My Cessna Flight

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Tanja

Hello I’m in Rarotonga and I’m about to board this 4 seater plane called a Cessna, also nicknamed ‘Chestnut’.   With me are my Aunty Kylie and Uncle Chris.  My Grandpa Malcolm organised the whole trip, especially for me!

Uncle Chris and I in front of our plane we are about to board.

Uncle Chris and I in front of our plane we are about to board.

Aunty Kylie, Papa M. and Alex the pilot and I.

Aunty Kylie, Papa M. and Alex the pilot and I.

I asked if I could go in the cockpit and I could!

This is me learning how to speak into the microphone.

This is me learning how to speak into the microphone.

Alex and I getting ready for take off!

Alex and I getting ready for take off!

Time for take off!  We where speeding so fast that our front wheel was off the ground in no time and then we soared up in the air.   1 second later storm clouds where circling above us “What a bad day to lift off ” bellowed Alex the pilot through the head phone set that all of us were wearing.

Here we are high up already and flying over the south of Raro where there are four little 'motus' islands in the lagoon.

Here we are high up already and flying over the south of Raro where there are four little ‘motus’ islands in the lagoon.

At least ten minutes later we where circling over the ‘Captains Retreat’, which is the house where we were all staying at, and we saw little dots and water sparks coming out of our pool, so cute! The dots were Tessa, Nick, Amelia and Dom, my siblings and cousins.

The third house from the bottom of the photo, the one with the blue pool, is our holiday house. The dots in the water is my family! :-)

The third house from the bottom of the photo, the one with the blue pool, is our holiday house. The dots in the water is my family! 🙂

Then I took over the flying of the plane, it was so cooooool!!!!!

Look Alex is all hands off!!

Look Alex is all hands off!!

Sooooo exciting and fun!

Sooooo exciting and fun!

20 minutes later we where skimming the runway for our touch down but then the plane soared back up again because Alex pulled a bit too hard on the steering wheel.  We had to do it again and then we raced until the end of the run way.

Wow, the run way isn't all that long! I am glad we are in a small plane...

Wow, the run way isn’t all that long! I am glad we are in a small plane…

Phew, that was great fun.

Phew, that was great fun.

Well done pilot Ben!!!

That's Chris and I with the our trusty Cessna plane.

That’s Chris and I with the our trusty Cessna plane.

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Food Glorious Food

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Tanja

Here are some photos of various meals with the extended family.

A blur of activity.

A blur of activity.

You give the boy pasta and he is happy.

You give the boy pasta and he is happy.

The children had gone slightly potty with hunger.

The children had gone slightly potty with hunger.

...and another lunch with empty plates!

…and another lunch with empty plates at the end!

Oh Dad, this thing her in my hand is sooo much more interesting than eating dinner.

Oh Dad, this thing here in my hand is sooo much more interesting than eating dinner.

Deep, deep discussions were held until deep into the night...yeah right!

Deep, deep discussions were held until deep into the night…yeah right!

Desert, wine, fab company...the good life!

Desert, wine, fab company…the good life!

The boys solving the world's problems...

The boys solving the world’s problems…

We are coming to the end of Raro photos and blogs…Ben has one more update and a pretty special one it is, too…

Perhaps he will make time tomorrow!

Cheers
Tanja

 

 

 

 

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Around the House

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Tanja

Here are some images from around the house during our week here…

The view of the house when standing close to the beach.

The view of the house when standing close to the beach.

Ben and Tessa setting the table while Kylie is making fruit salad.

Ben and Tessa setting the table while Kylie is making fruit salad.

Chris taking Nick for a spin around the island.

Chris taking Nick for a spin around the island.

Malcolm cooking with Nick and Andrew lending him moral support.The house is called 'The Captain's Retreat'

Malcolm cooking with Nick and Andrew lending him moral support.
The house is called ‘The Captain’s Retreat’

Nick relaxing with a book he found at the house.

Nick relaxing with a book he found at the house.

Chris relaxing with a book that he had found at the house, too.

Chris relaxing with a book that he had found at the house, too.

 

Lawrence relaxing with a magazine he brought from home and a glass of red wine.

Lawrence relaxing with a magazine he brought from home and a glass of red wine.

Tessa having the world's most enormous ice cream...actually she got that from aunty Kylie after the horse riding.

Tessa having the world’s most enormous ice cream…actually she got that from aunty Kylie after the horse riding.

Everyone chilling...Dom and Nick are playing 'Uno'.

Everyone chilling…Dom and Nick are playing ‘Uno’.

Andrew, Kylie and Bonnie in the kitchen.

Andrew, Kylie and Bonnie in the kitchen.

Kylie doing some more food preparation...a mango salsa this time, delicious!

