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!



My holiday is not complete without some flower power!

For all those people who love the smell, shape, and color of beautiful tropical flowers.

These were just a few at Namukulu Cottages where we stayed the first week.

Avaiki Caves - Wednesday

Visited Avaiaki Caves for some snorkeling and found the most pristine ecosystem yet of beautiful blue clear water in and around different caves. Plenty of small fish swimming around and also sea snakes, that I still cannot get used to seeing and I quickly get out to wade through the rock pools and explore the inhabitants until they disappear.

Very healthy coral, although this had been broken off.

 Looks like a sea urchin

 Unbelievable blue which the photo does not really give the true color. As you need to go at relatively low tide to get into the cave area we will go back again as we ran out of time after an hour as the swell increases on the outside rocky area. So clear you can see the sea snakes coming towards you, and can quickly reverse and swim away.

 Enjoying the myriad of colored fish and the warm bath temperature of the caves.

Inside the caves are many colored rock formations with stalagmites and stalagtites everywhere. Dripping crystalised water with the sunlight makes it look like you have found diamonds.

Once again the colors do not eactly show what it was really like. Pack your bags and head over, if you love water activities this is just great!

Bit of a tan happening....but cannot stay out in the sun too long without slip slop slap....or you will be burnt to a crisp!!

Snorkeling - Limu Pools & Matapa Chasm

 

How do these things grow? This is embedded in volcanic rock.

After an early rise to get to the market at 6:30am (which we were beaten by another tourist to one of the few Coconut Crabs on offer- "Üga's") so not happy about that.
When the tide was out we headed to Limu Pools and Matapa Chasm for snorkeling.

Did not plan to go to Matapa but another family decided they would throw food into the crystal clear water to encourage the sea snakes out...and proceeded into the water with a vegie peeler and food to see what would eventuate.

Before it started looking like a vegie stew we decided to take off to a more remote place and we hit the jackpot......loaded with fish, very clear water, albeit much colder but only a local polynesian family turned up with their inquisitive children to enjoy the surroundings.

Will go back there again.

 Sea snake....this is a bigger one.

Happy to see them in the water but not so happy that kids are out there trying to see if they get aggressive.

The father says....it doesn't seem to matter what you do they only poke out their forked tongue but don't appear to want to attack you!

Since they were not going to go away....it was best we moved on...hope to not see them again. The family that is.

This person poked and probed...and then couldn't get out of its way quick enough! Not sure if you can see if clearly enough with the frantic arm movements!

Still thinking that the underwater camera that is sitting on Geoff's bench waiting to be packed still... would have been fantastic!!!

Mission accomplished...sea snakes found.

 Clearing the roads for overhanging bushes and trees....it would take the Shire months to decide if you could do that in Oz...and the answer would still be NO...unless a Shire vehicle was damaged in some way and then things would move!

PS: No safety stuff involved...probably just good old common sense...don't fall out of the moving vehicle.

 Limu Pools - Before it got like Disneyland and became Adventure Island with a twist!

A family feeding frenzy...

 Little buzz box....I think it is the only red car I have seen so far so I can recognise.

Cindy & Jeff Nother and Geoff

Fancy meeting up with some Kiwis who love Monty Python...old classics on record and TV. Cindy who is so organised that she too has her clock 5 minutes fast so she is never late!!!

It is like a mirror image.....too organised...yet very relaxed on holidays.

Two blokes who could not organise anything except a drink to keep them hydrated.....and food to keep their tummy's from growling. No you have to laugh.....its been very funny times.

But handy when we need some errands run. Like...how do you break a coconut....BBQ cooking....could not do without them. I think they are quite happy with those tasks.

Sssshhhhhh ......they are both sleeping now as they are so tired!

 Track to Matapa Chasm...I was in front so I had all the lizards to scare and the spider webs to go through....

The track was worth the wait.

 Water....water ...water...

Just a lovely place to be. Colors in the rocks and the fossilized coral in all shades of pink, green and brown.

 Geoff with a "G"and Cindy were first in while Jeff with a "J" and I were busy taking snaps.

They were a little slow getting in and the reason being it was f.f.f.f.f....freezing at first!

 Local family came for a swim.

 Another place that is only open certain times...will head back here for the drinks and dance on Wednesday night.

I am sure one of us will be able to let our hair down and get into the groove! (Stay tuned!)

 Busy Bee.........