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latest picture: August 8, 2009

• click a picture to see details

01  The modest House of Parliament

in Avarua, the capital of the Cook

Islands on the island of Rarotonga,

fits the peaceful holiday atmosphere

and was formerly a hotel

 02  At the 44th Anniversary of the

Constitution Day on August 4, 2009

– the self governance of the Cook

Islands and the partial disengagement

from New Zealand – the police

corps carries the flag into the

National Auditorium in Avarua

03  His Excellency Sir Frederick

Goodwin, the Head of State and

the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon.

Sir Terepai Maoate are watching

together with their spouses the

raising of the National flag

(from left to right)

04   Students of the Avarua Primary

School highlight the Constitution Day

Celebrations with a cultural performance

 05   Outside of the Auditorium, the

dance performers pose for a picture:

The boys .....

06   ..... and the girls

07   Garlands of fresh flowers as

headdress are part of the

Polynesian charm .....

 08   ..... as are the hats

against the tropical sun, be

it simple ones like the one

of this young girl guide .....

09   ..... or elaborately hand woven

ones that are worn particularly

at special occasions

10  Tropical flowers blooming

in different colors

 11  A rare view in urban areas:

A tree with Spanish Moss

12  We found this flower especially in

coastal areas, seemingly a kind of lilies

13  A peaceful spot:

Cooks Corner in Avarua

 14  The whitewashed Avarua

church attracts in its simplicity

15  A Safari Jeep – particularly

outfitted for so-called “Tourist

Adventures” – decorated with

coconuts, is driving past

the Avarua church

16  ’Te Rua Manga’, also known

as “The Needle”, is the island’s

most striking peak (1’355ft. high)

 17  Rural charm at Rarotonga’s

inland road, which runs with a few

exceptions parallel to the coastal road

18  Majestic palm trees against the

mountain ridge are a common sight

19

 20

21

Three different views of the turquoise Muri Lagoon with its white sand beaches in the Southeast of the island

22  The church in Matavera (CICC

– Cook Islands Christian Church),

built in the beautiful old way

 23  The “Para O Tane Palace” in

Avarua was the place where Makea

Takau, a Paramount Chief, signed

1888 the treaty accepting the Cook

Islands status as a British protectorate

24  View from the outlook above

the hospital of Avarua towards

the Western Coastline

25

 26

27

Protected by a reef, there are several sandy beaches all around the island; here along the South coast

28  Rural scene between

coconut palm trees

 29  Along the Avarua harbor

front on the North coast

30  Stone remnants of the

Marae ‘Arai Te Tonga’,

an ancient open place of

worship of the Polynesian

culture in the Northeast

31  A farmer is selling fresh lettuce at

the Punanga Nui market in Avarua .....

 32  ..... local food is

cooking in the pots .....

33  ..... waiting for customers

34  Souvenirs and handicrafts at

the Punanga Nui market attract

many tourists, who are coming

mainly from New Zealand

 35  Beautiful jewelry made out

of shells is for sale at the

Punanga Nui market

36  A live band and dancers

entertain the crowds

at the market place

37

 38

39

Different groups in colorful costumes perform a cultural show at the Saturday market

40

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Polynesian beauties and their charm