Blogs from Tongatapu, Tonga, Oceania

Tour Day 24, Cruise Day 24 – Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga – Liku'alofa Scenic Island Drive (3.5 hours) – Explore the island of Tongatapu as you board an island-style bus and travel to the west coast. You will pass the Royal Palace and the Central Business District of the capital city of Nuku'alofa. Take in some scenic highlights, including the Liahona Coconut Plantation, home to a bizarre three-headed coconut tree. The blowholes on Tonga's western coast, called the Chief's Whistles, are widely considered the most spectacular in the entire South Pacific. Then, continue to Kolovai Village, renowned for its flying fox colony. Observe the flying foxes -- these nocturnal fruit bats sleep suspended from trees, heads down, and wings folded. The bats are Tonga's only native land mammal, and their wings span nearly three feet. They enjoy ... read more

Back in 2015 I had my heart set on visiting Tonga, with flights and accommodation booked as part of a previous South Pacific adventure. Mother Nature, however, had different plans as a volcano burst out of the ocean just off the coast and started spewing volcanic ash in a major eruption. Bizarrely; I had gone through check in, customs, and immigration on multiple occasions, and the planes had taken off, only for the pilots to announce mid flight we had been ordered back to Auckland. This was my version of Groundhog Day, where every day is the same! After three days of trying I had no alternative but to abandon my dream of visiting this South Pacific paradise. Well, here we are at the tail end of 2018, and this time around an effortless commute from ... read more

Pigs and piglets are everywhere here. They wander freely and often cause trouble for gardeners and road users. Roast pig is the dish of choice for weddings, funerals and any important occasion. But drunken pigs? Well because they roam freely sometimes they become a major nuisance. We have 2 that keep breaking into our compound and digging up the taro. They have become cheekier by the day and have evaded traps set for them. So desperate measures are called for - people have been sleeping out and trying to bait them with coconuts and bread. Then came the idea to soak the bread in vodka with the hope it would knock the pigs out! Guess what? It doesn't work and now the pigs not only get fed but they get happy hour drinks too. Back to ... read more

Winter has really taken hold! Torrential rain and temps under 20 degrees. This wasn't in the brochure. Also the shops seem to have emptied. Supplies can be vulnerable to shipping and of course weather for veggies. When a ship does arrive it's a race to stock up - depending on what comes in. There is always mayonnaise, soft drinks and chips. Beyond that - anyone's guess. We are waiting for coffee..... Jan is chief shopper and responsible for scouting the town. The fresh food markets are great though and you can get fantastic veggies and fruits. But I have never seen anywhere that sells so much mayonnaise. It's in every shop from tiny fales to the big supermarket. I keep asking if they have any other uses for it - maybe body lotion when there is ... read more

We have just had an exhausting 2 weeks watching the Ms Heilala contestants go through their paces! Ms Heilala is a Tongan beauty contest. More pics are in our online media at: http://matangitonga.to I was surprised such a conservative and church going nation would have such a beauty pageant; but this is just the first of many! Ms Heilala is exceedingly popular - it takes place over 2 weeks and includes a multicultural night, a talent contest and of course the sarong parade (there is never going to be a swimsuit parade!). We are now eagerly awaiting Mr Maka, or Mr Tonga. Bodybuilding is very popular and the local gym(especially the mirrors) gets a real workout. Should be a fabulous event. But the most exciting, glamorous and anticipated for me is Miss Galaxy. Miss Galaxies are ... read more