Tropical Paradise

26 Oct '06 10:46 am

please try to ignore the little guy with the finger up his nose .

After that it was all I could see!

But seriously... looks to be a beautiful place.

I would love to be able to grow bananas but we're not quite warm enough to do it. My mother lives further north past Auckland and they can grow the (I think it is...) 'Ladyfinger' variety.

Woof?

Flower Festival

27 Oct '06 5:10 am

Flowers everywhere in Rarotonga -would you believe the people poke sticks of Hibiscus in the ground ,and they all take root and become glorious hedges ! Bouganvillia are grown as shrubs as well .Walking along the road is a delight .
Dixie.

: Bouganvilla hedge beside the road

Family

27 Oct '06 5:16 am

Each family has their own land - no land is allowed to be sold .(no work for you as an agent ,Bambi )In the front of homes ,members of families are buried ,and graves lovingly tended .
Dixie

: graves in front of family home .

Celebrating flowers .

27 Oct '06 5:22 am

Last Friday (while everyone here was working )the island celebrated nature 's bounty ,with a flower and food festival .The local schools each had a court (stall ) to decorate .The pictures are of young girls making garlands to decorate their school's display .
Dixie

flowers

27 Oct '06 5:24 am

Another school working
Dixie

putting display up

27 Oct '06 5:27 am

Working on Cook Island time (i e no clocks ) no-one ever gets frazzled .Teachers getting display set up on tables.

: Display nearly ready

special Lady

27 Oct '06 5:31 am

The arrival of a gracious local dignitary - being escorted to the stage . Everyone wears flowers in their hair ,and garlands around neck .The men in the background truck are selling paua -(shellfish)
Dixie

Coconut husking competition

28 Oct '06 6:25 am

I asked these three lads if I could take their photo while they were waiting for the coconut husking competition - - they immediately struck this pose .
Dixie

coconut husking

28 Oct '06 6:30 am

They asked me to cheer for them .Here they are ,representing their school.
The outer shell of the coconut is very hard ,like timber ; all they have is a sharp pointed stick in the ground to open (husk ) it.Each team is given three coconuts .
Dixie.

Girl skills

28 Oct '06 6:34 am

This girl beat everyone with her skill and speed .The coconut has to be cracked in exactly the right place for it to split .
Dixie.

: The man in blue with the mike is the teacher

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