Around Rarotonga in 8 minutes (again)

I’ve got a couple of videos on the go but haven’t had a lot of time to finish them off because I’ve been doing some gardening. Well, it’s more of a slash, burn and demolish than anything else. Mind you the garden is fighting back – I’ve got blisters and bruises and sore muscles to show for it.

In the meantime here is a new version of a previous video.

Last year I got a new computer and new software so I’ve now re-rendered the Round-Raro-by-motorbike one I made in January last year (2011).

The resolution is much better.

There are some changes on Rarotonga, the main one being in the Avatiu harbour area. The old Marine Resources building is gone and the foreshore there is being remodelled. The harbour is has been lengthened and deepened with the fill being used to extend Punanga Nui market although you can’t see that from the road. The other changes around the island involve ‘beautification’ which unfortunately in far too many places has meant hacking down trees.

Strange idea of beauty!

NB: The trees and other vegetation that I’ve been slashing and burning are all invasives or weeds in the process of taking over the world and I shall be planting plenty of new trees to take their places.

Tereora College food festival

Food markets are always popular on Rarotonga and Tereora College’s recent fundraiser was a big success. The weather was warm and sunny, good for bringing the crowds out to browse, and there was plenty for them to see, smell and taste. Each of the form classes had a separate stall with offerings such as barbeque chops, sausages and steak; ‘plates of food’ – that Cook Islands favourite; cakes, sweets, desserts and drinks. Clearly parents and family had helped with preparation and cooking and local businesses were generous with sponsorship of ingredients. Each class had a target of $2000, with the school as a whole hoping to raise $30,000 to go towards new high tech equipment, a facelift for Princess Anne Hall and beautification projects around the school. You can see from the video how hard everyone had worked and how much fun they seemed to be having. It was noticeable that the BBQs were mostly being operated by boys. Barbies are a great way of getting guys to cook. I wonder who did the washing up!

Sunrise over Ta’akoka motu, Muri lagoon

Time-lapse video of a peaceful early morning scene on Muri lagoon as the tide comes in and the sun rises over Ta’akoka motu. Later on in the day tourists will be out and about, swimming, snorkelling, sailing and canoeing but at this early hour you will see herons stalking along the water’s edge and maybe a jogger out to work up an appetite for breakfast.