Day five and my last one on this beautiful island. After my last entry on Tuesday I spent the afternoon sunbathing and had another quiet night in with the housemates. On Wednesday I trundled into town on the public bus. There are two buses - one that goes clockwise and the other anti-clockwise, and they just go round and round all day. It was a rainy day so I pottered around the shops and stopped in a couple of cafes for a drink and read. By the time I got back the rain had stopped so I went for a cycle and stopped in a church full of beautiful, brightly-coloured flowers. In the evening I went into town with the housemates to 'Banana Court'. We caught a complimentary bus, which was a laugh because there were over 20 of us crammed into a 12 seater minibus! We were sitting on each other, crouched in the boot, hanging out of the window - so funny! It was a great evening and the travellers and locals mixed and danced and chatted together. Yesterday I booked a jeep safari. I sat in the front with the guide who took us into the rainforest and out to beautiful view points, whilst telling us all the interesting stories and facts about the island. At the end of the tour he sailed right passed my stop and told me he'd drop me off last so he could show me his house! I felt a little uneasy as he drove me down a quiet road but I shouldn't have worried - he pointed out his house and then drove me back, but not before stopping along the roadside to climb on the roof of the jeep and pick me some mangoes! I thanked him as I got out and told him I thought the island was beautiful, and he told me if I was a good cleaner I could stay with him! Worth remembering! Today I was going to do a day tour of Aitutaki (an island about 45 mins by plane) but I cancelled it because the weather is very rainy again today. After I've finished on the computer I think I may go on a little bus ride around the island instead. Being on my own is really quite nice at the moment. I've been able to potter around, doing whatever I fancy without having to think about anyone else. The housemates are lovely and I've had their company in the evenings so I haven't felt lonely once. I'm leaving Rarotonga tonight to start a week in Fiji. I'll be jumping the timeline so will lose a whole day. Very weird! I'm really sorry to be leaving Rarotonga but I'm determined to return - probably during our summer/autumn months when it's drier. Calling Rarotonga paradise sounds very corney, but there's no poverty, crime (although there is a prison with 20 inmates!), litter, sewage problems or nasty diseases/animals. The people are happy, friendly and very welcoming, the water is crystal clear and warm, the beaches are white and sandy, the mainland is lush and green... I could go on! Anyone contemplating going - go! You won't regret it. So goodbye to paradise and 'bula' to Fiji and hopefully more of the same. Fingers crossed! Ps To everyone who has sent me messages: Thank you so much! I'll be writing to you individually as soon as I can - it will probably when I get to New Zealand. I really am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. Lots of love to you all, and wish you could be here xxx