Rarotonga's majestic peaks fringed by beaches

Landing on the main island of Rarotonga you can't help being mesmerised by the beautiful lush landscape that dominates the centre of the island.  The island can be circumnavigated in 45 mins and has a local bus that does that regularly stopping at all the little settlements along the way on the coastal fringe.  There's not much in 'Raro' but it doesn't take long to appreciate the sleepy nature of the place and to enjoy the freedom of getting around easily.  We hired a dodgy rusted out convertible for our time there which the kids enjoyed and it enabled us to explore some of the back roads easily.  

Raro runway

Stayed at The Pacific Resort Rarotonga

The Weather Rock - if its spinning its a tornado

Great little motus in the Raro lagoon provided wonderful snorkelling sites

Hermit crab racing

The finishing line!

On the back of the rusted out convertible! exploring. 

The CICC built out of coral limestone

The Cook Island Maori keep their dead near their ancestral homes and ornately decorate the graves.

The backdrop to Raro's main shopping district

A typical colourful Cook Islands home.

A warrior welcoming us to the Highland Paradise feast and cultural show.

With Spencer a friend from the resort

Cook Islands

We spent 2 weeks in April 2013 in the relaxed Cook Islands - a little bit of paradise in the South Pacific.  Turquoise lagoons, mutos (small islands), tropical fish, taro, goats, pigs, spectacular jungle covered volcanic peaks, coral atolls and dodgy vehicle rentals!   

The Cook Islands are an island country in the South Pacific comprising of 15  islands - Rarotonga being the largest. The country has free association with NZ providing Citizenship.   There are 14,000 people in Rarotonga but a much larger population in the North Island of NZ as stated in wikipeadia!  As one local said their most valuable export is their children as families are split between the two nations enabling them to access education and better opportunities. From what we experienced the Cook Islanders really value family and greetings and farewells which are frequent are entangled in layers of fresh flower leis and garlands. 

A typical house on Rarotonga

Aitutaki Lagoon

The central island volcanic peaks.

The fluro baby clams

Hamock fun on Aitutaki

Walking to 'The Needle' Raro.

A local Aitu Islander being welcomed home at the airport wearing fresh leis beautiful!

The Aitu bakery oven makes some nice buns!

Tiffanies, Lego and FAO what more could you want!

Something for everyone!

5th Ave has it all starting with the Lego store in the Rockefeller complex you can easily negotiate it with kids.  I managed a quick visit to Tiffanies (Alex stayed out side too embarrassed to come in wearing a fluro lime green Aldi jacket) for such a famous institution which causes hearts to flutter they were incredibly welcoming and non judgemental.  I was greeted by a host and the kids were offered stylish Tiffany and  Co kid packs even though we obviously looked like tourists each counter sales person was so pleasant and helpful.    I ended up getting a sterling silver Tiffany trinket but was more excited to get the duck egg blue box and bag that was so nicely done up with ribbon!  To keep the kids happy for being really good we stopped in at the famous FAO Schwartz Toy Store an institution founded in 1862 famous for its floor piano. 

Lego Store at Rockefeller

The iconic Tiffanies building - where's my little black dress!

Looking pretty thrilled with my Tiffany souvenir purchase, 'ahh the duck egg blue box'

The FAO store toy soldier welcomes you!

The FAO Big Piano being played by Hollanders tippy toes.

Rockerfeller the giant

The Rock!

The Rockefeller Center was built during the Great Depression in the 1930's by J.D. Rockefeller Jrn.  The son of the richest oil refinery man in the world wanted to create jobs by financing the center.  Built over 9 years  it comprises of several outdoor plazas and 19 beautiful Art Deco buildings decorated by various artisans in bas relief, sculptures, and frescoes.  The centre  provides space for retail, offices and entertainment (NBC Studios in the GE Building, Top of the Rock observation deck and Radio City Music Hall) and is the site of the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree installation that draws crowds of thousands each year.

Prometheus overlooking the ice skating rink (small and a bit pricy compared to Central Park),
this is where the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree is positioned each year.

Art Deco frieze 'Wisdom' above the GE building entrance.

The view of The Empire State building.

Operating the coin viewers looking towards Central Park - our apartment was upper West (left) of the park.

Poor Oren trying to keep warm - it was bitterly cold up there!

Radio City Music Hall one of the many Rockefeller buildings.

Looking down 5th Avenue! it has all the glamorous shops in it.

The UN needs repair

A Modernist vision for a peaceful world. 

The United Nations was formed after WW2 'to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war'.  The headquarters has been based in NY since 1947 and now currently has representatives from 192 countries, all of which have committed to the UN's Charter to settle differences by peaceful means.  

Such an iconic and important building which when constructed would have been a beacon for an optimistic future - a classic Modernist building simple lines open spaces but now the paint is peeling and every thing looks tired and run down.  I know its not an organisation that needs a nice building but its such an inspiring institution that shows the best of humanity so it would befit an equally inspiring headquarters.   Maybe all the first World countries could chip in to do a reno! 

The United Nations is amazing it has a General Assembly that meets annually to discuss world issues  and then deliberates these.  Other UN bodies are the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat all of which report to the General Assembly .  Each member state has one vote at the  UN so when there are unanimous outcomes the resolutions carry more weight with Governments when the UN is recommending action to implement on matters of international security, law and human rights abuses.  

Dove of peace

The replica of Sputnik satellite (1957)  hangs in the UN Lobby,
this is what triggered the American 'Space Race' with Russia.   

Let Doves Fly!

The subway to Queens Hall of Science

The New York Hall of Science.

Of course we had to venture out on the coldest day to Flushing Meadows Queens to see a Science museum! our family is always on the look out for a science museum. So we left glamorous Manhattan Island and travelled about an hour on the crowded subway passing through run down graffitied neighbourhoods that typify New York.  The museum is housed on the site of the 1964 World Trade Fair and surrounding it are rocket relics from the Cold War era.  The museum was great it had alot of interactive experiences and the 3D movie on Space Junk was fantastic - never thought about all the rubbish floating around in orbit which is becoming a hazard for functional satellites .