If you ask yourself if we didn´t get tired of all these Cook islands with their boring white beaches and coconut trees, I´ll have to disappoint you. Atiu has some features that distinguishes it clearly from the other islands we´ve been on. There is no lagoon or wide reefs, but rather a platform of petrified Corals, which have been raised in a tectonic movement millions of years ago. These Corals form a rather edgy ground, which is penetraded by a whole system of caves with some unique species, and which is the fertile soil for all kinds of fruits, above all the Coffee, which Atiu is famous for. On a flat hill in the middle lies a small village with more churches than food shops, and more dogs than people.
At the time were on Atiu, there were said to be two other tourists on the island, which we never met. :) But allegedly BBC was shooting its Survivor- (or Shipwreck-, whatever) show at one of the 28 beaches of Atiu during our stay, so there probably have been some millionaires trying to survive on the island without their blackberries and limousines - but they were isolated by guards and we never got to see them.
Stevie basking in the cool water of the Anataketake caves, where the fascinating Kopeka bird is nesting, who navigates both by eye-vision if there is light and by clicking noises in the dark.
The Southern Coast of Atiu. One beach next to each other, seamed by a wide reef.
The Sinkhole near the Coral Garden. Can get pretty rough when the waves are high. I could barely hold on the the edges when I tried to snorkel into it.
Atiu´s lush interior. Fruits like Mango on end!
To put it in a coconut shell: Atiu was a complete waste of time! 5 days of lazing around on the porch (at a pace of 1 book/day), strolling down the dirt roads when we felt like it and listening to the sporadic broadcasts of the Cook Island radio stations´ pacific sounds - How I love wasting my time!!!
Our little mansion, which we had alone for ourselves almost the whole time.
Things got even more wasted when we were visiting the local Tumunu´s, the bush beer drinking sessions and Atiuan equivalent of an Irish Pub. During these gatherings you sit in a circle around some sort of barkeeper who constantly keeps giving out the sweet (and strong) bush beer made of malt, sugar and seasonal fruits, in small coconut cups out of a big canister. At Tumunus there is a lot of singing and sometimes food involved, but also a strict set of rules when someone is allowed to raise his or her voice.
I hope Stevie will provide you with some photos of the Tumunus (and the Sunday Mass) soon.
Get wasted at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephan_mittas/sets/72157615495105730/
No comments:
Post a Comment