Good to be back but missing Tonga

It’s been three months since my time in Tonga. To help curb my nostalgia here are some memories I caught on camera.




This is the fruit tree in the backyard. My first time eating fekika fruit. Looks like the tree of life.


Fruit at the market. Vi, papaya, lemons, star fruit, bananas and indian apple.


And fresh root crop. It's Tonga's rice.


Sunday meal, kai umu in Sopu with a ward family and a member of the bishopric.



Kai puaka at our staff party.



I found the my look-a-like relative in Vava’u, Bishop Tui’one.


Good times with my roommates, for the last half of my year in Tonga, Tomosan and my first roommate Elaine. Miss you both! Here Tomo and I are enjoying a buffet dinner and a floor show at Liku'alofa on the west side of the main island.


Here Vina, Lina and Nina ran into Elder May when they visited in August. Adam is returning to the states in October 2008.


This girl, daughter of a family friend, is scared of this fakaleiti.


Thirsty? We were sitting in the shade after a kaipola, huge feast, in Kolonga and Fibi just had to handle her craving.

Remember the word, kaipola, huge feast


I don't miss this. Somebody preparing meat for a kaipola.


ISLAND H O P P I N G in Vava'u


Boat stop.


L A P L A Y A









All shoes...and flippers off at the door.

Ai foo or doing laundry at home, near the most convenient water source. Shower time and laundry time.





Here is our ity bity fridge.


Kapa pulu bus. Corned beef bus.




Crazy Aussie's riding two to a bike. On the way back from dropping the rental at the car rental place.


Weaving.


Trying to find a clear cell phone reception. Can you hear me now?


Didn't think I'd ever ride in a limo in Tonga.

We CANOE'D to Pangimotu!!!

(above) Sophie, Tomo and Paula on the Ha'apai canoe, just arriving at Paingimotu from Popua, main land Tongatapu.

Hi Beautiful People!

Sophie and I went to Pangaimotu by canoe aneafi with Tomosan, Kerry, Leigh (newer AYAD), Ofa (Talafo'ou!!!), Sitiveni Fehoko and three other guys from Popua: Sitiveni Si'i, Paula and Lopeti.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/vanessa.tuione/FavCanoePangiTripPhotos

We had a good time and I wanted to share photos with my fellow seafarers (haha) and you too!!! (There are more photos than just these by the way...these are just the many highlights, thanks to Tomosan's waterproof camera which made it all possible.) Wish we had waterproof cell phones. Diane, your cell phone is in the cell phone hospital right now because I neglected to provide it a waterproof jacket. But, it's going to survive.

I or maybe we all learned a few things about rowing canoes and stuff: We took a big canoe, the Ha'apai Canoe and a smaller canoe, Dan's canoe -- two canoes and Sitiveni's boat.

Here are a few things I learned. Feel free to add to the list...

Big canoes are better in choppy water.
Little canoes are faster in a current going your way.
Two boys are better than one. (For rowing purposes)
If you row a big canoe, best to have a long oar.
Cell phone + sea water = atamai maha
Waterproof cameras are a must when traveling to the South Pacific.
We really need to teach Tongan's how to swim.
Rowing can be huge in Tonga as a sport.
Just Do It!

'Ofa atu!
Nesa