Tag: Tonga

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Nemo’s home

Vava’u Tonga,

Not only is Vava’u a cruiser’s paradise, the islands and barrier reef of this group make for some fantastic diving.  One does feed into the other.  In order to get to the dives sites you have to be able to traverse the water between the islands, which means hiring a dive boat or bringing your own.  This keeps a limitation on how many people actually get to the sites which in turn keeps the dive areas in pristine condition.

 

Underwater Tonga was unique in that among all the islands we’ve seen, in Tonga the coral really steals the show.  With colors including lime green, purple, red and every hue in between not to mention varying in size from the size of a hand to well larger than a human, the coral in Vava’u was a sight to behold.  Most of it was close enough to the surface and received enough sunlight to really bring out the beauty lying just below the surface.  The crystal clear water everywhere you went didn’t hurt either.

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The Friendly Islands

Vava’u, Tonga

Tonga is made of several island chains and we’re in Vava’u, the Northernmost group.

With over 30 anchorages all within a day’s sail of each other in addition to being partially enclosed by protective reef islands and some of the most gorgeous natural landscapes we’ve seen so far, it is no wonder Vava’u is a cruisers paradise.

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Tonga’s 3rd Gender

Vava’u, Tonga

…cont from previous post

So yes church.  Any discussion of Tonga would be incomplete without church.  Did you notice the flag?  Go back and take a look.  We’ll wait

Now what is the one identifiable symbol on the Tonga flag?

Yes, Tonga is a Christian nation.

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Tonga has BACON!

Vava’u, Tonga

What would a real Polynesian country have?

Well, pigs.  They have a lot of pigs.

And unlike their fellow Polynesian countries, corrupted as they are by European influences, Tonga actually uses their pigs for their highest truest purpose:

Tonga has bacon!

No, not euro/Canadian inferior bacon.  Real bacon.  Bacon bacon.  The only actual freaking pig product that deserves the title of bacon and that’s freaking bacon!

 

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Welcome to the Kingdom

Vava’u, Tonga

Of all the different nations of the South Pacific Tonga is unique in that it is the only one to have never lost self-governance.  While every other nation out here has at one time or another (and most are currently) subject to the protection / governance / colonization of a foreign power, Tonga has always remained their own country.  They can trace their monarchy back to its founding and the different chiefs of islands before that.  Considering there was an age of time where colonization was what the West pretty much DID, it is impressive simply that Tonga is, in fact, always and still Tongan.

What it also means is that if you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you blended modern times with ancient Polynesian culture all you need do is look at Tonga for your answer.

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No Flux Capacitor required!

Talking to you from…

THE FUTURE!  (cue Sci Fi music – dun dun duuuuuunnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!)

Those of you that have been following along may remember that Tiffany and Greg earned the most auspicious title of “Trusty Shellbacks” by participating in an equator line crossing ceremony a few months back.  What you may NOT know is that “Trusty Shellback” is only the most well-known of a plethora of unofficial awards that celebrate assorted feats of nautical daring-do.  For example, both of us also hold the “Order of the Spanish Main” for sailing in the Caribbean.  (No Black Pearls, though there were some drug runners) and Greg holds the coveted “Order of the Ditch” for successfully navigating thorough the Panama Canal and is also a “Plank Owner”.

There are certificates for all kinds of feats from circumnavigating the globe (Order of Magellan) to sailing in the Arctic Circle (Blue Nose) to crossing the Equator & Prime Meridian at the same time (Emerald Shellback).  But the reason this matters today is that today, or, more accurately for you, tomorrow is that day, whichever it is, is the day we cross the International Date Line and become members of the Empire of the Golden Dragon!

 

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