Tonga Part 1 - Tongatapu Island (Main Island)

Oceania » Tonga » Tongatapu
August 16th 2008

Published: August 28th 2008

This is part one of two parts documenting my recent holiday in Tonga. I'll let the photos tell the story - so you'll need to open the photo - sorry - also note that there is more than one page of photos... so to see them all you'll need to go to page two. We left auckland on Saturday afternoon for Tongatapu Island for a two night stay, howerver had no reservations for accomodation on the island. ... Read Full Entry

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Donavin Wick

Call 2 Adventure

I wish I had discovered this blog years ago. I did the mass email update for my previous adventures (United States and Europe) and now have no online documentation to share with fellow travelers. To the chagrin of some friends and family wanderlust has struck again. I managed to stay focused for nearly a year and a half in a job related to my college education, however the desire to travel has grown strong again and can no longer be suppressed. I have secured a 12 month Visa for New Zealand and hope to document this adventure for posterity, or at least the life of the TravelBlog. Enj... full info

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Above the arch.

The whole island is flat (no hills/valleys). However on this side of the island the land is lifted approx 150feet above the sea... this is due to the land plat being uplifted by a grouping of heavy volcanic islands that formed miles off the coast on the other side of the island.

Local burial styel... yes those are beer bottles.

Body is actually placed in concrete box below the surface of the ground... the sand mound is similar to pyramid... get closer to the gods.

Ancient Stone "Trilathon"

No one is certain who built this, when and why. However it does seem to mark the solctices. Locals claim that it was done by early Tongans (1500AD) however the guide thinks Chinees explores did it. I vote aliens.

Captain Cook landing site

Tour ended with me showering with a roach.

Lucky's Guesthouse.

This place is run by a Brit that left the real world 18 years ago. great sense of humor.. but this guy was off his rocker. Every night he did kava drinking session (hallucinogen), forgot how to organise his business "I wish someone would tell me where I'm going with this tour group" and had an obsession with the colour green

Our green bedroom at Lucky's

The floor, walls and ceiling were all green... I had dreampt in green those nights.

Food market

We stopped here and did a bit of a walk through prior to our domestic flight to Vava'u

Women and girl sorting tomatoes

Fruits and roots

More food

It was reported that no one goes hungry here or homeless, but not a western lifestyle... "land rich, cash poor people"

Marcos waiting under the "do nothing shade tree" while I toured the market.

We took turns getting hit up for cab rides as one of us watched our bags under the tree while the other toured the market. Lots of people milling around and sitting in the shade of the tree.. few people actually work at jobs

Tyical Construction Tonga Style

How many guys does it take to make a dent in the asphalt drive. A: 3, and they still didn't get much done in 30 minutes of us watching them. It was painful to even watch these guys act like they were working. I guess earning $2 per hour isn't much of a motivation.

The same do nothing shade tree with even more people in want of nothing to do.

Another one of those small grocers along the road

These things were placed like fourth of july fireworks stands. you couldn't go more than a few hundered feet without finding another small shack converted into a grocer. Spam seemed to be the common food carried along with an asortment of other dried and prepackaged foods and bottled water. The places must be overrun by cockroaches.

Main Road on the Main Island

Cars operate on second hand tires from asian countries. The top speed recommended on the tires is 25 - 30 miles per hour. You're going no where fast now. Whole vehicles would be loaded down with people and were moving no faster than a snails pace on the open road. Even our cab driver out to the airport did no more than 30 miles per hour.

Domestic aircraft that took us to Vava'u

We were suprised that the flight was only running 1 1/2 hours later. We were expecting that they just might cancel a weeks worth of flights just because it's the islands.

Marcos passed out on the 50 minute flight

This ends part one of the photo show. See the next update for the better photos.

28th August 2008

Uncle Cliff
non-member comment

What, No Sheep?
And No Pictures of South Sea Island beautiful women? what would Fletcher Christian say? Lots of Black Jews here in America but not a single Black Mormon. Guess God forgot to put some on the Ark. I see that you are learning that the universe does not revolve around so called Western society and our Hollier Than Thou Morals and Standards. Don't go to Vanuatu. The women there run society and used to eat fat white boys.

30th August 2008

Kirsten
non-member comment

Donnys lil sis
Its nice to see a different part of the world. I hope you stay safe. Have You seen any Kingdom Halls there yet I wonder how many they have there? Maybe you could get their contact information and get a brochure in their language and send it to me. that would be cool. Donivan I do miss you very much. and i get concerd with how much you drink and that now your celebrating things that in the past you thought were not so appropriate. I know it was hard on us growing up. parents were divoracing and our lives going this way and that way. I dont want you to be upset with me and think that im telling you how to live your life its not my place. i just worry sometimes if one day your going to go too far and get hurt or not wake up because of an overdose of alcohol or maybe drugs. I think of when we were growing up why mom and dad gave us the princeples, values, and moral standards? They were trying to safe guard us. Their is so many people now days with many health problems and bad consciences because of a lack of self worth or having no value of their body. You Have a Hope that is deep in your heart that not many people Know about. please hear me out and take a deep look at what you are doing with your life. People say eat drink and be marry for tomarrow we will die. but You know that is not the case. I care for you donivan and i just dont want to hear that i lost my precious brother Donivan to an Evil world that is passing away. Just remember that all the problems that we have faced in this world will be forgotten when we reach that perfect referbished world. Im not trying to preach to you i just remember the Donivan that wanted so badly to go to Bethel and work there and enjoy the association of our brothers and sisters who were a good influence and who wouldnt get you to enjoy the short turm views of what we're living in now. I will always have a special place for you in my heart Donivan. Love Kirsten Your lil sis : ) please think of what example your teaching me to fallow

5th September 2008

Lisette
non-member comment

neat photos
lovely to see your photos which remind me so much of my own trip over there. Im glad you were so lucky with the weather and travelling companion!

18th February 2010

Lina
non-member comment

TongaTapu!
Hey! I come from Tonga but I've never been there i just want to ask one question, Why did you go to Tonga? I'm just impress to hear that two guys that don't come from Tonga went to Tonga!

25th August 2010

Kiki Ama
non-member comment

How was it?
Hi my name is Kiki! How was ur trip to tonga?? Im from tonga!!!!No lie

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Tonga Part 1 - Tongatapu Island (Main Island)

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