Before talking about today's port, I'll include our latest certificates. We crossed the International Date Line in 2023 (and have crossed it several times in flight) but it's nice getting a certificate for something I accomplished while sleeping. ha!
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| and last night's beautiful sunset |
Day 85 brings us to a port in northern Tonga, known for it’s natural beauty, maritime culture, lush green islands and crystal clear waters. It does not have a commercial port, so once again we are using the tenders to get ashore. Like all the other islands we’ve visited, it’s HOT! Beautiful, friendly - but hot!
A little about Vava’u. The local waters have many dolphins, whales, manta rays and sea turtles, making them an appealing destination for snorkelers and divers. Whale watching is particularly popular during their migration season (July – October) when humpback whales come here for breeding and calving. Many if not most of the surrounding islands are uninhabited. The scenic coastline and calm waters attract water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing.
Four tenders were running back and forth this morning so there were no long waits. We’ve learned that the sooner we get off the ship in the morning, the better in terms of the heat. With a high of only 82 degrees and a nice breeze, you'd think it wouldn't be that bad. But we’re walking around under umbrellas and our clothes are still drenched by the time we head back to the ship. That means a second shower and shampoo. Speaking of shampoo, we decided to try our luck with a local barber while on the island. BIG mistake. We reminded ourselves that it’s only hair and it will grow back.
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| the scene of the crime |
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| Ronnie was nervous - for good reason |
Locals greet their island guests with loud music and traditional dance. Vendors are friendly and hope to sell their handicrafts in their open market. Unneutered and unspayed dogs run freely around the town or sleep in the middle of the street. We walked to the waterfront and then up the hill to see a church before deciding to head back to the ship.
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| handwoven baskets and trivets |
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| St. Joseph's Cathedral |
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| (or Sangato Sosefo) |
Want to see Ronnies haircutš¤
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Deleteno reason to make him feel worse about it (he said the guy should have just burred it all over)
DeleteBarbara: I laughed at the Secret Order of Far East Mysteries! Congratulations on your many passages, though. I'll bet that little Texas girl didn't imagine she'd travel and live so many places! Looks like the volcanic soil and temps make their veggies grow big and fast. The humidity must be 75-85% to make you do hot there. We had a family of Tongans who trimmed our coconut tree at a rent house when we first moved to Hawaii. I could not believe how fast they ran up a tree! Were you able to hear any birds? The Tongan whistler is a beautiful bird with a distinctive song and I think it is more on this island than anywhere else in the world. Chinese people used to capture them during sailing days, so Hawaii has some up in the mountains. The water looks amazing there. Looks pretty perfect for a vacation if you love water! Tell Ronnie to let his hair grow out, and beard and he can be a pirate!
ReplyDeleteYou got that right!! and I agree with you about the volcanic soil - did you see those carrots?? We didn't notice any birds, but I googled tongan whistler - what a beautiful bird! I would have loved to have heard it sing. Yes, the best way to spend a vacation in these places is to be a water lover, and spend a lot of time in it. Beauty can't be beat, though!
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