New Years Day BBQ

 New year's day was such a lovely sunny day that we decided to try out our new bbq. All those year's like 20 year's or so of driving taxis and shuttles I used to dream of being the one was going out in the evening to a bbq at the beach instead of being the driver who took them. So we made it happen. We asked our neighbour  along too and we had a lovely evening it was still nice and warm with no breeze a perfect evening. We enjoyed our wine and nibbles an watched others catch small fish on the beach while our food cooked to perfection.

 We should do this more often now that I can.







We bought this cute wee BBQ for ourselves for Christmas, it is a kind of special one with many different top grilling plates and there is even a wok, it doubles as a cover for the whole thing. One reason for buying it is the constant talk of everyone having an alternative method of cooking in case of earthquake or other emergency where there may be no electric power for days.

This family was doing really well catching small fish, probably for the cat, it kept them happy. There were lots of other swimming in the sheltered water too.

Our neighbour Marcia lends a hand on the BBQ too, we cooked sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes, everything was just perfect as the weather was. The two bottles of wine were pretty good too.
A great start to the new year.

Punga Cove Resort and helicopter

While at Punga Cove Resort in the Marlborough Sounds, I threw myself into a hammock and as I lay sprawled in unlady-like grace in zoomed a helicopter with guest coming for lunch at the restaurant! At only $1500 a flight I do hope the lunch was spectacular.





It came in so low it was almost hidden behind the sun umbrella before is gently touched down on the heli pad.















Whilst I was still laying in the hammock I looked up into the huge Punga tree fern high above me and decided to photograph it too. These tree ferns are what the resort is named after, there are many of them on the hillside around the Cove.












We did have a lovely time while staying here, sadly I came down with a nasty heavy cold so didn't feel up to going out fishing or playing in the spa pools as we had intended. Being together is the important thing when celebrating your Anniversary, we drank several toasts to just that and also to My Dear Mother who we felt was with us in spirit some times. She was approving.

Anniversary Treat

Its our Wedding Anniversary we think its our 20th so we decided we should really celebrate. We honeymooned down the Marlborough Sounds so thought we should go back down the Sounds again. Decided to go to Punga Cove Resort, not where we honeymooned, its nice to try somewhere different.
We caught the Water Taxi and roared down the Sounds along  some other people who were going to walk the Marlborough Walk. A great scenic but quite energetic walk, we have walked parts of it but are unlikely to ever walk the whole way as it is just too far for unfit us.
There is road access to Punga Cove but the road is long and narrow and winding, some of it is gravel too. We have driven there twice and that is enough, much nicer and quicker in the water taxi.









We were met at the wharf and our luggage carted away up the hill to the Lodge where we shall be the only people in a huge 5 bedroom house. Plenty of room to move and we have the best room in the house, just look at the veiw from the window; our very own Punga (tree fern) just outside our room.

We quickly settled in and went back down the hill to lunch at the Boatshed Cafe on the wharf. Really delicious pininis  filled with smoked chicken and cranberry sauce, yummy served with lots of chips, enjoyed out in the sunshine enjoying the view.

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We lunched here each day. In the evening we dined in the big restaurant 

high up on the side of the hill, the view from up there is lovely  a water taxi is at the wharf dropping people off in this photo.

Marina to Marina run and walk day

A big event for the young people of Picton is this Marina to Marina run, from Waikawa Marina to Picton Marina not a very long distance, maybe about 8km just right for kids and not fit adults ofcause there are some fit athletes in the running to and they win it but the others have fun.

There are lots of stalls set up at the finish line even for once there are actually interesting food stalls.


We didn't realize there would be food or that the food would be so nice looking. I enjoyed some yummy smoked salmon and some some uncooked fruit balls and chocolate balls too. But there was quite a lot of middle eastern food and salads plus baked potatoes and hot roast pork sandwiches and icecream and fruit etc.
Plenty of people around to watch and cheer on the participants.

A rather late arriver at the finish line one of the adult walkers makes it to the finish with lots of clapping..

 The event was run by the Girl Guides I think, and we were shown the wonderful brand new clinker boats specially designed for children to use on the harbour.We can expect to see them out practicing any time from now on, will look great when they can have races and fun.

Our yellow Bubble car

While is Rarotonga we hired a small yellow bubble car a Toyota IQ.

