The Kingdom of Tonga - Sept / Oct 2014

Tonga – Niuatoputapu – Vava’u – Ha’apai – Sept Oct 2014

 

We arrived in Tonga after a pleasant sail/passage from Pago Pago American Samoa in early September.  

The people were very happy to welcome us and our Check-in procedure was more like a party than the bureaucratic process we normally experience.

 

We stopped here to deliver relief and aid supplies collected by Kaija and friends Eagle and Betty from Pago Pago had collected. 

 

This island houses some 800 residents, most without power or running water.  There are a few old cars but not enough gas to keep them running and the supply vessel come once each 6 months.

Just prior to our arrival the King of Tonga visited who promised to supply a new generator for the island.  He stayed long enough to collect the island's biggest pig, then departed. 

While we missed the King we did get the Bishop.  During our visit and Bishop of the Catholic Church arrived to show his support by having a fund raiser with dancing by the three local villagers. 

The Bishop held Confirmation services for many of the island youth.  

We enjoyed many gatherings with the locals and fellow cruisers including church services and enjoying the hospitality of Sia and Nicku who hosted a pig roast for the cruisers.

We spent 3 weeks on this isolated stretch of sand and made many new friends including one sweet young lady named Narita who presented Kaija with a typical Tongan necklace...Kaija presented her with a string of pearls and made a friend for life.

We will long remember our Tonga time.

We continued south to Neiafu Vava’u which is a port of entry for the Kingdom of Tonga.  Here we enjoyed reunions with many of our cruising friends and enjoyed the annual Billfish tournament with anglers arriving from as far as New Zealand and Australia. 

 

 The Tournament was won by a wee lady ‘Denise’ on her boat Mv Escalade.  Considering her small size (smaller than Kaija) she sure put the larger swaggering blokes to shame.  After the tournament was over Denise went on to set a new Tongan record for Billfish landing a 230 Kilo beauty on 24 Kilo line...well done Denise!

THE MAJESTIC WHALE OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA

 

A real highlight of this trip was seeing the Whales.  This is truly a reason to visit Tonga.  These are among the planets most Majestic mammals.  They are so completely graceful despite their mammoth size above and below the water.  Baby Humpback whales are born at 4 meters weighing 2 tons and full grown adults reach 18 meters and 50 tons.   We are reminded of the diversity of the great Creator and all the wonders of our beautiful world.

 We continued south to the Ha’apai Island Group. 

 
These islands so much like the long sand swept beaches of the Tuamoto Islands of French Polynesia and so different from the northern Tongan Vava’u islands. 

The waters here are crystal clear and the fish and reef life abundant.

We depart Tonga grateful of our experience sharing with these beautiful people who were so grateful for what supplies we brought with us.  We are    reminded once again of the wonderful life we live and how blessed we truly are. 

We and looking forward now to our visit to Fiji.

I am sitting in an internet café with no power and my computer is dying...I will post the remaining pictures from Fiji. 

UPDATE*** AS OF OCT 15 WE ARE NOW IN FIJI...OUR PASSAGE TIME WAS 3 DAY 4HRS OF VERY ENJOYABLE SAILING AND WE HOOKED 4...ONE LARGE ENOUGH TO BITE THRU STEEL LEADER....MMMM MAYBE TOOOOO BIG...AND LANDED THREE 15 POUNDERS...A LOVELY FAT TUNA...A 43 INCH WAHOO AND A 4 FT MAHI MAHI....IT'S ALL GOOD ON KAIJASONG.  

TILL THE NEXT TIME...KEEP DREAMING YOUR LIFE AND LIVING YOUR DREAM! 

 

Cheers,