The Bounty Bay and its awaiting passengers – getting our sea-legs.
And not much else to do except watch the open sea – The Lookout crew
or sleep… anywhere!!
And two and a half days later, we were there…
Meeting up with one of the locals – Yvonne!! (Remembering that this was 2004!)– we were all a lot younger then!
Taking an overnight trip to one of islets (with Liam, Brent, Jane, Daniel, Rochelle, and Eddie)
We even got to stop off on a sandbank in the middle of the lagoon for a dip
Making the most of getting away from it all!!
– Pirates of Bird Islet
On North Islet, being on tea-duty meant you had to go and collect water from the tank and then start a fire.
And that night they went to view the shark that Brent and Eddie had just caught
Sunset from Bird Islet
The next day we were back on Palmerston and checking out the ancestors – Maternal Grandmother
Here-Jane Brell-Marsters from Manihiki,
Great-grandmother (my namesake)
Marama of Rakahanga and wife of William II. We also gotto see the site of the grave of my great great grandmother – Sarah Akakaingaro (wife of William Marsters I) but it was just a slab and has ony recently has a plaque attached to it.
We did get to see one the inside of one of the oldest buildings on the island that has been constructed with the remains of ship wrecked boats on the islands reef.
It is called the Tin House but there it is made mainly of wood (with an iron roof)It sits beside a concrete water tank that was built by my great-great grandfather Louis Brell (father of my maternal grandmother, Here Jane Brell). He built the same tanks on most of the island in the Cook Islands. I had to do the day job as well – literacy and numeracy testing – it was no hardship as there were only 8 students, but Yvonne has a brilliant room environment so that the students loved working there.
On the morning we were to leave there was a bright red sky – I couldnt help thinking “red sky in the morning, sailors warning…” and it is true!!!
Before we left, Daniel and Liam decided to plant their own coconut tree to commemorate their visit.
Saying goodbye to our dear Aunty Inano was very sad. Aunty Teavake didnt want to leave but she had injured herself and needed medical attention.
Packing up to go home
And it seemed as if as we were preparing to leave, another boat which happened to be passing by, was going to ask if they could visit the island.
One set of visitors leave and others arrive
Packing supplies for the return trip back to Rarotonga
The next taxi load is approaching eager hands to load it onto the boat. Our make-do fridge
Our last view of the village before we left.
It may not have looked too bad but it was the stormiest trip back to Rarotonga for two and a half days. Brent and I were the only passengers who felt well enough to eat the beautiful meals that Houp made for us all the way home… Mind you that was 20 years ago and I havent been back, so the memory of that voyage back to Rarotonga, and playing Florence Nightingale, probably had something to do with it.
I think Liam was just glad to be back on terra firma!!
Mind you, we flew to Fiji that night to watch the Junior All Blacks play Fiji.
Development Consultant living in the Cook Islands. Volunteer participant on various not-for-profits: Former Chair - At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN; President - Cook Islands Internet Action Group; co-Founder and Chair of the IGF Dynamic Coalition of SIDS in the Internet Economy; Interested in change management and digital transformation.
Photo Gallery – Palmerston
Last farewells before we board the Bounty Bay
And not much else to do except watch the open sea – The Lookout crew
or sleep… anywhere!!
And two and a half days later, we were there…
Meeting up with one of the locals – Yvonne!! (Remembering that this was 2004!) – we were all a lot younger then!
Taking an overnight trip to one of islets (with Liam, Brent, Jane, Daniel, Rochelle, and Eddie)
We even got to stop off on a sandbank in the middle of the lagoon for a dip
Making the most of getting away from it all!!
On North Islet, being on tea-duty meant you had to go and collect water from the tank and then start a fire.
The next day we were back on Palmerston and checking out the ancestors – Maternal Grandmother
Great-grandmother (my namesake)
We did get to see one the inside of one of the oldest buildings on the island that has been constructed with the remains of ship wrecked boats on the islands reef.
On the morning we were to leave there was a bright red sky – I couldnt help thinking “red sky in the morning, sailors warning…” and it is true!!!
Before we left, Daniel and Liam decided to plant their own coconut tree to commemorate their visit.
And it seemed as if as we were preparing to leave, another boat which happened to be passing by, was going to ask if they could visit the island.
Packing supplies for the return trip back to Rarotonga
Our last view of the village before we left.
It may not have looked too bad but it was the stormiest trip back to Rarotonga for two and a half days. Brent and I were the only passengers who felt well enough to eat the beautiful meals that Houp made for us all the way home… Mind you that was 20 years ago and I havent been back, so the memory of that voyage back to Rarotonga, and playing Florence Nightingale, probably had something to do with it.
I think Liam was just glad to be back on terra firma!!
Mind you, we flew to Fiji that night to watch the Junior All Blacks play Fiji.
Author – Maureen Hilyard
Maureen Hilyard
Development Consultant living in the Cook Islands. Volunteer participant on various not-for-profits: Former Chair - At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN; President - Cook Islands Internet Action Group; co-Founder and Chair of the IGF Dynamic Coalition of SIDS in the Internet Economy; Interested in change management and digital transformation.
View Full Profile →
Recent Posts
Archives
Stories of Palmerston and Walcote