Cook Islands

From the moment I stepped off the propeller driven plane (another first for me), I noticed something very grand about the Cook Islanders. Although unofficially the last place on Earth to start the day, they are not intent on catching up to the rest of the world. Island time isn't so much measured in minutes and hours as in sunrises, sunsets and every moment in between. The island of Rarotonga is absolutely amazing. The largest and "most" populated of the Cook Islands, it holds a special tie to New Zealand, which allows the most delightful and completely English speaking population to be found. Also, unlike Tahiti, the island is not overrun by traffic and noise pollution. I think I love the island more than anything else I've experienced on the trip thus far. Another cool aspect of the island is the fact that, with the exception of New Zealand, it is as far as you can get from the states. I experienced amazing white sand beaches and enjoyed snorkeling amongst a million exotic fish and reef life. All the waves around the island break over razor sharp reef which form perfectly tapered waves, with major error repercussions. I'm not sure my travel insurance plan covers getting eaten alive by reef so I opt out of surfing....
Next stop for me is the exotic land of the kiwi.....