New Year's Eve again on December 31st.

The alarm clock rings at 4:45 a.m. We're dead! 3 hours of sleep is simply not enough. The taxi is on time and so is our flight. The plane is an old 777 with an ancient entertainment system as a replacement for a 787 with engine problems.

After a 4-hour flight, we land on December 31st on Rarotonga, Cook Islands. We gained a day! After immigration, we have to go to the Health Officer because we visited Samoa. It's because of Dengue Fever, he says. He asks if we feel well. We both nod, say 'Yes', and then we are allowed to enter.😎

Our contact is named Joseph, works at Customs, and takes us with him once the plane is processed. The drive goes through a tropical paradise with 9,000 residents.

Our accommodation is great, we have our own little cottage. Joseph's wife is named Odette and she is German. As a welcome gesture, we are given fruit from their own garden. Pineapple, papaya, watermelon, and passion fruit. Absolutely delicious!

In the evening, we are given two bicycles so that we can ride to the party at Muri Beach. The 3 km is very sweaty.😅 Unfortunately, the fireworks will not take place as the pyrotechnician has passed away and no one else on the island has a license. We end up at Sails right on the beach. The beer tastes great and at midnight there is Henkell dry.😄 And yet fireworks: 3 rockets are launched.😂 Overall, it's still a nice second New Year's Eve. The return trip with hardly any light on the bike is a bit dangerous, but we come back safely. 2019 starts off well!