Kylie doing some more food preparation…a mango salsa this time, delicious!

Chris discussing coconut husks with Dom and Nick.

Chris discussing coconut husks with Dom and Nick.

Bonnie playing cards with Amelia, Nick and Dom.

Bonnie playing cards with Amelia, Nick and Dom.

Chris monkeying around with Amelia.

Chris monkeying around with Amelia.

Dom and Nick playing cards.

Dom and Nick playing cards.

Malcolm looking baffled at the clever move his daughter Kylie has just made in their competitive game. Tessa and Nick playing...you guessed it 'Uno'.

Malcolm looking baffled at the clever move his daughter Kylie has just made in their competitive game. Tessa and Nick playing…you guessed it ‘Uno’.

Nothing like family time….

Cheers for now

Tanja

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Bonnie and Family Arrive

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Tanja

Finally it was Saturday morning and Bonnie, Lawrence, Amelia and Domenic arrived.  Kylie, Chris and Malcolm went to the air port, but as the arrival was at 6:00am we opted to stay at home and prepare breakfast instead!

Bonnie and Papa M hugging with Kylie smootching Amelia and Dom. Lawrence looking on...

Bonnie and Papa M hugging with Kylie smootching Amelia and Dom. Lawrence looking on…

It was so lovely seeing them all again and we realised that Lawrence hadn’t seen the children for quite a few years as Bonnie has been coming over to NZ without him a few times as he had to work.
Bonnie brought Christmas presents for the children and a bread maker for Papa M…

Nick and Ben were well pleased with their Lego, one can't have enough Lego after all, and Tessa always enjoys a book, in particular with as much time as we had in Raro to read it!

Nick and Ben were well pleased with their Lego, one can’t have enough Lego after all, and Tessa always enjoys a book, in particular with as much time as we had in Raro to read it!

Amelia being at least as excited as Papa M. with the present being opened.

Amelia being at least as excited as Papa M. with the present being opened.

The house had this great covers porch, on which we seemed to spent most of our time. The eating table was out there, too.

The house had this great covered porch, on which we seemed to spent most of our time. The eating table was out there, too.

What a great present.  Bonnie and Malcolm went to try it out soon afterwards …

Bonnie and Malcolm you did well, the bread tastes very good.

Bonnie and Malcolm you did well, the bread tastes very good.

and so we had our first loaf of bread the very same day.  From then onwards the bread maker was kept busy, making two to three loafs a day.  As there were 12 of us, we ate rather a lot of food.  The bread maker even made cinnamon raisin bread which was very popular for morning or afternoon tea.

Bonnie, Chris and Lawrence having breakfast after their early start.

Bonnie, Chris and Lawrence having breakfast after their early start.

Amelia and Nick enjoying toast and cereal.

Amelia and Nick enjoying toast and cereal.

Amelia eating fresh coconut.

Amelia eating fresh coconut.

After breakfast we went to the Saturday markets.  The markets sell a bit of everything, local clothes, fruit and vegies, and most other things in between.  There is also a small stage on which a different dancers performs each weekend as a fund raiser for their group.  The day we were there a very good singer performed with some children and after the little once had finished a group of teenagers danced.  It started raining quite heavily at some point which didn’t deter anyone from enjoying the show.  Here are some images of our time at the market…

Nick and Ben with Chris, Kylie and Andrew.

Nick and Ben with Chris, Kylie and Andrew.

Ben had pizza bread and Nick had a potato 'tornado', which was baked, salted and then somehow cut into this odd shape.

Ben had pizza bread and Nick had a potato ‘tornado’, which was baked, salted and then somehow cut into this odd shape.

The young girls dancing.

The young girls dancing.

The singer and one of the lovely girls.

The singer and one of the lovely girls.

Lawrence, Dom, Nick and Andrew watching the show.

Lawrence, Dom, Nick and Andrew watching the show.

Tessa and Amelia waiting for the show to begin.

Tessa and Amelia waiting for the show to begin.

Amelia eventually succumbed to her tiredness, having got up in the middle in the night to catch the plane from Sydney.

Amelia eventually succumbed to her tiredness, having got up in the middle in the night to catch the plane from Sydney.

 

Tessa and I looking at some of the 'pareos'.

Tessa and I looking at some of the ‘pareos’.

The markets are colourful, full of beautiful sounds and good smells.

That’s it for today.

Tanja

 

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Ice-Skating in Munich

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Tanja
Esther looking great in green.

Esther looking great in green.

Hello Blog Readers,

Tessa here. We are now back home in NZ. It feels strange to be home and not needing to think about what we need to do.

Whilst we were in Munich the boys and I experienced ice-skating.
I had ice-skated two or three times before here in Auckland, so I already had an idea on what we needed to do. We went twice. The first time the Michalskis, the Frödes and the boys and I went. Mum and Barbara went shopping (boring).

