Sunday - Niue Day of Rest!

http://www.niuetotal.com/
A guide to what you can see at Niue by holiday makers back in 2007.

Unless it is tourist time or their festival which is in late April when all the locals return, many do not open at regular hours, tours are not operating and I would say it is just lovely to have the place virtually to yourself and 1200 Niueans scattered amongst villages around the island.




 Early rise this morning.......thought I should see the sun poke over the trees from the other side of the island.

Sunday 6:23am Niuean time (3:23am Melbourne/Sydney time)

I am always awake at this time anyway at home, shame the sun hasn't risen then so I could get up and get ready for work.

 Avatele Beach

 Willy the owner of Wash Away Cafe (named because everyone thought he was mad building here and said it would be washed away) says many days the water is as smooth as glass and is great to snorkel straight off the edge of the reef. Today still had too much swell. We will go back again in the next few days to see if it is OK.

 Willy - He is trying to coax his two daughters back to the island from New Zealand without much luck.

 Nice for a holiday dad but what can you do there?

We gave him an idea to have "stubby holders" to keep your drinks cooler....appears no one has them and usually that is an easy sale anywhere in the heat. Might get one done for him and send it over.

Looking out from the cafe to the beach.

 This photo and next were taken when we went on a tour around the island with Cindy & Jeff.

 The Cafe works on an "honesty"system which is a rare thing. Write anything you have taken in the book and then pay as you leave at the end of your day at the beach.

Had the best Beef Burger and Chips....McDonalds could learn a thing or two from the young girl that also works at the Crazy Uga Cafe. It was yummo!

Brian and Teressa turned up for a game of scrabble and drinks...they go to different places each week on their day off to relax with friends. 

See I am in island mode.......unfortunately shows a little sunburn, will work on those strap marks.

Looking Around

Hardly anything open Saturday, a few basic places like the bakery, Information Centre etc....big crowd at Bingo at the Pacific Way Bar but we gave that a miss. I would hate to yell out BINGO and take their money away from them.

Meandered to Talo's to book in for Thursday nights buffet and they had a market on....well the two remaining women there told us we were late and was a really big market had we got there at 7am. Purchased some homemade cheese dip and some relish and got the low down on what to do and where we had been....apparently Restoration Reef is classed as "position, position position" ...and we are there. They told me to use a walking stick to get out to the point on the narrow boardwalk.....as if I carry one of those around with me on holidays.

 Still trying to find somewhere that they cook the Coconut Crab...as it is a delicacy it is probably eaten at home rather than sharing with the tourists.

 The freight ship left late last night and this yacht was in the harbour this morning.

 Clayton's Bar....the Bar you have when you do not need a drink. Don't think this has been open for some time.

 Holy Moley....what does Fakamolemole mean????

That is the humungus word for "please"....bet not too many people have manners when the word is this long!

 Still unsure why you paint barber red and white stripes on palm trees...

will try and find that one out while I am here.

 Fakatufono....this is the Government building, they employ about 450 people on the island....the biggest employer of course....and the best building to be found other than Government House.

 If you are not at Bingo....you would be playing golf on Saturdays because Sunday is church and a day of leisure. One hole runs alongside the prison, which is usually empty.

All yards are tidied on Saturdays...so many whipper snippers cleaning up along the roads, around the graves in the front yards and around all the empty houses.......that only accommodate washing strung from one side to the other.

International Airport - Niue

Awaiting a nice sunset tonight......in a prime position and has not been the perfect conditions as yet.

Some photos from Avaiki Caves from this morning before the downpour that made visibility almost impossible to get out of the water because you could not see where you were stepping underfoot. Came from nowhere!

Geoff heading to the reef edge.

Hard to take a photo when the water keeps coming into the cave. Only one snake seen today, although we were not in for too long due to the tide times being a little different to what was printed in the information guide.

 

Cave on the way to the swimming and snorkeling site.

Week 2 - Restoration Reef - Alofi

As we said good bye to Cindy and Jeff from NZ and Teressa and Brian at Namukulu Cottages we headed to Alofi to start the second week of our break. Destination Restoration Reef, a home rebuilt after the Cyclone Heta in 2004 I think it was. Many homes along the edge of the island were destroyed and not rebuilt and the concrete slabs remaining are a testament of just how many there were.

Had a lovely lunch at the Falala Fa Bar and everyone must think it strange that tourists are still here when they should all be at the airport on a Friday, appears not many stay for two weeks. One older man thanked me very much for coming to stay on the island.

 The view is beautiful....shame about it raining most of the day though!

 Breakfast area

This is the path to the lookout for sunset and sunrise photo opportunities....check closely. Geoff has done it but I can only get so far. The reason being with a vertigo issue and the lack of handrails, I just cannot get past a certain point. Am I being a chicken?? I will try again another day when it has not been raining. Since Niue has had two Medi Evacuations in the first week we have been here I don't think they would be wanting to make another trip for some silly old fool trying to alleviate her fear of heights.

This is the point I am trying to make it to.................reef is visible and a nice spot to sit and contemplate many things....if you can get there!

 I made it along this narrow bit....but there my journey ends for the time being.

 This is the point I cannot get to.....nothing to hang onto and a drop onto volcanic rock below...which would not only hurt like heck but I am unsure how someone could get to you in a hurry.

 Geoff coming back from reaching the summit.

 View back to the house....can I get back there?

A drink to calm my nerves.....afterwards.......alcohol free!

 Rain, rain..more rain.... a day of leisure now.

Only one recliner....I think a certain person may have claimed it.

Turn away now if you are not into plants.............

They are so healthy and love the humidity.

Island Feast

Left and Right are twins...they were very inquisitive about our floods in Victoria.

For a self governed country with no TV as such they are well informed on what is going on.I think they were responsible for Geoff eting a few things that he would not normally try. Well done girls. We will come back again next week.

The best Coconut Crab (Üga) soup ......yum!

Jenna's Restaurant Island Feast night was fantastic with a taste of what is eaten on Niue. For those who are Island Hoppers.....you will know Taro is eaten widely and grown easily. The taste however is far from our humble potato. I am unsure how you can make it tasty but I am going to the market next week and buying one and trying to improve on what is always served. I feel a cookery book coming on!