3 - Get Things Cooking

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When Commanding Lieutenant William Bligh arrived in Aitutaki on 11th April 1789, just 17 days before a mutiny on his ship, The Bounty, he was greeted by a native in a canoe who rubbed noses with him and gave him a pearl-shell breast ornament suspended with human hair braid. When you arrive here in February 2011, the greeting will not be much different. The hospitality, generosity and friendliness of the Cook Islanders are just about unrivalled. Aitutaki (pop. 2000) is one of the fifteen islands which make up the Cook Islands . Situated in the Pacific Ocean, they cover almost 700,000sq mi ? roughly the area of Western Europe ? while their actual area is only about 98sq mi. Their nearest neighbours are Tahiti to the east and American Samoa to the west, each around 930 miles away. Aitutaki itself is 135 miles north of the main island Rarotonga and is situated in one corner of an equilateral triangular lagoon of 8 miles each side which also includes 15 smaller islets, or 'motus'. Untouched by mass tourism, and offering crystal clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, if this doesn't put you in the mood for love, nothing will! Spend the days working on your tan or discovering the fantastic underwater world that lurks in the lagoon. Take a lagoon cruise and have lunch prepared for you while you sit back, relax and see what the lagoon has to offer. The trip ends on Tapuaetai (One Foot Island), one of the 'motus', which offers perhaps the best view of the lagoon. Back on the island, aside from taking advantage of its magnificent beaches, why not rent a car or moped and discover the back roads of the island, explore the colourful buildings, and interact with the locals. Of course you may want to explore the rest of the Cook Islands, having come this far from home. Rarotonga, the main island and therefore the most visited and densely populated of the 15 is definitely worth a visit. Atiu, the third largest island, and Mangaia, the second largest and oldest of the islands, are accessible by plane from Rarotonga. Other islands are also accessible by plane but flights are dependent upon demand, while some are only accessible by sea. Each one has something different to offer, but whichever you choose, it is certain that you will never forget your Cook Island experience.

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