Cook Islands

Little Polynesian

In Meenu's words, 2024Little Polynesian and Cook Islands, a slice of heaven on earth.

Our flight from Honolulu was due on Rarotonga at 10:25 at night. A transfer took us to Little Polynesian for one night in a beachfront bungalow, so we only saw the lagoon in the morning. It was turquoise and shallow, right off the sand, with waves breaking on the reef further out.

That morning was Meenu's birthday. Her cake was lilac and covered in butterflies, and she called it one of the prettiest and tastiest cakes ever, a work of art.

Praddy had planned every step, and Meenu's birthday post was for him. She was amazed at "the meticulously and well executed plan beyond all the challenges that throw your way". That afternoon we flew on to Aitutaki.

Aitutaki and its lagoon

In Meenu's words, 2024Cruising through the glass-like water in one of the world's most beautiful lagoons.

Air Rarotonga flew us to Aitutaki on the afternoon of Meenu's birthday, 50 minutes from Rarotonga. Our first base was Etu Moana, where we had booked a beach-view villa.

We took a cruise across the lagoon. At One Foot Island, palms lean over white sand, and we danced in the clear shallows. The birthday celebrations went on out here too, on a strip of white sand in the lagoon with a blue cool box at our feet.

On one swim a giant trevally circled Meenu. Praddy saw it coming and said nothing, and the video caught her reaction.

Sunset at Pacific Resort

In Meenu's words, 2024Sunset skies and cocktails.

One evening we went to Pacific Resort Aitutaki, run by the same group as Little Polynesian, for a sunset island dinner. Meenu was ready on the beach as the sun went down behind a bank of cloud on the horizon.

We had cocktails there as well, while the sky turned orange over a row of kayaks on the sand.

Avatea Cafe and Ootu Beach

In Meenu's words, 2024It's matchy matchy day at this super raving and lovely cafe at Aitutaki.

We turned up at Avatea Cafe in matching striped T-shirts. Meenu called the food the most mouthwatering, delicious and freshly produced. We had veggie tacos made with clean ingredients, and Meenu had her first try of sea grapes. The chefs also made us an Indian veggie curry that wasn't on the menu, and she said it tasted fantastic.

On a grey day at Ootu Beach, the white sand ran out into pale, shallow water, with green hills across the lagoon.

Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort

In Meenu's words, 2024Aitutaki Lagoon is perfect for a pitch dark, minimal light pollution and settings to enable seeing countless stars and Milky Way for the naked eye.

For our last two nights we moved to Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, on its own island in the lagoon. Our villa stood over the water. Meenu filmed a tour of it, drawing back the curtains to the lagoon.

Days here were slow. We had breakfast with a view, biked around the island, fed the fish and spent time out on the lagoon. There was game time too: ping pong, foosball, darts, snooker, boxing, a guitar and a ukulele, which Meenu picked up.

Even after a tiring day, the night sky made Praddy pull out the tripod and camera. He waited out clouds and showers for a good shot, and the Milky Way picture here is his, taken on a Sony a7 III with an 18 mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens.

On 1 September, our last day, we had a traditional Cook Islands massage booked. That evening Air Rarotonga took us back to Rarotonga for Hawaiian's 23:35 flight to Honolulu, and we were back in San Francisco the next night.