I think that is the 38th country I have put in a 5K run in.

Made friends with these two gentlemen – Anibal and Egil – at the dinner table at the culture fest. Both are visiting from Norway. Coincidentally, found out that Anibal hails from Chorillos district in Lima. We had gone to that place in 2009 to pay a visit to Nikita and Natasha’s nanny from Dallas days!! (She has moved back to her family there)

Like in Fiji and Samoa, I went to check out the cultural program in Tonga (in Kate resort to be precise). This was not as impressive or authentic as the one in Fiji, but nonetheless, it was an enjoyable one.

This was the local males dancing their traditional dance

Like in every other country, my driver and guide has become my new friend.During the whole trip, Kelesi regaled me with his stories of his family. He has a great sense of humor too!

“Did you study in Uni?” I asked him.

“No”

“How far did you study?”

“Well, I am not good in studying.”

And then for good measure, he added “But I am very good at watching movies though!”

If history is any indicator, I know we will talk on his birthday every year and I certainly hope to come back and meet him again some day.

There is no way of escaping the sight of a lot of clothes being hung out in the front of a house in Tonga. So many of them fluttering out in the sun and wind that I feel justified that they were put out to dry – especially after the rains I heard that went by the previous day.

Something still was amiss. Why so many clothes? And invariably, the mix was not a reflection of what you think a family would be comprised of. Meaning, you would expect a mix of men’s and women’s clothing – for the old and the young. That was not always the case.

So, I asked my driver. And he blew his top off laughing.

“We put our clothes for drying in the back! Those clothes are for sale!!”

“For sale???”

Apparently, it is very common for folks to sell their clothes off. Presumably they do not need them any more, some even make clothes and then I am sure some find way to get to wear different clothes by trading.

On Saturday when I was headed to the airport, it seemed like EVERY house had some clothes out to sell!