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My first trip to Tonga is nearly done

Auto-generated description: A serene waterfront scene at sunset features calm waters, silhouetted ships, and a sky painted with soft pink and purple hues.

St Patricks Day on a tropical island

Thanks to the amazing team at the very awesome Billfish bar (highly recommended), we were able to celebrate St Patricks day in style with Guinness and green-tinged finger food. Apart from the temperature being nearly 30 degrees it was just like being back in Ireland! Thanks John and team for an awesome afternoon.

Four days of downpour

The weather has been challenging last week with four days of almost constant strong rain and some flooding. Tonga has a rainy season from November to April, and a dry season from May to October. The wettest months here are January, February, and March with an excess of 250 mm of rainfall per month. We certainly had that the past four days - it wasn’t just a light drizzle but an absolute downpour, and some places were quite flooded. In typical tongan laid-back style noone seemed really to stress too much about it and life just went on with barely a mention.

Eating out

We’ve eaten out a bit this last week and have been hugely impressed with the quality of food we’ve had. My favourite meal has been at Momma’s Harbourview Restaurant which is just around the corner from where we live. Fantastic service, delicious food and a really good price. I highly recommend their BBQ chicken!

We’ve had awesome coffee at both Friends and the Coffee Post in town, and we made a trip out to Tupu’anga Coffee for a coffee and a fresh coconut - ice cold out of the fridge and incredibly refreshing. Their Lu Sipe pie is certainly worth the visit alone!

Speaking of pies we have been well served in that department too - Cowleys bakery and my personal favourite the Vietnamese Cafe have meant that we’ve been able to have awesome mince and cheese pies whenever we like.

Finally there is the amazing Builders Burger - again not too far from where we live. The thing that sets this place apart is the fact that it has its own seawater pool which is open to anyone (not just diners). It’s a really beautiful place right on the water with views of the port and moored ships. It does an awesome burger too!

Some pics from this weeks adventures

A serene coastal scene at sunset features gentle waves, a silhouetted ship in the distance, and a sky painted with soft purple and pink hues.A small, waterlogged area with two houses, a car, and a trampoline, surrounded by grass and palm trees.A flooded area is surrounded by greenery and buildings, with water reflecting the cloudy sky.A large ship is sailing on a calm sea under a cloudy sky, with a rocky shoreline visible in the foreground.A wooden pier extends into a calm body of water where several people are swimming, with a rocky shoreline and cloudy sky in the background.A person is smiling while holding a coconut drink with a straw at an outdoor table.A person is sitting at an outdoor table with two coconuts, drinking from one while overlooking a waterfront.Two drinks, one a green beverage in a glass with a straw and the other a pint of Guinness, are placed on a table in front of a person wearing a white shirt with a leaf pattern.A small wooden deck with tables and chairs overlooks a calm body of water under a cloudy sky.A fenced yard is flooded with water, reflecting a van, houses, and an overcast sky.A chalkboard sign displaying Welcome to Bujibhai for the best fish fry and coconut stands on a roadside near a grassy area with trees and power lines.A child walks towards a small outdoor cafe or kiosk underneath a canopy, with a palm tree-lined sky in the background.

Some more pictures of beautiful Tonga

Auto-generated description: A person stands at the shoreline, gazing at the ocean while holding sandals in one hand.

Our first drive around

Taking advantage of our awesome ute we took ourselves off for a drive on our first weekend here ….and got completely lost. But oh my goodness it was amazing! The weather has been terrible but that hasn’t stopped us from exploring as much as we can.

The pictures of the ute on what looks like an abandoned track was us following Google Map’s directions to get to the other side of the island - it was like that for around 10km.

It’s hard to describe how warm it is here too - despite the rain (and we have seen a lot of rain) it’s still really warm.

Some pics from the week

Two people are lounging on beach towels under a palm tree, with one asking the other if living there would just mean lying around happily all the time.A black car is parked on a narrow forest path surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.A rural scene shows a dirt road with dogs, parked cars, and an old bus surrounded by greenery.A narrow dirt road flanked by lush, green vegetation is seen from inside a vehicle, with another car visible ahead in the distance.A smiling person is seated at an outdoor restaurant table at night.A pig and a piglet are grazing near a dilapidated bus and some metal frames in a grassy area.A two-lane road is flanked by commercial buildings, cars, and utility poles under a cloudy sky.A pig and a piglet are standing on grass near a puddle, with bushes in the background.

Welcome to Tonga! 🇹🇴

Auto-generated description: A serene beach scene features gentle waves, a cloudy sky with the sun shining through, and scattered trees along the shoreline.

Amazing welcome to this incredible island

We were welcomed to beautiful Tonga by Ishla’s work colleagues - some photos below (click any image for a larger view).

A display of bananas, papaya, and other tropical fruits is arranged on a table with a decorative leaf base.A person wearing a red and white cap is swimming in a bright blue pool under a partly cloudy sky, with trees and a fence surrounding the area.A person walks down a quiet street with buildings, parked vehicles, and a stop sign visible under a partly cloudy sky.A vibrant display of assorted flowers and tropical fruits is arranged on a wooden table.A breadfruit hangs from a leafy tree surrounded by grass and greenery.A buffet table is set with a variety of dishes, including sushi, fruit, pastries, and desserts on a blue tablecloth.Palm trees and a vibrant sky create a tropical atmosphere behind a tall fence.Two people are sitting in front of a decorative backdrop with a floral garland around their necks, beneath a Welcome Ishla & Ian sign.A roasted pig is presented on a table alongside various dishes and a decorative floral arrangement.A smiling man and woman wearing Hawaiian leis take a cheerful selfie indoors with snacks in hand.Tall palm trees and lush greenery line a sandy beach under a clear blue sky.