by Mandeep Gaygoat
When you are on an island where food is limited for vegetarians you learn to have a VERY good breakfast, especially when it is free! So I spent some time over indulging in bread and fruit, basically so we could go without lunch.
We got talking to a couple (Joanne and Keith) from Huddersfield (Sangeet’s home town!) we exchanged travelling experiences which was fun. It felt like we were talking for a few minutes, it was actually a couple of hours!
Afterwards Sangeet and I grabbed the kayaks and snorkelling gear courtesy of the Etu Moana and went into the lagoon. It was a fantastic sight, there is a good trick, to paddle up to the coral and then stop paddling, just let the kayak glide over it, that way you do not disturb the sea creatures. You see fish in between the coral. I also paddled 50 feet away from the strong waves which were hitting the coral reef with huge force, it got a bit scary so I paddled back!!
Sangeet swam out quite some distance, I found it strange to be able to look underneath the water and still breath though I have been snorkelling before, it was quite some time ago! You automatically want to hold your breath. I got quite a lot of cuts from the coral on my hands and feet. They feel like paper cuts.
Afterwards I went for a walk, I am desperately trying to get free wifi the rates here are pretty high. The wifi in our hotel is provided by Zenbu, http://www.zenbu.net.nz/
The rates are as follows (correct at time of writing)
Price is NZ dollars
$6 for 20mb
$12 for 40mb
$18 for 60mb
$24 for 80mb
$30 for 100mb
$45 for 150mb
$60 for 200mb
$75 for 250mb
$90 for 300mb
Also the speeds are not great. I walked past houses, to see if they had open wifi, everybodies wifi is locked down……pity!
When I got back to the hotel Sangeet and I decided to walk up to the highest peak on the island, it takes about 20 minutes, on the way we passed a hotel called Paradise Cove, the hotel prices are very reasonable and most overlook the lagoon…..I think this is more geared towards backpackers. Yes, I know what you are thinking “but you two are also backpackers!” This part of the trip we decided on a bit of luxury!
The walk to the peak had amazing views of the lagoon as we got to the top, we sawis access to that peak.
On the way back we passed through a restaurant called Puffy’s and asked what vegetarian dishes they do, the answer was “none!”
We decided to walk back along the beach. We saw some fish on the sand obviously they were dead….I think they committed suicide. Here we saw plenty of fish swim very fast towards the beach and then jump up out of the water then swim back.
As we arrived back at the hotel we got chatting to an American couple from California (Phil and Candy) who have been coming here for the last five years, we sat with them and watched the sunset. Another couple passed us, they were from Leeds (20 minutes from where we live!) they got married here a couples of days ago. Phil and Candy asked us if we wanted some of the fresh vegetables they bought that day and gave us a bag of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion., carrots and capsicum as we left. It was very generous and nice of them.
In the evening we cut the salad, which tasted very nice, Sangeet also made tomato soup with with the fresh tomatoes. I also had crackers and peanut butter.
by Mandeep Gaygoat
After two and a half months in America it is sad to leave such a beautiful country. Some great people and a lot of fantastic sights.
I am a bit angry at people just trying to be nice at face value. We had a lot of invitations to stay, “Mandeep and Sangeet when you are in…..you must come and stay with us,” we get to their town and call them, they respond “so which hotel are you staying in”!?!?!?
Also we got told on the teacher training that we are part of the big KRI family where ever in the world you go, the ashram will have accomadation, this has been so untrue, we have contacted ashrams only to be told NO or been told “call this person they can help”…when you call them…”you need to call….” It goes round in circles!
Or even the small things “lets stay in touch……..” Afterwards you will never hear from them again.
We would like to thank Gurrinder Singh, Sonpreet Bhatia, Hari Nam Singh, Supreet Singh Manchanda, Sartaj Alag, Harkirat Singh who either accommodated us or were genuinly willing to accommodate us.
People are trying too hard to be nice or positive when in fact they do not mean it….why can you not just be honest? I remember on one of the trips I was honest about something but people did not like it…hey that is just me!
During the teacher training course I have made some great friends……remember guys you are never too busy just to send a quick email even just to say:
“Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh/Sat Naam/Hi – delete as appropriate!
