I arrived here at about 5 am, completely disoriented and tired from the travelling and heat. It was only a 1 hr 45 min plane ride from Tahiti, but I had wished it was longer, since i could barely stay awake.

My first reaction to the Cook Islands was (Please don't let this be like mainland tahiti). It's not. It's absolutely amazing here. The scenery is beautiful, not as pretty as Moorea, but the people and the way of life here is what gives it this feel. No one hurries, everyone smiles, and everyone speaks English here!
best yet, the keyboards are in english! (in tahiti, mostly everyone spoke french and trying to type on a french keyboard is a bit of a hassle, but hey..IM the tourist not them..so at least i picked up a few words here and there)

Everyone is extremely laid back and it makes you think about why we choose to lead such a hurried life, when a life like this could exist for all of us.

The starry skies here are even more amazing than in Tahiti. It seems like an endless canvas of blinking dots, with green palm trees swaying below it. Blue oceans, white skies, black coral, little tiny crabs walking along the beach, of course mosquitoes (raaarrr)...but hell...it makes it all worth it.

I met a fellow american in the place I'm staying in who is one of the coolest people I've ever met. She has already left, but hopefully she can meet up again in Europe with me. She was just a really friendly, open minded girl who has lived here for nearly 3 months now. Within 2 hours, and with her guidance, I know everything there is to know about this island, and where everything is.

We went out dancing the other night, and she's one of the few people I know who will dance like hell without having to be drunk, and dance well! It was so much fun. I'm sad she's gone, but hopefully we can meet up again sometime.

I rented a scooter here, and had to take a driving test to rent it. This scooter OWNS my old one..with this being a 125cc engine..it was almost a bit scary at first. It is heavy too, and i learned that the hard way when it fell over in the dark and i struggled to lift that badboy up! I now officially own a Cook Islands drivers license..imagine that. This was the most ridiculous driving test ever, where you make 3 left turns, and that's it. The hardest thing so far as been to remember to stay on the other lane, which is becoming second nature for me.

I've ridden all around the island several times for the heck of it, and tested out roadways and grassy fields and all. I know I'm a scooter girl. When i get back, i think i'll buy a brand new scooty so i'll never worry about it breaking on me, or at least not for a while.

Last night, I went to watch the sunset on "Black Rock", on the west coast of the island. It was beautiful to sit upon hundreds of black rocks, and watch the sun go down on the pacific ocean. It's so strange to be here, when you think of all the other things you would be doing if you're not.

Tonight and tomorrow night I'm going to see island dance shows and am supposed to meet up with other backpackers who I've met from walking around the beaches. No other kids my age are staying at the bungalows I am at, but I've met random people through just walking and hanging around.

Internet is quite expensive everywhere I have been so far, and have been told it's even wose in Fiji and in New Zealand, so I guess my time updating things here and there will be limited.

Most importantly, thank you SO much to those who have text messaged me and written me emails. I can't even begin to tell you how much it means during those hard moments of feeling isolated. i think as the days go on, the bouts of sadness will be a lot less, but it means a lot to me. I can't actually receive any at the moment, as the Cook Islands don't have a carrier I can work with..so for anyone whose been trying for the past couple days..sorry!! i leave here friday, and then FIJII!! truman would be proud!

Take care all, and I'll see you in Fiji!

So my last night in the cook islands was pretty damn awesome. I had made friends with this girl from Scotland (SCOTS RULE!) and we had a blast. she decided to extend her visa in the cook islands by 2 months so she found a place to live. I stayed with her that last night. Let me say, I am now kinda obsessed with Bollywood. Believe it or not, a lot of Cook Islanders watch indian movies and for real they are good!!! too bad i didn't pay attention all those years when my grandparents would watch them.

I found myself time and time again going back to Black Rock to watch sunset. Even if it was cloudy outside, id stay late until dark to watch the southern skies. Shooting stars, waves, lightening, im NOT lying.

oh yeah..so i caved and bought a necklance made with black pearls and abalone shells but it's hot as hell!!! i know it was the one thing i said i would invest in on my trip, so i have no guilt.

So i loved my scooter until it turned on me. I was going up a hill one day, and because i was not yet used to the power on that badboy, it rolled back on me and fell on me. So my right leg has a big nice bruise on it. I am becoming a markerboard for disaster..but yes..the scooter troubles have not ended yet..don't even think im off the hook yet..

Anyhow, i had to return my scooter two days later since i was leaving, and merry decided to drive me around on the back of hers the next day. Needless to say, she took a corner too soon, and both of us ended up sliding up gravel on it's side. My knees and right arm now have more gravel in them than all of the cook islands...not really but kind of. So the right side of my body is bruised and graveled up, and the left side is still hot, don't worry.

I love the cook islands, i miss it dearly, but i knew fiji woudln't wait long. MAN i can't even begin to wait to tell you all about it...YESSSS