Hill Top Hotel Neiafu

Today we went to the Mala Beach Resort to swim and lunch.  We drove down to a beach where we were met by a boat that took us across the lagoon to the small island that Mala Resort is on.  It is beautiful....me thinks that is going to be a word you see often in this blog.  I think I need to make use of an online thesaurus. 

After coming back from that island to this island (har har har), we went to the market in town.  Located along the wharf in Neiafu, 'Utukalongalu Market is a bustli...

Beachcombing on Keitahi Beach, where the storm swept sand is covered in bits of coral, an abundance of shells and various other flotsam and jetsam. As the cyclone rolls in off the ocean, the clouds trip over each other in their mad frenzy of roiling, churning charcoal tinted billowyness. Dinner at Ciao! Italian Restaurant was a delicious and wet afair. With the storm raging around us, we have only lost power three times.

After four days of foul weather, we have our first fair one. Translation... Time to get outdoors and have some fun in the sun. We spent the day sailing aboard Cyber. Exploring the islands around Vava'u, we had a glorious day of sailing, suning and swiming. On our way back to port, we stopped off and enjoyed the snorkeling at what is called the Japanese Gardens. Dinner was at the Dancing Rooster, where we enjoyed the delectable fare that is their weekly barbeque buffet. A quiet night followed,...

Another day of cruising on Cyber...motoring about due to lack of wind was our mode of power today. We swam in Swallows Cave then partook in the celebrations at Mermaid for Matt's birthday. As the night was winding down, we headed off to Moteli for dancing into the early morning.

Today we sailed out to Mounu Island Resort for lunch. It is an absolute paradise of an island with delicious food!

Well, I made it! I am finally back in Vava'u, Tonga. After a crazy time getting to LAX, I am finally here. Let me fill you in on what has transpired over the past 24 hours or so before getting on with the Tonga portion of this entry. I arrived at DFW with plenty of time to spare before my flight...all things went smoothly there. Due to weather in Dallas the past few weeks, I had decided to take an earlier flight that connected through Denver instead of the later direct flight, so I would have...

For now, just a quick word... Every Friday night in Vava'u, anyone who is eager can enter their boat in the weekly race held in the Port of Refuge. If you are without sail, you can hop aboard a boat that is entered and help crew, or just be the onbard cheer squad. It's a great way to start the night...with awards and drinks after.

Imagine being in Paradise, and you are so busy that you forget where you are and how lucky you are to be there. Then one day you decide to go swimming. Getting to the beach later in the day, as the sun is setting, you think that you won't be able to stay long, then, before your eyes, the moon rises above the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean in all its full glory, casting it's brilliant glow over the water. It is so radiant that you are able to see every detail around, and a quick dip in th...

Okay, so maybe they weren't quite gale force winds, but it sure felt like it! A-rockin-and-a-rollin all night long. I thought that Hilltop Hotel was going to be blown away in the night and we would wake up in Fiji! The rain and wind were so strong last night that you couldn't hear yourself think. As of this moment, the weather sounds a bit like a wind tunnel....that's two nights running. Although, I guess I should mention that the weather has been pretty erratic ever since I got here. We have...

Okay, well, we made it! And this brief entry will have to do for now as I am wiped out! But I will update it as soon as I can! Good to be back in Tonga! Cheers!