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Parental Leave Trip

February - May 2024
An open-ended adventure by Matthew & Laura Read more
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  • Parental Leave Trip
    1
    Day 23

    Off to the Cook Islands 😎

    March 1 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Had a lovely couple of days in Tahiti. Strange being back in a hotel with lots of other tourists after being in our own place though.
    Rosie has loved swimming in the sandy pool and we did an awesome drive up into the mountains today, although it was very steep, windy and pot holey! We had lunch at O Belvedere which had amazing views out over the coast of Tahiti. And the views into the tropical forest on the way up were beautiful. Especially the huge trees with bright orange flowers, the massive vines, bananas and other tropical plants.
    Beautiful sunset this evening with clouds lit up over Mo'orea.
    Poppy has been very active today, trying to get us to do raspberries back at her when she's doing them and showing us how she can hold her toes. She also moved my hand to bring my book closer to her this afternoon - clever sausage.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    11
    Day 24

    Welcome to Muri Beach

    March 2 in Cook Islands ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Arrived at Muri Beach around lunchtime. Rosie and Poppy did great on the flight, although Rosie was getting a little bored by the end. Was only a couple of hours!
    Walked down the beach to explore a bit. Lots of sea slugs washed up on the strand line which seems odd. Cool to have some Motus (outer islands) opposite our beach. Looking forward to exploring those on the hotel's kayaks. Looks like there should be some good snorkeling too and maybe even some wind for Matt to go kitesurfing at last!
    The room at our hotel overlooks the pool which is going to be great for the girls. We had a swim in the pool in the pouring rain. Poppy was very happy in the pool even in the rain. She seems to love swimming.
    And Rosie did some great jumping in with Matt. She's getting more and more confident in the water all the time.
    Takeaway dinner on the beach tonight with a beer. A nice way to chill out at the end of the day. Both the girls were asleep or falling asleep at dinner!
    Much cooler weather here than French Polynesia. A lovely cool breeze too.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    21
    Day 25

    Happy Sleepy Day

    March 3 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Went for a quick run on the beach this morning as it's actually cool enough here thanks partly to the breeze. Saw lots of baby reef fish in the shallows. Nice to do a bit of exercise!
    Matt went for a kite but it wasn't quite windy enough. He managed to launch and land in the lagoon (which is how the kiters get out here) so hopefully when there's more wind he'll have a good session.
    The girls have been great for most of the day. Very happy to hang out by the hammocks and go swimming. Poppy tried a bit more papaya today which went down well!
    Had a delicious lunch at LBV bakery which is just over the road. And dinner at the night market outside our hotel - so many tasty dishes to choose from with lots of different vendors. There was a real buzz with lots of people there and local music playing over the speakers.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    1
    Day 26

    Paddling about

    March 4 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Rosie and I kayaked over to the middle Motu (island) that's opposite our beach. It w as a little windy but very sheltered at the other island. Rosie did great on the kayak and she really enjoyed building a sandcastle at the Motu beach and decorating it with some coral.
    Poppy was quite hungry whilst we were out so had some banana and absolutely loved it! I think she's going to enjoy her food.
    Matt managed to get out on his kite in the morning and afternoon, just quick sessions but he was happy to be doing some kiting again ☺️
    Before dinner Matt took Rosie out on the paddle board quickly and a turtle popped it's head up right next to them! Rosie was so happy.
    Delicious dinner at the Raratonga Sailing Club. Poppy was exhausted from her afternoon dip in the sea so slept through nearly the whole dinner and woke up just in time to charm some New Zealanders before we left. She gives the best smiles.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    1
    Day 27

    Turtles and Coconuts

    March 5 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Matt watched the sunrise with Poppy whilst Rosie and I were asleep. Quick 4k run for me before it got too hot! A 'wandering' (not stray) dog accompanied me for part of it.
    Matt had quite a good kite session as it was pretty windy this morning.
    Did some admin to sort some boat trips over the next couple of days.
    One of the groundsmen really kindly showed us how to open a coconut and gave us the juice and flesh - it was very yummy! Along with some bananas from the garden.
    Rosie and Matt went for a kayak and Rosie came back and excitedly announced "We saw that many turtles (holding out 4 fingers)". Sounds like they were really close to the kayak!
    It was the Night food market outside our hotel again tonight and had a delicious dinner - tuna for Matt and Mango chicken skewers for Rosie and I.
    Walked back along the beach and had a game of throw the baby coconuts into the hole with a nice couple from Fleetwood.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    111
    Day 28

    Fishing Rarotonga!

