31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Relaxing with a local beer. It was pretty terrible. Although I was enjoying it at first, we all had enough of the island's only radio station by the end of the night - playing only ukelele music and nothing else. Note: Chinese supermarket bag is one of my packing bags from Auckland, not local.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Pretty clouds during sunset. I walked to a nearly fry shop in the dark to find food, and got a scooter ride to buy some beer. Backpackers International Hostel had a ragtag feel to it, with many different people staying, but all somewhat friendly. Although not on a beach, it is walking distance to Aro'a.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of Aro'a Beach. As you can see, the water is pretty clear here. I found the different Polynesian languages very interesting, as I found that I could recognize some basic words in these languages by applying basic transforms of the phonemes depending on which language is spoken. In the Cook Islands, it's Cook Islands Maori.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011:

Snorkelling at Aro'a turned out to be much better than expected! I was surrounded by schools of colourful fish, a moray eel, highly toxic stonefish, giant boxfish, and colour-changing fish shifting their schooling patterns and colours to mimic coral and sand (which startled me as I didn't realise they were fish at first). I was intimidated a few times by schools of very large fish circling me very tightly, and a few aggressive fish that came up and nipped at my toes and face mask. There were large urchins the size of my head with long, wavering spines and brilliant neon blues showing through cracks between their jet black plates, and urchins holding pieces of shells and stones for camouflage. One of the highlights was following an octopus as it changed its shape, texture and colours to try to hide from me in a variety of locations. It was absolutely amazing.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Breaking waves at the edge of the lagoon.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

I was offered a scooter ride and dropped off at Aro'a Beach, while the others went on their own ways. Supposedly, this is one of the best snorkelling sites on the island, beingna large lagoon protected by ra'ui, an ancient fishing and harvesting ban used to manage resources.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

A large Sheraton Hotel abandoned during construction due to a series of failed business deals, and I heard some stories about a death. In any case, a great setting for a haunted movie scene.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

There was a waterfall at the end of the trail we swam in. I had to move fast as there were lots of mosquitos. When I got out of the water, my bag was covered in probably something like 30 mosquitos, probably attracted by the sweat I left on it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Small waterfalls surrounded by ferns became quite a common view near the end of the trail. There was a hill covered completely in ferns, which looked awesome, but didn't photograph quite as well.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The Needle viewed from the next ridge over. It almost looks like it has a face on it.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Another view of the tropical foliage.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Tropical plants and lush hills surrounded by a blue ocean. How much more stereotypical can you get for a tropical island?

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of the steepest section with the chain. I think my camera tilt makes it look worse than it actually was, but it was still tough enough that I took it slow there.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Some chains and ropes helped guide people up a steeper section if they wanted to get to a nice observation point on the Needle. There were some dangling tattered and re-tied rope loops attached to some branches if we wanted to go higher, but it did not look safe at all!

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

One of the mountain vallies visible from up there.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of the other side of the island - our destination. As you can see, the island is not very big at all. The left of the photo is part of The Needle (Te Rua Manga), a prominent stone monolith that towers over the area.

Rough notes:

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Some of the cliffs on the island. It gave a very stereotypical tropical forest feel.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

View of where we walked from.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

The trail leads up the hills in the centre of the island. For some reason, there were a few chickens looking for food from us near the top. And swarms of mosquitos.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

Cutting across the middle of the island, the trail passes through the slippery, hilly, rocky, and muddy forest floor. Jandals (flip-flops, thongs, or whatever you want to call them) were not a good choice of footwear.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

There were lots of vines and creeping plants here, forming a dense under-growth. There were some fruit trees, including a tree filled with small starfruit. Not sure if they belonged to someone, but they were tasty.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After taking a bus to Avarua, the capital, on the north side of the island, we found the trail head up a road. View of taro fields, mountains, and general tropical lushness.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html

31 May 2011 (-1 in time zone):

After a good night's of rest, I bumped into some people doing the cross-island track, and decided to join them.

Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-nz-to-sf-day-18.html