Marek was the photographer, food supplier and general support person.

Marek was the photographer, food supplier and general support person.

Tessa and Jana. I love all the different German hats!

Tessa and Jana. I love all the different German hats!

Birgit and Armin, undeniably sister and brother.

Birgit and Armin, undeniably sister and brother.

Raphael taking a break.

Raphael taking a break.

I think Ben in particular enjoyed ice-skating.  Most of his falls were very obviously done on purpose and whenever we saw him falling we just had to laugh. He was most dramatic and hilarious. I think everyone agreed. He always fell backwards arms flailing, feet kicking and yelling woah woah woah. He only did this when somebody was trying to help him when he skated alone he worked extremely hard and you could see the concentration etched into his face.

This little figurines were available for beginners to push in front of them.

This little figurines were available for beginners to push in front of them.

Ben's position is typical for beginners, with bum sticking out in the back.

Ben’s position is typical for beginners, with bum sticking out in the back.

Jana helping Ben.

Jana helping Ben.

Nick on the other hand didn’t play the clown so much and by the end of the second session could skate very well. Doing three laps unassisted and without stopping. He liked watching the people that had obviously ice-skated before. Before he could properly ice-skate he was practising the more impressive moves and was actually not bad at some of them. I think Nick enjoyed ice-skating heaps as well.

Nick had three helpers with him...

Nick had three helpers with him…

I had the advantage of a bit of experience so I could skate by myself by the end of our first session for a few laps. By the middle of the second session I could turn corners with the correct move. Esther and Armin had tried teaching me backwards skating which was a disaster.

The boys and I all marvelled at the skill some of the people had there. It would be awesome to be able to go as fast as some of them as well. Esther, Armin and Raphi were also veerrrryyy good ice-skaters.

This is the second time ice skating, it was warmer then.

This is the second time ice skating, it was warmer then.

I think we were all happy with how we improved and Ben definitely wants to do some ice-skating at the rink here. Looking forward to catching up with everyone soon.

Bye
Tessa

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Horse Back Riding on the Beach

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Tanja

Hello Everyone,

Whilst we were in Rarotonga Kylie and I went horse-riding on the beach. Her horse’s name was Betty and mine Bernie. The ride started off along some of the inner roads of the island. After a while we exited the inner island roads and crossed the main road to the beach.

Riding towards the beach.

Riding towards the beach.

 

ooh, that looks cool and blue.

ooh, that looks cool and blue.

The beach, finally!

The beach, finally!

Ah, so nice and cold. I am sure the horse liked it, too!

Ah, so nice and cold. I am sure the horse liked it, too!

I had  never swam a horse or gone any faster then a walk riding on the beach. I was extremely excited and couldn’t wait to pick up the pace. The horses we were riding were typical trail horses who knew their route and where to change gait or go into the water.

Kylie and I hardly did any stearing and just sat along and went for the ride.  My horse did heaps of cantering along the beach. His canter was very choppy.  Sadly Kylie didn’t get very many canters because she figured out her horse was lame and she didn’t want to injure it any more.           

I really enjoyed the cantering! It also felt weird to ride in shorts, Birkenstocks and without a helmet. Trailing my feet in the water was extremely refreshing.

See Everyone soon

Tessa

 

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Te Vara Nui

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Tanja

Wow, wow and wow.  Te Vara Nui is so worth while a visit.  The whole complex has been designed and built in an area that a few years ago was a swamp.

I particularly liked the fact that a young Cook Islander (Moana, daughter of Vara, who the village is named after) and her husband built this business.  A lot of young islanders leave Rarotonga for New Zealand or Australia, but they had an idea and made it work.  The gardens are truly beautiful and Chris in particular appreciated them as he and his family own the ‘Wright’s Water Garden’ also planting water lilies and other tropical plants…

The amazing gardens in Te Vara Nui

The amazing gardens in Te Vara Nui.  Our dinner was in the building on the left and the show was on the stage in the middle of the lake on the right.

The Ewens clan at Te Vara Nui's garden.

The Ewens clan at Te Vara Nui’s garden.

Kylie and Chris looking lovely.

Kylie and Chris looking lovely.

Sugar couldn't melt in her mouth...yeah right!

Butter couldn’t melt in her mouth…yeah right!

At first we did the cultural village, which is set out as a variety of huts.  Each hut has a different topic, like the ‘fishing hut’, ‘the medicine hut’, the ‘history hut’ etc and the guys talking in each hut were knowledgable and fun to listen to.
We were welcomed into the village by the chief …

The chief first challenging us, then welcoming us.

