Paul Tombleson

Another Sunset, Rarotonga

I often hear from non-natives on the Cook Islands that the locals here are… well let’s say, pretty laid back. And while I don’t pretend to subscribe to this train of thought, I do know that lying in bed listening to the surf on the reef and the sizzle of water on the sandy shore I also feel pretty laid back. The scent of Jasmine and Frangipani (Plumeria) that wafts through the window on the occasional gust of air doesn’t stimulate me to action either. No, the most action I see this day from my balcony is a local fisherman launching his throw net into a breezy sunset. Maybe these folks are on to something?

Throw net Fisherman at Sunset

The days are taken up with visiting family and having the occasional lunch with my dad. These are simple affairs and are followed by the usual “cup of tea” which I dutifully make for my “old man”.

It’s Thursday and the buzz on the island is the big Royal Wedding. It comes on TV live at midnight. However at 11.30pm I find its time for bed. They will have to get married without me I decide. Judging by the repeat TV coverage the next day they didn’t need my blessings or me watching to successfully “jump the broom”.

I do awake however about 2am Friday morning and are inexplicably drawn to the balcony… the fog of sleep makes me slow to register that a light is coming straight at me from the Northern horizon. Funny, I think airplanes usually head east or west to land depending on the wind. This light is getting brighter and keeps coming straight ahead. This is no plane I decide as it radiates silently overhead and out of my scrutiny. What was it? I’m not sure but it was real, bright and a little unnerving, as I stand alone in the dark.

Lone Fisherman at Sunset

The next day I pick up the local paper and the headline reads “Mystery Visitor” Local fishermen report seeing a bright light and describe it as “Awesome and Scary”… “It was like a big ball of fire with sparks coming from the tail”. A meteorite, space junk burning up, UFO who knows? Again I don’t know what it was, but another quote from the newspaper sticks with me… “I will show wonders in the heavens…” Joel chapter 2 verse 3… hmmm, my kind of light show.

Shy Coconut Grab at Sunset

The days blend into each other with each  sunset as unique as snowflakes.