 Just a wee 2 door car that got us around the island just fine. But bellied on many rough spots and almost vanished into major pot holes on some small roads, specially when we drove up to Wigmores Waterfall. Last time we were in Raro we came up here to enjov the cool on hot days, but now the road has deteriorated greatly and it was not easy to drive without going into the pot holes.
 There were quite a few others up here and one of them took our photo.
We stopped off at the old Sheraton buildings and were able to wander around and even go inside the old half finished buildings. I was impressed by the fact that most had an in-ground built in spa pool.  Also by how very extensive the building are. Apparently someone went bankrupt and the building had to be stopped, never to be re-continued. Now goats wander at will around the place to keep the grass down, and it seems that go-carts have a track around the grounds.

Maybe someone will restore the place sometime. Looks better than it is.

A small tsunami.

We slept in a while, after all we were on holiday,  We awoke to the loud roaring of a heavy sea running and smashing into the outer reef. When we went down to the beach to check out the noisy ocean, we were told oh you have missed all the excitement!

Apparently 8 people took out the big white out-rigger canoe, right out to the outer reef when the surf was pounding loudly. They got too close and the big waves turned them over and threw them all out into the sea. They all rushed to grab the out-rigger and clung to it. But the out-rigger was not meant to be clung to but 8 people and immediately snapped off. So the men of the resort all grabbed kayaks and paddled furiously  out and  rescued  them all and towed the pieces of the big out-rigger back into to the beach. Just as well we were not there as I have lifesaving medals and may well have considered going out rescuing too.
We were told there had been an earthquake near Tonga, not to far away from Rarotonga, and it had stirred up the ocean and the tides were likely to be much higher than usual with a possible small tsunami. It was true the tide was much higher than usual but not dangerous.
We spent the day reading our books and lounging around relaxing.  The sea remained very high, like high tide all day long crashing and banging and pounding onto the reef and the beach, no swimming for anyone today, far too dangerous.
We went out to dinner at the Muri Beach Market enjoyed another lovely meal and returned to the resort and so to bed without giving the high seas another thought, never thinking about the next high tide during the night.

We found out in the morning that the tide had risen much higher and in fact had rushed into and through all the beach front units to a height of 3 feet soaking all the guests luggage and gear. Staff had to evacuate everyone in middle of the night.
When we got up we found a large pond filling all the  garden area in found of our unit. We were three rows from the sea front, the sea had raced up the pathways between the blocks of units and come to a halt right outside our door. The Sea came to us, so we also had a sea frontage. lol.
The salt water soon soaked into the ground leaving behind masses of seaweed and small pieces of coral and rubbish. killing all the grass and some of the plants, but not the banana palms we had been enjoying.
The groundsmen worked hard sweeping up all the sand, coral and seaweed very quickly, and digging out the flooded units.
I did not take a photo, as I have this thing about not photographing other peoples misery if possible
All the people who had paid for the expensive waterfront units had to be resettled into the upstairs units in our block, the real cheap seats!  I felt sorry for them.and they did not get to go back to the unit they paid for because they were full of sand and soaking wet.
The big wave not only caused damage at our resort it also went right up and over the ring road round the Island in many places and probably went through plenty of houses.

Big Market day Raro

The big Market day with all the people from the outer Islands selling their wares as well as all the normal stalls with lots of interesting bargains for those that want them. With all the travel we do buying knick knacks  and curios to take home just doesn't happen much now days. But I did decide to buy a black pearl necklace for myself, not I might add an expensive one, not his was just small pearls with mixed colours which turned out to be river black pearls not sea ones. But its ok as far as I am concerned if I like it and want it doesn't matter what it costs; but I prefer a bargain. This bargain cost only $10.  I wore it all the rest of the holiday. This stall with all its interesting sea shell tempted me, it was the one i bought the necklace from. I also bought a nice bright sarong as we always do, not to wear but to take home for a tablecloth. We find the bright cheerful colours remind us of the  great times we enjoy while overseas. And they as so cheap we can get a nice new one every year.

Because it was a special market day there was a band entertaining everyone, not to my taste but I seemed to be in the minority so I imagine they were quire good.

We wandered around for ages buying up things like kebabs, churros and  choc cake to nibble as we went, before settling down to  tasty lunch eaten outdoors at the picnic tables we shared with several others, all washed down with a special island fruit smoothie which was delicious.

There was a big yacht moored just outside the reef one of those millionaires floating palaces, with small boats coming and going from it I guess they were also enjoying the market day. 
Later we visited the Deep Sea Fishing Club for a glass of wine as we wended our way home around the 'other' side of the island

this is the fish cooking caravan outside the Fishing Club building, its nice sitting out there watching the sunsetting.