Stepping out of the plane to the sticky hot humid air brings great joy in my heart. Finally, our last destination of this long journey home we’ve been on since the end of June. This is my fathers birth place, and the subject of many stories I’ve heard from him growing up. It also feels like my homecoming every time I arrive in the very spot I stand now, I am home – Aitutaki.
To share this part of the journey with us is my oldest (my old old old friend lol), and dearest friend Deb, and her family (John The Doctor, Ruby & Sam), who met us in Rarotonga a few days past.
When you fly over Aitutaki it takes your breath away. The blues, turquoises and jades of the sea catch your eye like a shiny pearl. Its beauty almost looks impossibly fake as you try to differentiate between what is land, and what is sea, as this low lying atoll (126 mtrs at the highest point) seems to suddenly appear out of the sea.
The first founder was RU (i kidd you not), and his 4 wives/4 brothers+wives/+20 maidens (must have been a big canoe!), who came to find new lands to settle leaving the home islands of French Polynesia behind (so I guess my LOVE of travel has always been in my genes).
On this last part of the journey, we’re here for one month, so being able to share this special place with my best friend and her family is a real joy, as it’s not like she hasn’t heard about it since we met at the tender age of 13. With C.2000 people on the island, the pace is relaxed (in fact, i reckon “island time” was created here) almost horizontal, max road speed is 40kmph (which feels pretty fast when you’re on a scooter I can tell you), and there’s not that much to do other than swim and eat. Exploring the island doesn’t take that long, although I can vouch, it’s still possible to get lost…was a funny moment when we turned up in a ladies driveway, mistaking it for a side road, and me telling her we’d come for dinner (ahhh her face was pretty priceless staring back at the 5 smiling papa’a(Whities) + me lol).
During their time with us we find ourselves accidentally crab spotting down some back roads, going to church, having a meal at my cousins, cooked in a traditional umu, and going snorkelling along with daily beach trips and visiting our favourite cafe’s. It’s sad for all when they have to leave, we all wished it was for longer, maybe next time…
WheresRu 