Round the World

Hello everybody...
Feeling a tad tender today as we managed a most amazing cross island trek yesterday (8km in total)
6 of us from the hostel geared up at nine oclock and after a short bus ride, entered the interior of the island, shortly before 11. After stumbling across a tied up pig and several incidents of roadkill.. the road disappeared (completely) and all we had to follow were muddy footprints trailing off into the forest. Well, it got worse as the almost vertical climbs up tree roots and over branches nearly got the better of ali as he banged his head and looked a complete loser as sweat began to appear where it really shouldnt do!

Any way, to cut a long story short, we made it to the needle (the highest point on the trek) where we consumed two marmite sandwiches (Thanks Pols Mum!) and managed to cool off while taking some great pics.

The way down was slightly easier and after some closer encounters with some rather large spiders, we made it to the waterfall where we all cooled off and gave the mosquitoes a feast. Four km's later and we arrived back at the hostel, slightly worse for wears but in need of some alcholic refreshments! Last night was spent drunk and playing some card games with the rest of the UK contingent (great fun) but someone has pinched our lonely planet..grr.
Thanks for the comments everyone,

Alis mum: Sorry about the day off yesterday.. hope this placates your hunger for more news!
Pols mum and dad: How did Loz get on with his interview? and how is the Rabbitoid?
Sandrine: Nice to know Topshop havent forgotten about me yet!
David: Wish i could say the same about work! However, having too much fun out here to contemplate organising your week for you!

Miss you all

Pollyali

Well here we are, Day two of our Rarotongan adventure and if we are honest, we've done f### all! The beach is fantastic and right on our doorstep.. we have a cheap room and the hostel is full of backpackers.. SWEET! Only seems to be two problems at the minute... and wait for it...
1: Jet lag: led to a monster 13 hour sleep yesterday and our record bed time so far has been 9oclock.
2: The weather is a bit shoddy. No where near as bad as in Blighty (before you all laugh to yourselves!) but overcast and showery whilst still being 25 degrees. Thanks for the comment (Mothers) it shows that some people have been bothered to register (we know you have Col and Mike, but we eagerly await some input)
Sorry for the lack of visual stimuli, the hostel, being budget does not allow for the uploading of data but merely the trickle of incoming info. We will, however endeavour to put some on in Fiji (next week!)
The islands are very expensive for phone calls - $10 for three mins of calls (so we will call more when we arrive in New Zealand in a couple of weeks time.
Snorkelling has been an amazing experience for us both. We have seen some incredible fish and a multitude of slimy squelchy sluggy type things. Pol seems to have made friends with two dogs and a pair of hermit crabs whom she has affectionately named "Hermi" and "Gary"
We seem to be eating well (bread, noodles and beans) but we dont care as we dont have anything strenous to do.
thats aboot your lot for today, we probably will update again soon so keep any eye out for more adventures of pollyali..

love you all.

xxxxxx

Preliminary views of Tahiti, in my opinion were "amazing." Shame it didnt last. After getting on the boat to the neighbouring island of moorea.. which was great fun (with some fantastic views) we met, by a stroke of luck, our host " Mark" from Marks paradise. He "Kindly" offered to give us a lift to our "prebooked" accomodation in his beaten up four by four. He took us to his equally beaten up shack. And when i say equally, i mean it..The "Shed" was coming out of the bottom of a tree, which in first light seemed ok... but when night came, all manner of creepy crawly type things emerged to play.
Nuff said about the accomodation. The Island of Moorea was "BORING" to say the least... i thoroughly recommend no-one goes there unless you have a sheraton gold card with gazillions of pounds in t'bank.
However in defense of the good citizens of Tahiti they were without a doubt the nicest people we have ever met. And close your ears now mother.... We HITCH-HIKED from the shed to the ferry port as there were no buses and we were damned if we were paying Mark to take us back there. This leads me on the Bill we received from the lovely Mark. The nice convenient lift he had offered, did in fact cost us 1000 cfp's.. which is about 6 pounds... wouldnt have minded if he had mentioned this at the ferry port, but he didnt so we were miffed to say the least.

We have decided to start a little game called "Who Gets Bitten The Most" present, it is 3-0 polly and every time we write, we will update for your viewing pleasure... Time to go as we only have 12 mins internet left... prelim views on Rarotonga are...

"TOP BANANA"

P.S... Ali agrees.