DAY 14 (30 June 2023): TONGA Cultural Intermission.

Just like I did in Niue, I would like to take a cultural intermission between the East and West sides of my touring of Tongatapu Island.

 

My focused cultural immersion began at 6pm after I had driven the eastern side of the island. A minivan came to whisk me away to the southern tip of the east side of the Island to a place called Katea Retreat where I have been during the day. It is a magic place overlooking the beach where I wanted to swim.

 

The owner Sam recognised me straight away and came over to greet me and gave me the best table in the house right next to the stage so I could film the traditional dancing that night. What a great personality Sam is. I also met his wife Sheila who is originally from the USA and met Sam in Hawaii. This couple is set to take the island by storm. The place slowly swelled to 50 people over drinks and some Western songs played by two locals. It was a mix of locals and tourists with families. Good to see families coming back into the picture post COVID and in Tonga “Post Tsunami” !!! Around 7pm, Sam tapped me on the shoulder so I could go over and film the food before all the tourists put their snorts in the trough !!!

 

The food was wonderful. Very similar to Niue. A suckling pig on the spit took centre stage with plenty of raw tuna, cooked mussels, cassava, taro, stir-fried chicken and even coleslaw, which I reckon, was brought in for the families.

 

The dancing was traditional with great costume, lots of percussion, shouting, but no Hakka. Instead a fire dancer finished the evening with a spectacular display of pyrotechnics that would make even Bundy proud !!! This was a great surprise.

 

The following morning I went to church but was asked not to photograph/film inside but granted permission to photograph as many people outside as would give me permission – EVERYONE gave me permission. The Tongans LOVE to be photographed and filmed !!! Thank Goodness !!! The Tongans are so welcoming to visitors. They overlooked my orange singlet and my orange shorts and even my green trekking sandals and let me in !!! I told them how embarrassed I was to stand amongst such finely dressed people and they loved me all the more...

 

Please enjoy this wonderful colourful cultural intermission whilst you catch your breath between East and West…