21/1/2026 The Papa Tom experience and farewell to the ladies

Today's plan found itself changed dramatically at breakfast. I was sitting trying to get some watermelon down my throat and drinking my 4th cup of coffee, when Papa Tom’s large hand landed on my shoulder. He asked me if I was ready to receive my Maori Karakia to ease the pain. At this point I will try anything, and there is something very special about Papa Tom's energy, so what do  I have to lose? He had to do his security patrols and we arranged to meet at 0800 at the little hut that overlooks the ocean, because the ocean plays its part in the Karakia.

Papa Tom was sitting there waiting when I arrived and I sat down next to him. We chatted for a while and he asked me about Simon and when he had died and how and what sort of a man he was. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to tell him all about Simon what an amazing, utterly selfless human being he was and how much I love him. When I'd finished talking about Si and all the things he'd achieved and accomplished in his life Papa Tom explained to me what the Karakia was. 

Before he began, he asked me if I knew what to expect from it, and I told him I'd deliberately not looked anything up or researched it so I could come into it with a completely open mind, and with no expectations. Check me out managing my expectations like a grown up!  We’ll see how long that lasts wont we. 

Karakia are Māori incantations and prayers used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. They are also considered a formal greeting when beginning a ceremony. The word karakia, which Maori use for prayer, used to mean a spell, charm, or incantation and Maoris have them for every circumstance you could imagine.  They are used to ritually cleanse the homes of the deceased after a burial.

Papa Tom closed his eyes and began chanting in Maori, and whilst I couldn't understand the words obviously, I became very emotional purely from the amount of passion and the energy he was pouring into the words. We were both sitting down, but then he began adding in powerful arm movements which I can only describe as being like a sitting down Haka, which increased the energy around us massively. The hairs on my arms stood up on end, tears were running down my face and it felt like the words were winding themselves around and flowing into me. 

The Karakia and Haka ( for want of a better word) lasted for quite some time and when Papa Tom had finished, he then held both my hands in his monstrous paws, and asked me to close my eyes, which I did. He then began a prayer, again in Maori, but the heat and energy that flowed through his hands into mine was indescribable. I've been trying to find the right words all day and there are simply none that describe how powerful the experience was.

Once that prayer was finished, Papa Tom continued holding my hands and then had me breath in the ocean, the wind, the sunshine and the earth as he chanted another. When that was finished, we sat in silence for a little while and I watched a kaleidoscope of colours dancing behind my eyelids, which was again amazing. I know I need to use more words, but frankly, I simply don't have the vocabulary to adequately describe the experience. I truly wish I did. 

Papa Tom told me that I could open my eyes when I was ready, and when I did, there was the most beautiful vibrant rainbow rising out of the ocean and stretching up over his head into the heavens. I have the strongest sense of complete and utter peace within me. My whole body is tingling and I feel like I'm glowing like the readybrek kid. 

There is so much I have been unable to put into words, but there are also things I haven't wanted to even try and put into words, but in a nutshell I feel lighter, l feel peaceful and more importantly I am at peace. 

We were there for over an hour, and when Papa Tom left I sat there, the sun came out and everything was brighter, the sky, the ocean, the trees, everything. My tiny little mind has been blown by an ancient Maori Karakai and I feel so privileged to have been gifted it.  

While I sat there I had a message from the ladies, they were on their way down for a coffee so I went and met them. They wanted to hear all about the Papa Tom experience, both of them having had one with him on previous occasions. Their new tattoos are beautiful and they're both so pleased with them. What they are not pleased about is having to go home today. The weather in Auckland is really bad and they're hoping that the flight won't be able to land so they'll have to stay in Raro. They were going into town to do some last minute shopping before returning the car and we arranged to meet up when they got back. 

I went back to the room as it began raining and decided that instead of going for a ride on the bus I'd read my book and watch the world go by instead. The ladies messaged when they were in the lobby and I went to join them. We had an hour to kill while they were waiting for their Kruber to pick them up and we chatted about every subject under the sun. I've been invited out to NZ for Niki's 40th birthday which isn't until  November 2027  but is taking the form of  a polynesian Island cruise. So I think if it goes ahead I shall do it. Even though it's on a boat. And we all know I don't like boats. I feel I should add here, I've been obsessively following the latest shark attacks in Manly Sydney, it's not helping the water or boat fears!

Before the Kruber arrived to pick them up we had photos taken outside the resort with some of the staff the ladies had formed quite a bond with, which are always nice to keep.

The Kruber arrived and the ladies' bags were loaded into the Ute. A step ladder was produced, identical to the one Si used to carry in the truck for me to use when I was having a bad day, for them to get into the back. You don't have to get in the truck bed. You can use the seats if you like but the ladies were wanting the cool air and the novelty of sitting on a plank of wood. Besides, it's half the price of a normal taxi and a lot more fun. I waved them off  and then went and parked myself by the pool for a few hours.

Abraham the bar man was collecting the glasses during happy hour, and stopped for a chat. He's Fijian and has been in Rarotonga for twelve months with his family because the cost of living is better and the wages are higher. Also, he only works 5 days a week,  only works 8 hour shifts and he is able to send a lot of money home as well as have a nice life. He is a giant of a man with a wonderful smile and that quiet gentle nature I've come to associate with and love about the Fijians. We chatted for quite a while about Fiji and I have a hankering to return, but to the real Fiji, to the villages because his stories are wonderful. 

As he returned to his glass collecting, I had to pack up my bag rapidly as the heavens opened up and torrential rain fell. By the time I got back to my room I was soaked to the skin but have had such an amazing day I couldn't care less. It's warm rain anyway! And within 5 minutes it had stopped again anyway, it's the rainy season, it's expected!

Much Love 

Mrs Leonard

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