Sun, Sea and Sand

 I have arrived in Rarotonga, and it is warm enough to make me very happy but not hot enough to be tropical.

The island is actually behind NZ on the date line, so whilst we left NZ on Sat 1 Aug, we arrived in Raro on Fri 31 July. This has caused my phone to start getting confused with when and where to allocate pictures I have taken, as it has already gone through 1 Aug and then suddenly, I am getting it to do it again. It got very confused lol 😀 Therefore, there are several posts going to happen all on the same day because technically, they kind of happened on the same day somewhere in the world!

After finding the accommodation, a quick walk to see the beach was definitely needed.

It was just as I remember it from 2 years ago and I am so glad I have come back. I can feel the stress leaving my body just in the first evening.

Winter Sun Trip

 At the start of the year, I got the idea to go and find some sunshine and warmth in the middle of winter. A weeklong trip was secured to Rarotonga, Cook Island.

Today I left NZ to go in search of the sunshine.

Despite the cold weather in NZ, the morning bloomed amazingly and was a spectacular scene at the airport whilst waiting for the flight

Just a quick 3.5-hour flight and then hopefully the sun will be shining, and I can relax for a week.

Winter Walking with Fog

 The Sunday walk today was to a small lake just north of the city. We have so much countryside, that agriculture lakes are all over the place and also, several trusts or donated pieces of land have been developed into reserves for the public.

This one, known locally as Lake D (yes there are ones close by called Lake B and Lake C) is about 3.1km round and has a great gravel path to follow. It is easy to wander round or run if you are inclined to do so!

Today, a typical winter morning, blue skies, cloud and fog. Cold enough that you still need a jacket and layers but beautiful enough to be breath takingly spectacular.

My friend was determined to get out her camping chair and use it, even if it was just for the last 5 minutes before we left! (it was new)

She looked like the queen sat there, viewing the lake and the world going by.

Walk finished, all accounted for and off to breakfast at a local cafe.

Autumn Mornings

 Today I missed the bus, so I chose to walk to work instead. I had time and I am really glad I did, otherwise, I would have not got to see the spectacular scenery of fog that was blanketing the city.

Where I live in New Zealand, we have a river, and obviously when the temperatures and cloud are all lined up, we get fog.

It doesn't last; it moves by early morning. These pictures were taken at 7.15am and even 90 mins later, it would have been mostly cleared.

I love autmn in my city, some amazing natural beauty to be seen, and it never gets old looking at it.

Sunrise Day 2 in Hospital

 Like yesterday morning, I had a perfect view of the sunrise, well when one is awake at 5am, what else is there to do?

We do get spectacular sunrises and fog in winter here in my part of New Zealand and this morning did not disappoint at all. The city was blanketed and amazing

The netting you can see through the windows is there to protect the building from birds. Many an incident with pigeons coming in through open windows and making a mess of the ledges outside the windows, so this netting hangs all the way to the first floor from the top of the building.