hunzo-ventures: LAX to RAR

We made it!!!

Kia Orana!! (This is the traditional Maori Greeting)

Breakfast by the pool....our usual spot! : )

After a rather loooong drive to LA....thanks to the mass Exodus of Californians heading back to the LA "rat-race" after their weekend partying like rock stars in Vegas!!! We did get caught in a few traffic jams and even came to a complete stand still at the Fruit InspectionStation on the California Border. Other than that we had a nice drive through the Mojave Desert, with PLENTY of time to spare before our flight.

I was expecting a lot more from LAX, it was no nicer than the Saskatoon terminal though. We did have one Celebrity Sighting. (with assistance from our Celebrity Correspondant Melissa Rizzuto!!) We saw Neal Mcdonaugh....who is that you ask....he was in Tropic Thunder, Desperate Housewives for a bit and will also be in the upcoming Captain America. A nice fellow from what we overheard. It was one of those moments when you think it's someone you know....but you just can't place them. In this case...we didn't know him...we had just seen him on TV! haha

Our flight was very comfortable, we had a great meal and best part....Free Booze!! Even better than that...they had on-demand Dixie Chicks!!! Whooo!

Our landing was smoothe and we were finally free to get off the plane. Then it hit us....the heat and HUMIDITY! Woah it was major! Even hard to breathe at first! We were met at the airport by the driver from the resort, Margaret and off we went. It was about a 15 minute drive from the airport to our resort. Rarotonga is actually indescribable. There are more trees flowering the most beautiful flowers than anywhere I have ever seen!!! It's so lush and dense! It will take a while to get over the natural beauty here.

Our accomadtions are great. We have our own stand alone bungalow....#8 for now. From our kitchen window we can see straight into the Lagoon....Very Beautiful. We have been spending our time getting settled and comfortable. We have arranged for a scooter rental for the duration of our stay....it was delivered to the resort the other day for us. Very cute. We both went to the Police station in town where we were issued our very own official Cook Islands Drivers License. Picture card and all! I even got designated to drive the scooter without having to take the special test! An, advantage to having the card printer break down and coming in the next day with big line-ups!! We also have been to the supermarket and local "get-whatever-you-need-here" store and have stocked up on all the pool floaties we will need. Although, here floaties are only for kids, if you're an adult on one it's called a "lie-low". Makes sense! haha

We are slowly picking up on the Aussie/New Zealand venacular. Like ordering a flat white coffee rather than a double double! We have also adopted another cat. Apparently Trevor likes all cats except for mine!!!! Sampson is his name, (given to him by the resort, not us) and he likes $12 hot dogs that Trevor has decided Sampson will like more than me!! Ha Ha Luckily I don't mind! : )

Sampson, the best fed cat on the island!

So far so good, the weather has been good and the food even better! We have a daily routine of floating around the pool and then off to town, back to the pool and then dinner. So far enjoying every minute!

On deck for tomorrow, we are going to one of the biggest events of the YEAR!!!! We're going to the boat races!!!!! Teams are here from all over the world for the event, so stay tuned!!!!!

XOXOXOX

C and T