30 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After 4 hours and crossing the International Date Line, I arrived on Rarotonga, the tip of an underwater volcano and "capital island" of the Cook Islands. Barely 10km in diameter, it is home to 14,000 people living in a ring around the island between the mountainous centre and the beaches.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

And very shortly after, we're over the ocean. I always loved the idea of flying between the islands - small isolated pockets of population in a wide empty ocean. I also loved now the different islands have a shared cultural heritage, but evolved and adapted to its environment.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

Soon, we were flying over some of the Auckland suburbs.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

To get on the plane, I have to wear jackets and thick clothing, and shove items in my pockets, as my discount tickets only allow a 7 pound carry-on, which I used for my 4.5 month trip. Here's a nice view of morning in Auckland on take-off. You can see how Auckland is sandwiched between the Tasman (lower body of water) and the Pacific.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html

30 May 2011:

The familiar view from the stop for the airport bus early in the morning.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-17.html