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Published: October 27th 2006
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It's a while ago, but because TONGA was such an amazing place to be, i would still like to put my trip in a blog. The year 2005 i was fortunate enough to spend in new zealand, where after a lot of hard work, i had collected enough money to treat myself to a pacific holiday.
I choose Tonga because it was the least touristy one, the only kingdom in the pacific, and well, air new zealand had a good offer.
I left christchurch on the 31st of may, in clear weather, wich gave me an amazing view over the mountainranges.
In Auckland i boarded the plane to tonga, where the tropical heat hit me as soon as the door was opened. Only half of the passengers alighted, for the plane was heading to samoa. The little passenger terminal was really fun, 3 lines, 1 for tongan passport holders, 1 for foreigners and 1 for the elderly and disabled.
No computers or fancy poeha, just a nice little wooden desk. Absolutely great.
At tony's guesthouse i met up with my german friend Anja, whom i worked with thinning mandarines and in a hotel in new zealand.
That same night
eukafa island
what a stunning place to be..!!! we took the ferry to the northern island group, va'vau.
The ferry was basically just a ship, no seats, very noisy but no less, good fun.
It took 15 hours thru the night (on a big, big black ocean) to reach neiafu, the capital town of va'vau. Before we were alowed to alight the boat, there was a coffin that had to be taken off first. Quite a sight, as you can imagine, it was put on a decorated truck, very special.
In va'vau we took a daytrip on a sailboat to eukafa island where we were snorkling, one of the best spots in the world, the water is absolutely cristal clear.
I also saw the famous fishing pigs that dig for crab, vanilla, pineapple and lots of banana plantations.
A friendly local took us to a viewpoint with his pickup truck, where you could see as far as Tofua, the active volcano of the ha'apai group, 150 km away!!
Ofcourse we had to push start the truck to get back again, but he, it's al part of the fun.
The va'vau group is absolutely stunning, especially on a sunday morning, sitting on top of mt talau, sun
rising over the pacific ocean and the church bells ringing for service.
You will meet the loveliest people possible, and a pacific culture wich unfortunately, is being threatend by the many western influences, the biggest one being cars.
There is a ridiculous amount of cars on such a small island, wich are given by the 100.000 tongans that work abroad, mainly in australia, new zealand and the usa.
Aftyer a short and very scenic flight i arrived on the haápai group. Before the plane landed, the runway had to be cleared of traffic and playing children, and the moment we landed the airstrip was full again with people. The landing of 1 plane a day (weather permitting) is still a bit of a happening.
Here i chose to go to uoleva island, THE backpacker hangout.
Jim, the boatman, who first had to try and get some fuel wich is rationed, sailed me to taiana's resort, traditional fale on the beach. At night we ate that day's catch, including my very first lobster, and during the day, well, you relax and swim or snorkel to look at the giant clam circle right off the beach.
In the evening the young
locals organise a little bonfire and make some fermented cocosnut beer for you. Ofcourse bringing real beers from the mainland is very much appreciated.....
Another flight thru a very violent rainstorm brought me back to nuku'alofa, the capital of tonga on the main island of tongatapu.
Unfortunately i had blown most of my budget by then, so i had to restrict myself to free stuff, like taking in the only wooden palace in the world, made in new zealand and then shipped to tonga to house the king and his family. (the king passed away recently)
All in all, an amazing destination, i am sooo glad i choose this island group to spend some time, and i would love to come back once, to do some jungle trekking on 'eua, or visit the remote islands in the far north.
malo 'elei
fefe hake?
saipe, malo
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