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Pat
emerges from the customs gate at the Nuka Alofa, Tonga Airport. She
looks happy! : )
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Cemetery
plots are often decorated with quilts in addition to flowers. We
asked our taxi driver and guide, Pilo, if this was for a special observance
and he said no, it was a regular practice.
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Outside
the main Nuka Alofa market, Maketi Talamahu.
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Fresh
fruits and vegetables and a wide assortment of arts and crafts are for
sale out- and inside the market hall.
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After
visiting the market we enjoyed the music of two ukelelists, a guitarist,
and a bassist, who played jazz favorites in the Friends Cafe.
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The
Mala'ekula has been the final resting place for the Tongan royalty since
1893. This was our view of it from the street as we were not allowed
to walk up close to it.
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We
returned to the market to browse the arts and crafts. Here we met
Setaleki Iloa, a Tongan wood carver. He comes from a lineage of sailors
and whalers (he did not envy the latter occupation). In 1989 he met
a sailor (CDR [RET] Wm. H. McGrath, US Navy, Retired) working on the HMAV
"Bounty", which was in Tonga for the 200th Anniversary reenactment of the
Bounty mutiny off the island of Tofua. Setaleki, pictured here between
Sharon and Pat, claims to be a descendent of Captain Bligh, and McGrath
helped him to record his story and evidence in a booklet that he had for
sale. Since we are sailors he enjoyed chatting with us about the
our trip and his experience on the water using navigation aids taught to
him by grandfather and father (stars, birds, fish, current, wind patterns...all
quite fascinating since we rely now so heavily on electronic instruments
and charts for this info).
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Setaleki
demonstrates how to play the nose flute, which he carved, so that Sharon
can practice on one of our long passages. : )
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Big
Mama's Island Resort on the island of Pangaimotu.
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Sharon
plays fiddle for guests (many of them sailors like us) and staff at Big
Mama's.
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Bert
from sailing vessel Boree joined Sharon on guitar.
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The
Methodist Church that the King attends. The next 8 photos document
our visit to the church and service.
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The
brass choir (first two rows wearing black) and the vocal chorus (next four
rows wearing white) performed before and throughout the service.
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Stained glass
windows in honor of royalty.
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A closer view
of two other windows that memorialize past kings.
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His
Grace, King George Tupou V attending the Methodist service.
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Seats
for Tongan royalty
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Scripture
readings
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The
King takes his leave from his own private door after the service.
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The
royal vehicle awaits the king.
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This
band played on the Oholei Beach during cocktail hour before a large buffet
dinner at the Hina Cave restaurant. The owner (center) welcomes everyone.
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They
played rock 'n roll oldies fused with Polynesian songs. The drummer
was having fun...
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...and
so were the sailors. Here Sharon raises her lemonade in a toast to
good times with our new friend Dale from the sailing vessel Imagine.
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The
buffet featured roasted pig and a variety of seafood, fruit and vegetable
dishes.
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After
dinner we all moved inside the Hina Cave for a traditional music and dance
performance, which included ukuleles, polynesian percussion, banjo, and
Spanish guitar.
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The
wait staff and rock and roll band members from earlier in the evening donned
their dance attire.
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Some
of the dances were performed in seated position
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It
is customary to stick bills of money on the arms or shoulders of the dancing
women. They moved so gracefully the money usually stayed on through
the dance, assisted by the coconut oil on their bodies. For those
following the cast of characters in our adventures, Andreas from Akka can
be seen here placing the bill on the woman's shoulder.
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Another
feature of the evening performance was this fellow who played the ukulele
with his mouth!
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The
finale was the fire dancers...
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The
dancers finish the show.
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Ha'amonga'
a Maui (Maui's Burden, constructed circa the 11th century) is thought to
serve the same function as Stonehenge---tracking the changing seasons,
particularly the winter and summer solstices.
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Trick
photo of Sharon supporting Michael as he holds up Ha'amonga' a Maui....
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Keleti
beach on the western side of Tongatapu
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There
were hundreds of blow holes along the shore of Keleti beach
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Tapa
cloth at the Keleti Beach Resort where we stopped for lunch.
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