The chief first challenging us, then welcoming us.

and we as a group had to ‘select a chief’ form amongst us, too, to respond to the challenge.  The same system operates among New Zealand Maori when entering a Marae for the first time.
We learned something new in all huts, at least that is true for me.

The boys listening attentively and me grinning stupidly in the back.

The boys listening attentively and me grinning stupidly in the back.

In the last hut, which we can’t remember the name of, we learned about the importance of the coconut tree to Pacific Islanders.  Everything of the tree is used, the young coconut (a ‘nu’) is very nutritious and if you were stranded on an island you could live of it…don’t know how long for…quite some time though by the sound of things!
We were shown how to husk a coconut in less than three minutes, that was very impressive and Ben got to try coconut milk of the ripe nut…

Ben volunteered to hold the coconut shell and to try the milk. He didn't really like it...:-)

Ben volunteered to hold the coconut shell and to try the milk. He didn’t really like it…:-)

At  the end of all that it was time for dinner.  We were seated and had a very nice buffet dinner, followed by the dance show.  The show was very good, sadly I have no good photos of any of the amazing dancers, as I wasn’t in charge of the camera that night.  Something was wrong with the setting and we didn’t realise until the next day…too bad…Here is what we did get…

The men during the fast drum dance.

The men during the fast drum dance.

The ladies during the drum dance.

The ladies during the drum dance.

This is the ladies dancing a slow song, a legend where they are telling a story, mainly with their arm movements.

This is the ladies dancing a slow song, a legend where they are telling a story, mainly with their arm movements.

We had a lovely night, although it was very late for the children and Tessa and Nick nearly went to sleep on the bench between dinner and the dance.  Ben, our little night owl, wasn’t fazed by the time!
Later in the night...

Later in the night…

aahh...

aahh…

The next day however Ben succumbed to tiredness on the bench back at the house.  He had a ‘tickle back’ for a few minutes and he fell asleep in no time…

Ben fell asleep while I tickled his back.

Ben fell asleep while I tickled his back.

It was a great experience and the drumming and dancing was amazing.
It was worth while feeling a bit tired the next day.
Tanja

 

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The Raro Map

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Tanja

Thank you so much Barrie for finding this great map of Rarotonga.  Malcolm manages the Central Motel which is in Avarua on the “top” of the island.  The house he rented for us was close by over to the right a bit before the ‘orange car’…

I am really grateful that you helped us with this blog, it has worked an absolute treat for us!!!
Cheers
Tanja
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Our Days in Raro

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Tanja

We took three nights of adjusting to the new time zone and now feel fit and awake again. On the first day Tessa and Nick succumbed to their exhaustion on the terrace while Ben was like a little Energiser battery and just kept swimming in the pool the entire afternoon…

This is Nick conked out...

This is Nick conked out…

and Tessa right next to Nick...

and Tessa right next to Nick…

while Ben kept going and going and going.

while Ben kept going and going and going.

Kylie and Chris arrived on New Year’s Day, just half an hour past midnight. They came and found us on the beach the next morning…

Yeah, Kylie and Chris are here!

Yeah, Kylie and Chris are here!

These pictures truly reflect all we have been doing so far…snorkelling at the beach and swimming in the pool.
After two public holidays the shops will be open again today, so we will have to stock up on some food but we will make sure to do more snorkelling and swimming, too!
Kylie took each of the children for a spin on the scooter that her and Chris are using. Malcolm organised it for them, while we have a spare car at our disposal, a cabriolet none the less…

Tessa had the first turn.

Tessa had the first turn.

Nick came second...

Nick came second…

and then it was Ben's turn.

and then it was Ben’s turn.

This afternoon we even have a proper event planned…we will be going to the cultural village Te Vara Nui and afterwards watch their ‘Island Night’ dance performance. I can’t wait to hear the beat of those Cook Island drums again, they magically match one’s own heart beat…or is it the other way round?

Will let you know how it was…

Tanja

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We Are Home!!

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Tanja

Three hours ago we arrived back in Auckland. This is just a very quick note to let you all know that we are back home, safe and sound.

We weren’t able to blog in Raro after that first entry, it was all a bit difficult with Telecom Rarotonga and my iPad beaming to iCloud and our 100mega bites being eaten up in less than a minute…long and technical story, so I will catch up on all our Raro entries and photos over the next couple of days…

For now I am looking forward to a quick shower and then the first sleep in my very own bed in nearly three months….I love my own bed, in particular after having been away.

The children were also pleased to be sleeping in their own bed. Tessa even commented, saying that: “Mum, I really live in luxury here.”…isn’t it great what a bit of ‘cramming it’ over a few weeks can achieve? Nothing like appreciating what you have!!!

Good night folks and I will be back on here tomorrow.

Much love

Tanja

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