I have a vague suspicion 
that there are more goats than people on Mangaia. :p

This may be a bold guess,
but I do find more cluster of goats around the island, 
on or off the road,
than I'd encounter people.
Perhaps there are more hidden houses than meet the eye.
But most houses I saw were empty, 
and were (partially) looked after by remaining residents.
Other former residents have moved to Australia or New Zealand.

I've said to Poroa entertaining the idea that all of these leftover houses
could be easily converted into AirBnB homes for Kiwis that come visit, 
and may crave for a piece of paradise
without the company of cleaners and stewardess like in a hotel.
It'd be what...$300 a night? 
That's good side income for anyone, whether they Are on the island or not.

​But of course, that's just my fanciful capitalistic idea,
with all due respect.
To make any formal decisions about anything around anyone's life & land,
that all needs to go through the sub-chiefs and village chief.
The village would need to come together to discuss things,
plus the distant relatives would need to consent first.
But if the border reopens again, and lots of kiwis are flooding in to Rarotonga,
Mangaia could easily set things up for hosting kiwi travelers who would want to experience real island life,
and learn from Mangaians about their own values towards life.

For the goats here,
I've learnt, 
that it's $50 for 1,
probably $20 extra if you want it killed and cleaned up.
For the pigs, it's $70 ~ $100 each.
And $20 on top for killing and cleaning it up.

The goats here are so cute, too.
They'd wag their tail as you approach.
Often you'll find 1 tied up to a tree,
occasionally with the owner coming by to crack open the coconuts for the goat to indulge.
Some individuals may own their own goat/goats,
A chief may own their own little trip of goats,
so you'd need to go to them to ask for purchasing one.

I'd personally just get a couple or a few as pets :P

I've been having a strong need of tawai lately.
It is only when I'm back in a dense forest
Do i feel truly fulfilled.
This 'tawai' I'm referring to is not a te reo word, but the 'tawai' that is the title of 1 of my favourite travel journalists' documentary based on a group of Penan people, who are nomadic deep forest dwellers,
Sadly they have now been pushed to the outskirts due to deforestation projects, 
But 'tawai' is that strong feeling of home when they return to the jungle again, to forage for food and set up tents,
leaving no trails...

Staying at home just doesn't feel wholesome with all this ghetto-ing that we do. 
Being-amidst-Nature is how I wanna spend my day, when time and weather permit.
I feel like it is some good hours well-spent when I'm amongst the trees, vines and ferns.

Do you have that sense of tawai when you go for a bushwalk, 
Or do you yearn to go back in the water,
Like an ocean child that you are/ a river lover?
Being in the water is something I deeply crave, too.
I miss bathing in the ocean while watching sunset on Aitutaki.
I miss sitting in the water at low tide at 3pm , right by a piece of coral, 
And watching the little fishes busying with their afternoon, like a child in an aquarium.