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 Stormy Weather by catalysta
But be aware that the roads can quickly become rivers. If you are out on your scooter, best to just pull over, no matter how drenched you get, and wait it out. After all, it's not as if you will get very cold when wet, it's still 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit!
I saw several scooter accident victims around the resort... Leave a Comment
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 Synanceia verrucosa - pic
borrowed from the net by FletteMette
The spines along the back of this fish are highly venomous and can inject a powerful poison that will cause quite severe pain. Be aware that allergic reactions might occur.
The up to 38 cm long stonefish tend to lie completely motionless on coral reefs, under rocks, or bury itself in the sand in shallow water - they are extremely well camouflaged, looking like an encrusted rock or piece of coral, and accidents occur by people unknowingly stepping on them.
Do wear reef shoes...and watch your step, neither you nor the poor stonefish will enjoy an encounter...!
The chemical structure of the poison is broken down by heat, so the best emergency treatment is to put the affected area into hot water (NOT boiling..;-) for an hour or so. Remove any visible spines left in the wound, but do not apply pressure to the wound. Treat the patient for possible shock (have him lie down, feet elevated) and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Leave a Comment Phone: +682 22664 Rarotonga HospitalOther Contact: +682 31002 Aitutaki Hospital
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 by FletteMetteLeave a Comment
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 by bijo69
Cyclone season is from November to March. For more info on tropical storms, have a look at the website below. Leave a Comment
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 Sootering Around Raro by catalysta
Also, don't be in a hurry. Tourists on scooters wipe out all the time, especially Americans & Canadians, since we're used to the other side of the road. Leave a Comment
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 pic downloaded by bijo69
For more info on stonefish have a look at the following website. Leave a Comment
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Don't plan to do much on Sundays in the Cook Islands. Just about everything closes down on this day. On Rarotonga there are a few local stores that open in the afternoon. Finding a restaurant that's open on a Sunday night on Aitutaki is difficult and all the shops are shut all day. Leave a Comment
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 The Dreaded Trivalli that
Poisoned us for 6 months by tna
Some guide books do mention Ciguatera but without going into detail, they make it appear to be a normal 24-48hr type of food poisoning. In reality, it is a long-term disease of the nervous system that effects your joints and your sense of hot and cold. We spent the rest of our holiday in sweaters and couldn't go in the gorgeous tropical waters because it would burn our skin (the sensation is like when you've been out in the snow and then you run your freezing hands under hot water...it is a burning, pins-and-needles sensation).
There can be a 1 in 10 fatality rate and if that is not all enough, you cannot eat any marine life for anything from 4 to 12 months after getting sick. This is because the toxin stays in your nervous system long after the worst of the symptoms are gone, and the toxin will attach itself to the special proteins found in aquatic life and you’ll get sicker. So this meant no shellfish, no fish-and-chips, no canned tuna, no anything like that for us for 6 months. There is no cure.
Apologies for all the detail, but it really is important to appreciate that it is much much more than just a simple fish or food poisoning problem. We wish that we'd known this before we went. The moral of the story is stay away from eating ANY fish in the Cook Islands, except for tuna. Leave a Comment
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Ciguatera fish poisoning is endemic wherever coral reef fishes are a food source. There is a warning posted on Muri beach describing the condition.and there have been reported cases every year .The toxin is not affected by either cooking or freezing, and the affected fish, cooked or raw, is not tainted by bacteria in any way.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramping, abdominal pain, and diarrheaand then intense itching, joint and muscle pain and tingling of the lips.
There is a list of the types of fish to avoid on the attached web site.
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Make sure you wear reef shoes when walking on the beach or even snorkeling ( if you don't have fins) . The coral is so sharp!! The water in the lagoon is quite shallow so you end up standing up lots . We found the reef shoes helped alot!
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