How are you?”
I would also like to thank Iris Yan for keeping alive during the course, Alex Seaman for being the only one to laugh at my jokes, and Yiota Kotokis for helping me especially before my practicums.
Deva Singh, he helped me so much, especially at a time when I wanted to leave the teacher training…..he is truly an honest guy and says things as they are….I remember going to him and saying I want to leave….he did not give me the speech of why, what has happened, try and stay, he just said “you leave I will never talk to you again!” Just the kick I needed.
Finally I would like to thank Shanti Kaur Khalsa. She is truly a fantastic sister and a great inspiration….look her up on YouTube, her lectures are amazing. This lady truly lives the Sikh way of life, a trip to Espanola is never complete without seeing her.
We are genuine when we say come and stay with us, we truly mean it…there are no charges, you will get fed and any other way we can help we will do…..in fact we would be offended if you stayed at a hotel in our town!
Saying this, America is the only country I am trying to move to the last thing I want to do is die in England, just with the current economic climate it is difficult. If anyone knows any way please do let me know!
by Mandeep Gaygoat
We arrived in Rarotonga at 6am the flight was with air New Zealand which was okay – cabin crew were friendly and safety video made us chuckle. As we had our Virgin frequent flyer details on the flight (all being part of Star Alliance) we thought we would automatically get the special meals, this was not the case. The options were beef or chicken!! Luckily they had some vegetarian options which were edible’ish!!. You have to ask the cabin crew for these.
We arrived in Rarotonga at 6am and the connecting flight to Aitutaki was at 8am. The check in desk opened at 7:30 so we just hung around the airport. At Rarotonga airport Papa Jack welcomed us all with a song which was pretty cool. It was around 20 celcius which for me felt cold but suppose at 7:30am it is warm. Lets hope it gets HOT!
Papa Jack
Sweets given on the flight, Pranks!?!?
Once we arrived at Aitutaki it was 9am and we were greeted with fresh flower garlands by the resort staff! The transfer to the resort was complimentary. It took ten minutes to get there:
Aitutaki airport:
Etu Moana
PO Box 123
Aitutaki
Cook Islands
T: 682 31 458
F: 682 31 459
E: [email protected]
W: www.etumoana.com
As soon as we got to the resort the staff gave us a delicious fresh cocunut drink served in the cocunut. The resort is stunning very relaxed and friendly staff, from our villa we have great views of the lagoon. There are only ten villas at the resort so it feels very cosy.
After checking into the hotel, we were offered a fruit breakfast beside the pool and honesty bar. Breakfast was delicious, all the fruit is grown locally. There is passion fruit, breadfruit, bananas, coconut, yogurt, bread and jams The fruit tasted amazing, as if it had just been picked. During breakfast we met another couple from Switzerland who had just checked in aswell – they are in Aitutaki for three weeks, lucky them. They have already been here two weeks so gave us some tips on what to do and see. They warned us that food is very expensive here especially groceries.
The room
Afterwards we had a wander around the amazing gardens where there are lots of cockerels, chickens and cats! We then went to the beach just a few meters away and had a paddle in the ocean. Then we went to our villa to freshen up.
by Mandeep Gaygoat
We wanted to buy a thank you present for Harkirat Singh and Simran Sat Sangeet therefore we popped over to Larchmont where we bought a picture frame and some very nice soap. Afterwards we had a final trip to BabyCakes!
We also needed to pop to the laundromat and final trip of this holiday to the Guru Ram Das Gurdwara on Preuss.
Afterwards we headed back to the house, packed and gave the presents, hope they liked them!
We also got to meet Manjeet their daughter which was very nice.
Headed to LAX around 9pm the journey took 30 minutes and actually got to the airport in plenty of time! On a previous trip to LA we checked in 55 minutes before departure.
by Mandeep Gaygoat
This morning we visited Sri Singh Sabha Walnut, this Gurdwara Sahib was established in 2008 to address the growing Sangat’s needs in the Los Angeles and Orange County of Southern California. The constitution and guiding principles of the Gurdwara align with the Akal Takht, and to a strong commitment to developing the youth into Sikhi and the future. It is registered as a non-profit religious corporation in California.
There was a nice atmosphere.
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