Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Niue - Update

Fakalofa....(I don't say hello or good-bye in their lingo as it is pronounced like a commonly used word in in Oz and NZ)

Its now Tuesday apparently, have no idea what time it is but it does not matter. Some shops are open, some shut, some alternate between one village and another to maximise business......nothing happens in a hurry. Walked around the Shopping Centre in Alofi Monday, everyone loves to chat and it takes half an hour wherever you go. They all know about the floods across the country in Australia and surprised that we have been so close to them in Victoria.

Hired a car (little red Hyundai two door - the one with the least scratches and bits missing in the lot for eqiv $250 AUD for the week) and our neighbours Cindy and Jeff Nother are now out and about with us.
We also take in turns of cooking something out of nothing as foods are hit and miss in the supermarket. They are having a carpark sale today of all their "Out of Code" foods...........I think we have been eating them since we got here.

 This little bird loves company - joins us all at the pool each day.

 A visit here to get our licences...Hire a car, drive around and then get a licence!

 
 Typical housing around the island!

 Cindy & Jeff Nother  - Auckland
This was our trip to the bottom of the Island to the Fish Shop/Ice Cream Shop/Videos etc....
Wahoo and Yellow Fin Tuna purchased for a few fish dishes!

 Fishing canoes hidden everywhere.
 Near Mutalau village...Canoe Landing place
 Canoes lifted up into caves full of stalagmites and stalagtites
 Coconut Stop - Honesty box operates on many things around the island- if things operate at all.
Bought a couple to drink and shred....but need to get some tools to open them!

 Typical 6am morning.....heavy rain and that is all until night time.
Up at 6am to get to the Tuesday morning market.
Was trying to purchase bananas so pounced on this tasty hand for $15 ($11AUD) and there is about 80 bananas on it.
"Ä banana a day keeps the Doctor away"!!!!
Also some Niuean donuts that lacked a little sugar but they have not had any for a month and waiting for the boat to arrive and dried banana chips.

Snorkeling day today when low tide happens around 10am at Limu pools, Cindy and Jeff have been and encountered quite a few sea snakes but as Geoff did not remember to pack the underwater camera I gave him you will just have to believe me that we went looking for them along with the myriad of other colorful reef fish.
Banquet Night at Jenná's Restaurant tonight BUT if they do not get enough numbers it will be canceled. Have been trying to drum up some business for them as I would like to eat out once at least. High tourist season is when the whales are here with their calves so noone bothers too much until then.
Our next option after that is when we change accommodation into Alofi the second week and go to Washaway Cafe which is the only place open on a Sunday for food and drinks overlooking the rocky ocean.
Very few tourists here at the moment, about 20 max that come and go in week blocks, There is accommodation for about 100 at a time.
Most of these photos were taken on the move while traveling around the entire island.....the driver did not want to stop each time I wanted to snap......we will go around again and I will drive next time, it is about 60kms but some terribly rough road for about 15kms of it. I must say the air conditioner in the car is a blessing in the afternoon.

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