  Meaning, ‘May you live long’.  Kia Orana.

Reader Interactions

7Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    Given how big and deep the Pacific is, I find the shallow waters of Pacific islands fascinating.

  3. 3.

    way2blue

    @Mike in Pasadena: Apparently the palms will start producing coconuts after 8 years.  The joke in Rarotonga was that couples who planted one on their honeymoon would come back after they divorced to pull  it out…

  5. 5.

    cope

    Very cool, thanks.  When you were wading, did you have to be mindful of critters like stingrays that nestle in the sand?  My wife once got stung by one on Cayo Costa on the Florida Gulf Coast and was unable to stand and walk for almost an hour.

    Anyway, thanks again for the pics and stories.

  6. 6.

    way2blue

    @cope: Didn’t think about stingrays here.  But was recently at a beach near La Paz, BCS where signs warn to be wary.  And I saw several shallow pits that I *think* were stingray wallows…

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