Where on earth..?

Aitutaki

Seven years ago Carina told me about a place called Aitutaki. I was like - Mmm.. What? I didn't understand a thing Carina kept telling me. Something about lagoon, water like nowhere else, swimming with unbelievable fishes and snorkling for a day and getting your back burned for years to come. What could I say? I guess I said as something like "Ok.. Right!"

Well, there was this time many years ago when we started planning our round the world tour. One of the first places that ended into our planned route was Cook Islands and Aitutaki. I was exited to see the place Carina kept telling me about. Could it be such a great place or was it just a nice place among the other great places in the world?

Now that I've seen Aitutaki and the lagoon in it I have to admit I've been left breathless. In Tonga we had some great snorkling with beautiful coral and strange fishes. I've seen beautiful places before in my life and been snorkling and diving in a places most of the people can only dream of. What makes Aitutaki and the lagoon so special, and a jewel amongst the most beautiful places in whole world, is the lagoon. Yes, the plain and simple sea water in the lagoon! It's pretty difficult to take pictures that gives the proper justification to the color of the lagoon but I can tell you that when you see it your self you'll know what I mean. Try to think of taking a boat ride through a lagoon and awe the changes in the colors of the water. It can be everything from bright blue to almost neon green and the clearness of the water is amazing. The green water you'll see from the boat will make you wordless. As you dip your head under water and see that the water is still green but at the same time so clear that you can probably see hundred meters in front of you. The sun will play on the coral and will ignite the colors of the fishes in the clear water underneath. And this is just the beginning.

When you surface on one of the motu's and take a look at the bright white coral sand beach you'll have to adjust your knowledge of paradise. The water surrounding the motu is clear as far as you can see. When you look at the horizon you'll see the huge waves string to the reef front and it seems like the white wall of foam will emerge on the sky as the horizon gets lost where the sea and sky meets. The green vegetation with the palm trees will stay in your mind for ever as you stroll along the beach. You're feel like crying as you inhale the beauty of the paradise. Welcome to Aitutaki.

posted by Raine @ 4:00 AM