The Kiwi Getaway

- NIUE - The Rock (Fr:"Le Rocher")

We've just come back from Niue island where we spent an amazing week among amazing, kind and generous people. Niue is a small raised coral atoll in the South Pacific with 260 square kilometers and about 1,500 residents. Do not expect any sand beaches because there are none, Niueans: Otuko or Hio are not really sandy beaches :) . We won't say anything but we invite you to go through our pictures and videos. We hope we will convince you to stop by this amazing place, Niueans need our support!

We just want to thank all the Niueans for all the moments we shared together and for their generosity. Special thanks to Alison, Tani and Emani family, Fila and Stuart, Moa and Pati, and finally Nita and Jeannot for their hospitality and generosity. All these people made our trip so special and we won't forget them.

Nous venons de rentrer de l'ile de Niue ou nous avons passer une merveilleuse semaine en compagnie de gens etonnant, gentils et genereux. Niue est un petit atoll corallien dans le Pacific Sud qui "mesure" 260 kilometres carres and comprend 1500 habitants. Ne vous attendez pas a des plages de sable blanc, il n'y en a pas. Nous esperons que ces photos et videos suffiront a vous convaincre de vous arreter sur cette ile. Les Niueans ont besoin de notre support. Nous remercions tous les Niueans pour leur accueil chaleureux et leur generosite.

Day One / Premier Jour

Alofi Show day: Red was the color to wear on the day

Philippines:

Samoan show:

Coconut crab called Uga (can be old as 100 years!)

With Emani

With Fila

With Pati

Community dinner after the show (here: a few crabs...)

Day Two / Deuxieme jour:

Togo Chasm

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Day 3

Takai Road trip

Following Alofi Show day, "Takai" involves people from Alofi who travel around the island with decorated cars to celebrate by throwing candies to kids.

Apres le show a Alofi, "Takai" est organise autour par les habitants d'Alofi qui decorent leur voiture pour l'occasion et parcourent toute l'ile pour celebrer en donnant des bonbons aux enfants de l'ile.

With Jeannot, getting cars ready!

Video of Takai tour: http://youtu.be/2LwoFEErsP8

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Utuko and Opahi Reef:

Nice reef in Alofi next to the wharf, shelter of a few white tip reef sharks....

Boat coming every month supplying good and food for the island

White tip reef shark filmed in Utuko: link of video: http://youtu.be/dp4Z4Ik_d5w

Requin Corail: cliquez sur le lien ci-dessus

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Day 4

Umu (Niuean Hangi)

Traditionnal meal cooked under the ground on hot rocks inside banana leaves.

For this one we used chicken, pigeon, corned beef, pawpaw, coconut crab, coconut, coconut milk, taro.

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!

Plat traditionnel Niuean cuit sous terre sur des pierres chaudes a l'interieur de feuilles de bananes. On a utilise du poulet, du pigeon, corned beef, papaye, crabe de noix de coco, taro (espece de patate douce).

Karima holding a uga (coconut crab), tied down though....at 6am.

Karima et un crabe

Fila and I holding ugas

Nita with the ugas which will be boiled separately

Nita tenant les crabes qui seront bouillis a part

Next step is to separate coconuts from their "shell"

Il faut maintenant retirer les noix de cocos de leur enveloppe

Some coconuts possess a "marshmalow" growing inside, with a fibre texture and also containing some coconut oil
Certaines noix de coco contiennent un marshmalow a l'interieur. La texture est fibreuse et l'interieur contient egalement de l'huile de noix de coco.