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Tahitian Princess
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By: kjfitz
@ 2007-07-11 18:14:42]]>

Tahitian Princess
[Info] [GM] [LM] [YM]
By: kjfitz
@ 2007-07-11 18:14:42]]> http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/35074/ http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/35074/ Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:14:42 -0500 http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/35074/ -21.19894200 -159.78235600

Aitutaki
[Info] [GM] [LM] [YM]
By: AlbinoFlea
@ 2006-04-11 21:40:04
From www.ck/aitutaki:


This magnificent and remote island is the stuff of which dreams are made. It is a triangular-shaped 'almost'-atoll rising up 4000 metres from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of three volcanic and 12 coral islets (motus)

It was probably first settled around 900 AD and one of its great legendary Polynesian Outrigger canoediscoverers was Ru who named it Utataki Enua O Ru Ki Te Moana. Roughly translated, this means The Leading of a Cargo of People by Ru Over the Ocean. It can be inferred that Aitutaki was, therefore, the ultimate destination of one of the great Polynesian ocean voyages.

The first recorded discovery by Europeans was Captain Bligh on the "Bounty". He arrived on April 11 1789 and shortly afterwards the famous mutiny occurred. Bligh returned later on July 25 1792. He is credited with introducing the paw paw fruit to Aitutaki and this is now an important export product from the Cook Islands.

The first missionary to the Cooks, John Williams, landed on Aitutaki before any of the other Cooks and there is a large, airy coral block church in Arutanga, the main township, which bears testament to his success in converting the people to Christianity.

According to the IMDb, Aitutaki is the filming location of the both the 2003 movie The Legend of Johnny Lingo and the 1984 movie The Silent One. ]]>

Aitutaki
[Info] [GM] [LM] [YM]
By: AlbinoFlea
@ 2006-04-11 21:40:04
From www.ck/aitutaki:


This magnificent and remote island is the stuff of which dreams are made. It is a triangular-shaped 'almost'-atoll rising up 4000 metres from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of three volcanic and 12 coral islets (motus)

It was probably first settled around 900 AD and one of its great legendary Polynesian Outrigger canoediscoverers was Ru who named it Utataki Enua O Ru Ki Te Moana. Roughly translated, this means The Leading of a Cargo of People by Ru Over the Ocean. It can be inferred that Aitutaki was, therefore, the ultimate destination of one of the great Polynesian ocean voyages.

The first recorded discovery by Europeans was Captain Bligh on the "Bounty". He arrived on April 11 1789 and shortly afterwards the famous mutiny occurred. Bligh returned later on July 25 1792. He is credited with introducing the paw paw fruit to Aitutaki and this is now an important export product from the Cook Islands.

The first missionary to the Cooks, John Williams, landed on Aitutaki before any of the other Cooks and there is a large, airy coral block church in Arutanga, the main township, which bears testament to his success in converting the people to Christianity.

According to the IMDb, Aitutaki is the filming location of the both the 2003 movie The Legend of Johnny Lingo and the 1984 movie The Silent One. ]]> http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16373/ http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16373/ Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:40:04 -0500 http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16373/ -18.86990500 -159.78515600

Rarotonga
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By: AlbinoFlea
@ 2006-04-09 23:57:19
From http://www.ck/raro.htm:

SINCE RAROTONGA is the youngest island in the Cook Islands southern group it is physically unlike its other volcanic neighbors where erosion and periodic submersions have reduced mountains to gentle hills. Rarotonga's central massif is the eroded remains of a once mighty volcanic pyramid whose crags now form sawtooth peaks and razorback ridges covered with tropical jungle. These are separated by streams running down steep valleys.

The island stands 14,750 feet (4500m) above the ocean floor. It is 20 miles (32k) in circumference. At a depth of 13,000 feet (4000m) the volcano is some 31 miles (50k) in diameter. The highest peak is 2140 feet (658m) above sea level and the island is surrounded by a lagoon which extends several hundred yards to the reef which then slopes steeply to deep water.
Around the central mountainous area of this beautiful island is a narrow band of agricultural terraces and flats which, in turn, is encircled by a ring of swamps used largely for growing taro.

The island's present-day name stems from 'raro' meaning 'down' and 'tonga' meaning 'south'. The most popular version of its origin is that the famous Tahitian navigator, Iro, visited it once and some years later while on Mauke he met Tangiia who asked where he was going. Iro replied: 'I am going down to the south.' The Samoan voyager, Karika, is also reputed to have called it Rarotonga when he first saw it from the north-east because it was to leeward -- 'raro' -- and towards the south -- 'tonga'.
In 1997 Japanese archaeologists unearthed a previously unknown 'marae' -- sacred site -- on Motu Tapu, an islet in the lagoon at Ngatangiia. This is estimated to be 1500 years old which would put settlement much earlier than the legend of the arrival of Kainuku Ariki. Based on the evidence of fires, archaeologists have estimated that there was human life on Rarotonga about 5000 years ago.

According to the IMDb, Rarotonga is also one of the filming sites for the movie The Other Side of Heaven.]]>

Rarotonga
[Info] [GM] [LM] [YM]
By: AlbinoFlea
@ 2006-04-09 23:57:19
From http://www.ck/raro.htm:

SINCE RAROTONGA is the youngest island in the Cook Islands southern group it is physically unlike its other volcanic neighbors where erosion and periodic submersions have reduced mountains to gentle hills. Rarotonga's central massif is the eroded remains of a once mighty volcanic pyramid whose crags now form sawtooth peaks and razorback ridges covered with tropical jungle. These are separated by streams running down steep valleys.

The island stands 14,750 feet (4500m) above the ocean floor. It is 20 miles (32k) in circumference. At a depth of 13,000 feet (4000m) the volcano is some 31 miles (50k) in diameter. The highest peak is 2140 feet (658m) above sea level and the island is surrounded by a lagoon which extends several hundred yards to the reef which then slopes steeply to deep water.
Around the central mountainous area of this beautiful island is a narrow band of agricultural terraces and flats which, in turn, is encircled by a ring of swamps used largely for growing taro.

The island's present-day name stems from 'raro' meaning 'down' and 'tonga' meaning 'south'. The most popular version of its origin is that the famous Tahitian navigator, Iro, visited it once and some years later while on Mauke he met Tangiia who asked where he was going. Iro replied: 'I am going down to the south.' The Samoan voyager, Karika, is also reputed to have called it Rarotonga when he first saw it from the north-east because it was to leeward -- 'raro' -- and towards the south -- 'tonga'.
In 1997 Japanese archaeologists unearthed a previously unknown 'marae' -- sacred site -- on Motu Tapu, an islet in the lagoon at Ngatangiia. This is estimated to be 1500 years old which would put settlement much earlier than the legend of the arrival of Kainuku Ariki. Based on the evidence of fires, archaeologists have estimated that there was human life on Rarotonga about 5000 years ago.

According to the IMDb, Rarotonga is also one of the filming sites for the movie The Other Side of Heaven.]]> http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16342/ http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16342/ Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:57:19 -0500 http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/16342/ -21.22794200 -159.77417000