Kholakat.net Dissociative Ramblings

I really should start to post entries more often! Lemme see… what have I been up to this month? Well, I spent a few days in Rarotonga, Cook Islands last week. It was gorgeous! I have decided that it is by far, my favourite Pacific Island. I still can’t believe that I have now been to 3 islands this year – when I never even expected to go to one at all. Anyway, it was all ‘work, work, work’ as usual. Almost… We did have a day to chill out by the aquamarine water and champagne sand beach, sipping some delightful cocktails, and trying not to think about the exams that I will be having in a week or so. To give myself some credit, I did bring my textbooks with me… that was a waste of baggage allowance! Lol!

We stayed at the Rarotongan Beach Resort, home to every engaged/honeymooning/getting-married-there couple on the island. I never realised just how popular island weddings are for foreign people! I guess it is a nice, simple experience, and you are already there for the honeymoon part!

Everything seemed untouched by the tourist demons. Locals and tourists rode motorbikes and scooters around the island (a 45 minute round trip apparently), without helmets too! Many houses had family gravestones residing in their front yards, which I thought was very interesting. We had the chance to see a polynesian drumming and dance show which was amazing. The varying drum sounds beating in time to the fast sway (jerk) of the grass/leaf skirts of the women were amazing. I almost wanted to jump up and join them! Lol! That would have been interesting (and no doubt embarrassing for myself and my work-mate-person who I was with).

One of the top 1000 places to go, Aitutaki, is a 45 minute flight away. So many people recommended us to go there but we were limited by time constraints. The pictures look absolutely amazing! (I think I need a thesaurus) If you don’t believe me, I think you should Google it…no, I will help you! http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=aitutaki&meta=

While we were there, we got to meet the Prime Minister who was having dinner at the same place we were. He seemed very nice and friendly. The whole island was so friendly and everyone knew everyone else!

A very interesting (and fascinating) feature of the island is their attachment to their god of fertility, Tangaroa. Being a god of fertility, his genitals are on display everywhere you go! Quite a difference to the statues we see around Australia. I decided against bringing home any Tangaroa souvenirs, as amusing as they were, since I don’t want to test out my fertility just yet.

Anyway, I do have an exam to cram study for now (intro to e-commerce), and I think this is enough procrastination for now. I will try to set up some photos eventually (maybe after exams!) so I can prove that I have actually been to these places. Boi!

_yawn_ I couldn’t sleep so I thought I would use this time by being productive and catch up on my blog… saves me from going upstairs and demanding that the residents stop stomping around the place after having some very noisy visitors leave about half an hour ago.

Anyway, I am finally back in the country (again!) after seeing to the launch of the Vanuatu flights. Fun times had by all. Mostly… There were a few minor glitches around the place – but we got it all going so I guess that is the main thing. It was great to be back home again and to go back to the whole budgeting and saving thing. It’s hard to do when working with foreign currency! I just guess I am lucky that there wasn’t many souveneirs to buy in Vila.

I spent the next week or so working madly on a politics assignment on globalisation. Actually kinda harder than you would imagine – or maybe it was just my geeky brain unable to adapt well to differing thought processes and teaching styles. I’ve never had a lecturer say that we should think for ourselves!!! *grin* Now that is out of the way, I get to start on my e-commerce subject. Owchies.

Dad is about to embark on a trip to Switzerland to spent time with family and be there for Grandma’s birthday. He’s all packed up and ready to go, and is very excited! He will be spending some time in Thailand on the way back as well so he has to be on malaria tablets and everything! Me? I’m just waiting for V. Atlantic to make their merry way over to Australia so I can fly to HK at brilliant rates. EIther that, or hope some Virgin venture will come from Macau. I’m not fussy.

On another front, Heidi is going to be graduating from her law degree on the 9th of December. That makes us 2:0 in the degree states. I really should just finish the degree asap but with work being the way it is, it is becoming darn near impossible! I am even thinking of taking summer school off so I can just relax. That remains to be seen I think.

In the meantime, I remain addicted to Iron Chef and new favourite Stargate Atlantis. Yay for decent sci-fi! Well, it has so far started off fairly decently.