    March 6 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    We went fishing on a charter boat today out of Rarotonga! Rosie and Poppy coped with the rough conditions really well, although Poppy was sporadically sick which must of been sea sickness, didn't stop her smiling though! Laura caught the biggest fish and we had over 30 in 4 hours. We're now on Tuna dinners for the next few nights..Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    2
    Day 29

    Lagoon Cruise

    March 7 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    We all went on the Koka Lagoon Cruise this morning. The guys from Koka are musicians and sing and play music and spend most of the time making jokes and making sure everyone is having a good time. They took the group out to the reserve where the giant clams are. I saw one when snorkeling that must have been about 1m long! There were also loads of Blue Trevally and butterfly fish as well as a big snapper. It was a glass bottom boat Rosie got to see them too ☺️
    Then we headed to the Motu for lunch, yummy salads and BBQ fish, chicken and sausages.
    After lunch they played songs from different places and asked people where they were from. When Matt said UK they called him up to the 'stage' and said this man is from the UK and in the UK they dance like this... Was very funny to watch, luckily Matt is up for a laugh.
    After the cruise Matt went snorkeling and although the visibility was bad he saw a turtle just sat on the sand. We spotted one from the beach too so I went out and found it and swam above it (in the very shallow lagoon) watching it feed and come up for air. It was so close I could hear it breathe when it came up!
    Rosie made friends with our new neighbours on the beach - a 4yr old called Amelia. And she has a 6 month old brother so Poppy has a friend too. Shame we're only here for 1 more full day.    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    1
    Day 30

    Bus to the Gardens

    March 8 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Caught the 'Clockwise Bus' to Maire Nui Gardens. Not a very big place but some beautiful flowers there! Matt found the resident goat and Rosie wanted to say hello but was also a bit scared. We walked over and it started weeing at us and then drank it's wee! Rosie thought it was hilarious!
    We went to the garden cafe for a smoothie/iced coffee and the yummiest cheesecake ever. It came with tropical fruits and the dragon fruit was absolutely delicious!
    A nice man gave us a lift back from the gardens to our place, and wouldn't take the money we offered. People are really friendly and kind here.
    In the afternoon Rosie, Matt and Poppy had a swim in the pool and sea whilst I kayaked around Koromiri Motu (island). Didn't see a huge amount other than sea slugs, Picasso triggerfish, butterfly fish and lots of green weed, but it was interesting to see some of the shipwreck. And nice to do a bit of exercise!
    Matt had a kite in the afternoon too. Wasn't quite windy enough but I'm glad he got in as it's our last day here today - off to the airport in the morning to go to Aitutaki. It looks beautiful there.
    Got dinner from the takeaway nearby tonight and Rosie really enjoyed played with Amelia who's in the suite next to ours. She's 4 and they played really nicely together. I don't think either of them wanted to stop and go to bed!    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    Day 31

    Aitutaki

    March 9 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Arrived in Aitutaki. Beautiful views of the island and Motus as we came in. Such a tiny airport. Our hire car company told us to pick the car up from the airport car park and that the keys would be in the ignition and our name on the dashboard!
    They're so trusting here, but I guess where would someone go if they stole it only 800 people live here! We were greeted at the airport by our host with flower necklaces which Rosie loved. They sorted a different hire car for us so we'd have AC which was really kind of them.
    Took a drive around the island and went the off road route by accident! Very remote and could easily get stuck if there had been heavy rain.
    Checked out some local 'supermarkets'. As we'd been told there's basically no fresh food, even fruit and veg. So we decided to eat out for dinner.
    When we got into our villa Rosie was so excited and ran from room to room. She ran into our room and came and got me to show me "look there's your bed and that's Poppy's bed!"
    We had dinner at a place called the Boatshed and they've got swings, a slide, trampoline and tree house so Rosie was very happy.
    Watched the sunset at ours after :)    Read more

  • Parental Leave Trip
    13211
    Day 32

    Day 2 in Aitutaki

    March 10 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Woke up early to walk up the hill to a viewing point not far from ours - although nothing is far! A very steep climb with some nice views at the top, apart from the Vodafone building...
    Went to a beach near the airport for snorkeling. Rosie and I made a picture from coral. She said she wanted to make a picture of Poppy - her whole body. And then later suggested Poppy should be sat on a swing with us pushing her - definitely outside of my creative talents!
    Poppy happily laid on the mat chattering to us whilst we hunted for coral.
    Rosie and I then went for a swim and she shouted "tidal wave!", made a big splash with her arms in the water and thought it was hilarious! Matt has taught her this game. She was laughing so much in the sea with me today :)
    Lunch at a Koru cafe at the tip of the island. Delicious fish sliders and iced coffee. A lovely local lady and her partner (?) chatted to us and said how brave we are for traveling with two kids. She had a cuddle with Poppy - although Poppy got a bit teary. She's got a bit of a cold I think and had a runny eye today. The lady gave me her flower crown and Rosie was so pleased and wore it this afternoon.
    Quick play in the park but it got very hot and sunny. Collected 1 green and 1 brown coconut and got some bananas and other bits from the shop.
    Dinner at the Boatshed again as they are open and start dinner early enough!
    Off on a charter boat tomorrow to explore the islands and do some snorkeling.    Read more

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