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The Gang - Pat & myself, Khara & Matt De Groot, Harry & Kathy De Groot
We used 2 cars to take everyone & our gear over to the airport in Gladstone then returned one car to Khara & Matt's place. We left our car in the long term parking at the airport.
All checked in, as we went through security I was the one stopped this time as I forgot I had a lighter in the zip pocket of my backpack. I was allowed to keep it in my pocket but not in my bag ... go figure that one out.
Landed in Brisbane domestic airport at 8:15pm. Caught the bus to the International terminal where we stayed until our next flight at 6:00am. Comandeered an area of couches to lay down to get some sleep (if such a thing is possible).
Caught the next plane to Auckland, had to wait in the plane before disembarking as the Air bridge broke down and had to be repaired before we could get off the plane. We went through to the transit lounge (yippee no customs lines). Khara booked a pemiere lounge for us for 3 hours where we could shower, have food & drinks while waiting for the next flight to Rarotonga Cook Islands. We had a 6 hour layover in Auckland.
I tried to buy something and wouldn't you know it the travel card would not work......... WHAT TO DO all our holiday money is on that card and the exchange rate here sucks!!!!!
Tried to get into the website and it would not accept the password grrrrrr !!!! Had to ring travel card and I was able to get it sorted out.
Still no sleep.
Left on the plane to Rarotonga which lands at midnight on the 26th, as we crossed the date line time went backwards which means when we leave on the 3rd we loose a day going back to Auckland. After a 4 hour flight we land on the 4th.
At Rarotonga airport we had an aborted landing due to bad winds ... we were so close to the ground when it was aborted we could see the lines on the runway and were waiting for the bump of the wheels. The pilots were busy for a while, they came onto the com and explained why they had aborted the landing. Next landing was fine.
Bus transfer to the Edgewater Resort ( great place) checked in and found our rooms on the top floor (3 levels and no elevator) porters helped to carry our gear up.
The air-conditioners need work... cool well but rattle and shake and sound like a jet engine. rooms are nice with fantastic views. Relaxing holiday.
Wonderful snorkeling, riding the scooters with no helmet (utter freedom). Fantastic people.
Cocktails, food, cocktails....... lots of each I might add. The food in the resort was great and varied with different themed food nights.
Freshwater pool & the sheltered lagoon full of coral & fish. Swimming through schools of different fish is an amazing experience.
New Year here is a day behind Australia so I recieved texts the night before. Then celebrated the new year the next night... quite a wild night around the resort & the whole Island as new year here is their christmas.
Long Hr's with 3 flights & 2 lots of 3 hour waiting in airports, then the drive home. Wonderful time away but great to be home except for the current heat wave.
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