Day 7Our seventh day in the Cook Islands is a Thursday. This is our big travel day. We booked an all inclusive day trip to the next island north of Rarotonga through Air Rarotonga. The price was a bit steep, but from the pictures we had seen and the descriptions we had heard, it seemed like it would be worth it. Thursday was a very early day for us, we got up at 5:30 am to catch the 7:00 am shuttle to the airport. Once at the airport we got our boarding passes and boarded a 34 passenger Saab 340. After a 45 minute flight, we touched down in Aitutaki and our adventure was under way.
Our tour guide Phil (a very big, jovial Cook Islander) met us at the Aitutaki airport and took a group of ~ 20 of us to a small bus. We loaded up there and we took a half hour ride around the main island while Phil pumped us full of funny stories, local trivia, and island lore. One of the interesting facts that we learned was that the reason that there are no dogs on Aitutaki is that in the 1800's there was a bit of a leprosy problem on the island and it was believed that dogs were what spread it. Since then, no dogs have been allowed on the island.After our little island driving tour, it was time to load up on the catamaran and 
start the main leg of our day tour out in the 45 km wide lagoon that composes most of the island. Our boat ride starts out with an overview on lunch, which will include "fresh caught" "fush". Turns out fush means fish, and fresh caught means store bought and wrapped in plastic wrap. In any case, the description was funny and the meal was delicious. First though, we headed out to Tree Island. Phil gave us a Maori name for it, but it was kind of long and hard to remember, so for here it'll just be tree island.
start the main leg of our day tour out in the 45 km wide lagoon that composes most of the island. Our boat ride starts out with an overview on lunch, which will include "fresh caught" "fush". Turns out fush means fish, and fresh caught means store bought and wrapped in plastic wrap. In any case, the description was funny and the meal was delicious. First though, we headed out to Tree Island. Phil gave us a Maori name for it, but it was kind of long and hard to remember, so for here it'll just be tree island.At tree island we got the chance to get out, dip out feet in the water and take a hike around the 
small motu. Meghann and I found quite a few hermit crabs on our walk around the island. We also found a place to stop to pose for pictures in front of the limestone/reef outcrops that made up most of the island.
small motu. Meghann and I found quite a few hermit crabs on our walk around the island. We also found a place to stop to pose for pictures in front of the limestone/reef outcrops that made up most of the island.We stayed at the island for about 30 minutes, then Phil blew into some sort of shell horn 
signalling us that it was time to load up and move out to our next destination. We headed out into the blue water and headed for the middle of the lagoon for our first snorkeling stop of the day. The water here was between 3 an 15 feet deep. We set anchor, donned our snorkeling gear, and made our way out to the coral to check out fish and giant clams!
signalling us that it was time to load up and move out to our next destination. We headed out into the blue water and headed for the middle of the lagoon for our first snorkeling stop of the day. The water here was between 3 an 15 feet deep. We set anchor, donned our snorkeling gear, and made our way out to the coral to check out fish and giant clams!The air temperature was pretty high on Aitutaki (~80) and so was the humidity, so getting into the lagoon was a bit of a chilly shock at first. But eventually we got our gear on and set out to find some fish and a giant clam that we had been told was near the anchorage spot.
More to come in Part two...
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