Ok Internet here is so very very expensive (not to mention so very very slow) so this is just a quickie. It's stunning here - if you've ever seen a photo or postcard of paradise then it's probably from The Cook Islands. I have never seen such clear blue seas and so many beautiful beaches and deserted palm tree lined islands, and met so many wonderful people as I have here. It really has taken me aback how much I love this place and quite how special these ...

What a surprise, so here I am - The Cook Islands (for those who have no idea where these are, think south of Hawaii and East of Fiji - think paradise island in the South Pacific). Well? Wouldn't you escape the cold when faced with 170 pound return fare? And technically I've not really left New Zealand (well that's my excuse for whimping out). So, I left Auckland at 10pm on Wednesday 26th April and arrived in the Cook Islands at 4am on Wednesday 26th April...