Finally arrived at the hotel at around 3:15 AM. It was 4 by the time I was able to go to sleep. Woke up a bit late at 8am. The sun was already out. Went for a walk with a coffee by the water. The temperatures were nice at low 70s and some good sun and wind.

Apparently the only island country not to have been colonized ever (this is in spite of the fact Captain Cook landed here), Tonga still is a monarchy.

The King and Queen reside in this building built in 1857!

In Dec 21/ Jan 22, a massive underwater earthquake unleashed a tsunami that wiped out a few islands like Atata. Apparently, the king donated his personal land and Australia, New Zealand and China built these houses quickly to evacuate the folks from Atata.

Known as flying foxes, these bats can have a wingspan of up to one meter!! There were about a score hanging around upside down from that tree.

This Dutch seafarer landed in Fiji more than a century before Captain Cook could make it here. I finally realized why Tasmania is called Tasmania.

Regardless, check out the water colors where he landed!

Reputed to be the most beautiful beach in Tonga, there was nobody today. Apparently 75 degrees is too cold around here.

I did not spot them till my driver and friend Kelesi pointed them out for me. See the next picture…

It is all on dead corals – dry as a bone. The green continues all along the sand on the beach.

Incredibly enough, this boulder weighing 1,200 tonnes (45 feet by 35 feet by 20 feet) was dragged in here – some 500 feet inland – by a huge tsunami some 7,000 years back.

As far as the eyes would go, you could see blowholes…

And I thought two-headed is fairly rare. Apparently this is the only known three headed coconut tree in the world. For that, it was standing rather unceremoniously out there in an unmarked field by the road.

Captain Cook came to this island thrice – in 1773, 1774 and 1777. That reminds me of the four voyages made by Christopher Columbus. I get the feeling these guys were as big a fan of island water colors as I am. Interestingly enough, Captain Cook had named these islands as the “Friendly Isles” for their hospitality and lavish feasts. Clearly, what he was not aware of was that there were plots to kill him and seize the stuff from the ship. Except the plans did not work out as the local chiefs had hoped!

All the cemeteries are by the road and presumably close to the homes of the families. Some interesting observations – they always have a lot of sand on top. My guide was not sure why. My best guess is to hold the flowers. Each has a lot of fresh, nice flowers. Also, instead of a tombstone with an epitaph, you will see pictures of the deceased and messages printed on cloth and hung up like banners!

How they stand all the strong storms, I will never know!

Missed seeing the “fishing pigs”. Saw the pigs alright – they were busy foraging on the other side of the road. It was high tide.

During the low tides, when the water recedes, those pigs cross over the road – and to answer the never asked question (but should be) – why did the pig cross the road – make themselves busy on the beach looking for small fish and crabs.

Apparently they do not get into the water (like we saw in the Bahamas) so much as dig into the sand next to the water looking for morsels.

Got out of the car and just stood there taking in the mesmerizing beauty of the waters.

Sometimes referred to as the “Stonehenge of the Pacific”, this 40 tonne structure is made of three large coral limestones. Built by King Tuʻitātui in the thirteenth century.

Interestingly “Tuʻi” means the king. And “tui” means the knee. (the difference is very slight in how you pronounce the “i”) This king apparently had a curious habit of hitting anybody who approached him from the front with a stick to the knee!!

From the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, if you look out to the east, you can see three clearings into the trees. In fact all three are passages thru the trees that lead straight to the ocean. This, apparently served as a calendar. If the sunrise was visible thru one of them, it meant it was one of the solstices or an equinox. That was the cue to go harvest stuff from underground or from the trees.

Our final stop for the day’s adventures – Anahulu cave
(forwarded from www.rajibroy.com)

This is a classic limestone cave replete with stalactites and stalagmites. The water was cold. That did not stop those kids from jumping in!

Interestingly enough, at the entrance, I paid the entry fees to this lonely gentleman. There was really nobody other than him and myself and eventually, I found those tourists inside the cave. We talked for sometime in broken English.

Later, my driver told me that the cave belonged to him! Apparently, this is NOT a government property. This cave was found in the land belonging to this gentleman and his family. He is the one who has built the steps into it and takes care of the maintenance!

I am not sure I know of anybody else in this world who personally owns a cave with stalactites and stalagmites!

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!

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.

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

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)

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

All the activities happen on Saturday. Tonga observed Sabbath fairly strictly in Sunday. Everything is closed. You do not go out to the beach even. Sundays are to stay home with family.

I did not see them much anywhere else in the island though.

This is the fourth time I will be landing in Nadi!

I had a five hour layover in Fiji on my way back to the USA. I came out and there was Aseri, waiting for me. He was our friend, driver and guide when Sharmila and I came to Fiji early this year. We have kept up ever since. It was great to spend some time with Aseri before we had to part.

Looks like we are going to land in Hawai. When I went off to sleep in my seat, I hear the captain asking if there was a doctor in the flight. I was quite sure we are not going to have a smooth journey. Figured I could not do much – so went off to sleep.

Woke up a few hours later with the captain announcing we are getting ready to alight in Honolulu. Found out a 76 year old passenger was complaining of heart pain. He was traveling with his family.

A couple of years earlier, a similar thing had happened and our flight from Doha to Atlanta was diverted to Budapest.

Hope the gentleman does well.

Meanwhile, looks like one more night of not much sleep for me – will be taking the red eye flight from San Fran to Atlanta.