Seventh adventure for Eclipse Chasers

Paris McKenzie and Michael Robinson from Melbourne Australia are “Eclipse Chasers.”
They are here to witness the solar eclipse which will occur at 8.10am on Sunday.
They will not be going over to Mangaia to join some 600 others but will view the event from a boat chartered from Taio Shipping. In fact 60 other friends and associates from the entertainment industry will be joining them aboard as they venture some 30 miles off shore to get a good view of the total eclipse.
McKenzie is an events coordinator and Robinson a producer in the Australian music industry.
Both have traveled extensively around the world to witness eclipses. They’ve been to places like Siberia, Turkey and Kiribas. Each event has been an adventure and this is their seventh.
Much has been written about eclipses and McKenzie said this eclipse is described as a Sirus eclipse or “shy” eclipse because it moves mainly over uninhabited areas of the planet. It ‘s the 162nd time such an eclipse has happened.
A Phoebe eclipse or “ostentatious” eclipse is one that is witnessed by many people for example there was a Phoebe eclipse when Alexander the Great was born and when Einstein produced the theory of relativity.
Dance party at Rehab Bar
On Friday night the Rehab Bar is teaming up with entertainers from overseas to throw a big dance party which will also raise funds for the Te Vaerua Community rehabilitation clinic in Arorangi.
Scotty Arlander of the Rehab Bar told the Times on Thursday, the entertainers are part of a large group from Australia here with Eclipse Chasers Paul McKenzie and Michael Robinson to witness the solar eclipse on Sunday.
It promises to be a night of entertainment unlike anything ever seen on Rarotonga before. There will be laser lighting effects and electronic dance music to produce a festival atmosphere. The group are calling themselves the “Black Pearl Eclipse Chasers.”
The dance party will start at 9pm and go through until 2am. Proceeds from the door charge of $3 will go to Te Vaerua rehab clinic. Special glasses to watch the eclipse with will also be on sale for $5 and half the proceeds will go to Te Vaerua clinic.
Scotty said there will also be a wrap up party on Thursday night from 9pm-midnight.
Check out the dance party and support a worthy cause at the same time.
Te Vaerua clinic has been partially completed and needs assistance. When fully up and running it will be the only multi-disciplinary clinic for physical rehabilitation in the Cook Islands. Its services are free and staff can visit people at home if they have transport problems.

By Charles Pitt

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