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.

Limu Pools - Bike Ride

Listened to a thunderous roar of the waves into caves last night....but managed to sleep on and off all the same with a nice cool breeze thank goodness.

Decided to go and have a look close by at the caves and pools for snorkeling.

OMG! Not happy after riding around. My bum is sore and between potholes everywhere in the roads and humidity will have to hire a car on Monday. The 300m from the main road to our accommodation was too much uphill. Cannot afford to have a coronary on this island.

Off on the bike road....maybe 10am is a little too late and too warm!

Namukulu Jetty - Fishing canoes

Linu Pools - Namukulu

Limu Pools

Mermaid drying out....Limu Pools-Namukulu

Limu Pools

Thinking how we got down this ladder may not comply with OHS rules in Oz and unsteady footing underneath. Close enough appears good enough here and maybe the fine print that states good medical insurance is required if you intend to visit cuts out all future legal pursuits.

I am not showing you the color of my face when I got back but.......straight into the pool to cool down!

Thankfully a nice cool breeze and a cool drink and I am back to maybe "normal".



Geoff lent a helping hand to Brian and Teressa to put a roof back on the pool filtration motor shed...as the wind was not being kind. While sipping a drink I thought the least I could do was take a photo. It is good watching a team work in unison.

One of the three "friendly......or ......too friendly" dogs around....I am not trying to encourage them at all. Not even a sad face will entice me to share my food.

Relaxing the rest of the day and giving the pool a good workout. Not full of well toned bodies so gotta be happy about that! In fact we have it to ourselves.

Maybe in holiday mode I think.........now that the bike ride is over.

 Just another perfect sunset !

Night skies

Destination Niue

Rain in Melbourne.....

Darren Coughlan stopped us at Tullarmarine...haven't seen him for about 10 years, ex Quambatookian, always see someone you know! He was off to Fiji.

Rain and more rain in Auckland.......

After being frisked as per usual at every airport we finally arrived in Niue. A quaint little airport without the sniffer dogs and all the trimmings.....but loads of burley blokes to put the wind up you if you were doing the wrong thing!

PS: Niue pronounced New-ay.....not New - ee as I have been saying!  Ooops

Picked up by our hosts...Teressa and Brian and head to Namukulu Cottages.

Niue - Rock of Polynesia

First stop......Bonds Store for essential liquid replenishments as Geoff would not allow Duty Free Shopping at the airport äs we would be late!!!"That was not the case but purchased nothing regardless. Guess who will take their time on the trip back?

Bond Store - Duty Free Alchohol

Unfortunately no wine...run out and none ordered on the ship to arrive Monday. Supplies are once a month! Bummer.

Supermarket was next door and we gathered supplies as we are 10kms from Alofi, the main town. Long life milk......ah gotta love it! No wine....they have not had sugar for weeks, that won't bother me but luckily I raided the Motel at Auckland of sugar and coffee. All meat is frozen and vegies are limited.

Namukulu Cottages

Wow is it humid or what? You forget working in air conditioned offices all day what it can be like outside. Hair is now curly for the rest of my stay..no makeup...just shorts and t-shirts, and those beers had better not take long to cool down in the freezer or I will die of dehydration.

Have to remember we are now back to it being Friday after leaving Auckland on Saturday.....if I miss church on Sunday I have a darn good excuse.

I have been for a walk to look at the view. Not bad but it is a good bike ride to the caves and swim holes...that will be tomorrow to have a look around.

Must have been a big day......... and it is only 4pm. One thing about it Geoff doesn't muck around getting into relax mode. I am off to explore again, I can relax tomorrow or the next day! Apparently the sunsets are superb from the lookout here on the hill.

Geoff enjoying the start of his "hoizontal holiday" without a book in his hands.



Tonight I am making homemade hamburgers and cutting up cabbage and carrots to make a coleslaw. That was as good as I could do with what was available at the supermarket. I can get some taro as well.....I am unsure that you can ever make that into something tasty, but I may have to experiment.

Beer is still warm...............may have to venture in for a swim.

Good night !

Last Minute Checks.....Weather looks good on the 25th, arrival date....but then probably very humid.

Next 15 days	Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 20 - 21 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 22 Hi: 28 °C Lo: 27 °C 23 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 24 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 28 °C 25 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 28 °C 26 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 27 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 28 °C 28 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 29 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 30 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 28 °C 31 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 28 °C 1 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 2 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 3 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 4 Hi: 29 °C Lo: 27 °C 5 N/A 6 N/A 7 N/A 8 N/A 9

This will be a big change......only 1 - 2 degrees difference from day to night.

My bags are packed and ready to go...... I feel a song coming on....

Will add info as it happens, nightlife and things to do are limited. Sounds great to me.

Doesn't it look fantastic? Not whale season so just looking forward to seeing the sea snakes and relaxing. Well maybe not relaxing when I see them but they are not known to have killed anyone....................................that has lived to tell the tale.