An excerpt from the Princess Patter:
Over 170 islands compose the last monarchy in Polynesia. Tongatapu (“Sacred Garden”) is the largest island in the realm, and Nuku’alofa is both its capital and its largest town. Never colonised by the West, Tonga remains one of the last expressions of pure Polynesian culture. Tonga also boasts magnificent white-sand beaches, stunning coral islets and the most spectacular blowholes in the Pacific.
toast, egg, bacon, mushrooms
a cup of tea guv'na
We had to get up early and grab breakfast since we had booked a tour on the island. We had anchored at the Queen Salote Wharf so we were able to simply walk off the ship. We were going on a guided bus tour around the island. The island was not what I expected. The wharf where we were docked was so industrial. I was naively expecting to step foot onto a tropical island that was predominantly untouched by civilisation.
We drove through the town centre and into the residential areas. I had a good seat by an open window so I was snapping away with my camera.
After oohing and aahing at the water shooting out from the holes in the reef, we hopped back onto the bus and stopped in a residential area with two large trees that were home to some bats. Yes, bats. I don’t know why this was part of our tour though...oh the guide says that they are sacred fruit bats. There you go.
Just as I was about to collapse from hunger, we arrived at our pitstop for light refreshments. The weather was humid and we were all sticky and flushed, which explains why we paid USD$4 for a can of soft drink from the kiosk.
While our sandwiches and fruit were being prepared for us, we ran down to the beach and were disappointed that we couldn’t actually swim. It was all reef and coral extending out as far as we could see. Perhaps it was low tide. Nevermind, I had fun wading in the cool water and catching the tiny crabs while taking photos of them. It was beautiful.
We had some tuna sandwiches and fresh watermelon, papaya, coconut and bananas. The bananas were absolutely yummy – so sweet!Afterwards, we piled back onto the bus and headed back towards our ship. Some of us asked to be dropped off in the town centre so that we could walk around on our own and make our own way back to the ship. We knew which direction we had to walk, so we just set out on a leisurely stroll, taking photos and just enjoying the simplicity of life that this place exuded. It’s great to get away from Perth and see how other cultures live. It makes me feel spoilt when I think of all the luxuries we have that we take for granted on a daily basis. It also makes me appreciate what I have at home and I hope that the experience only adds to my own search for meaning in life.
Noel and Fleurette walked ahead while I lagged behind to stop to take photos.
I came across a seafood market and almost squealed in excitement. I was drooling at the size of the clams they had! All the freshly caught seafood was laid out on the tables and women wielding long sticks with a plastic bag tied to the end were swatting the flies away.Back onboard the Dawn Princess, I went to my cabin to shower and prepare for dinner.
Without having to ask, our waiters brought me the chilled soup that was on the menu – they’re pretty much like a fruit smoothie. So tonight, I asked for some vodka to add to my ‘soup’ *hee hee*
After dinner, Noel and Fleurette came to have a drink with me in the Wheelhouse Bar before their show. As usual, I hopped back and forth between the bars to watch the different musicians perform.
cream of cauliflower soup, salad with pinenuts, rosemary roasted potatoes,
penne, seafood salad, cold meats
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