Ha'apai

So we've been living on the island group Ha'apai for the last 2 weeks. We LOVE it here. It's by far our favorite place in Tonga. The main island of Ha'apai is small. Its only about 6km long and anywhere from 1-3 km wide.

We live on the 2nd biggest island in the island group, Foa. Only about 1500 people live here. There is really only one road in Ha'apai. It runs the length of the main island then connects to Foa island via a makeshift causeway. Pangi is the capital city, but I wouldn't call it a city. Its made up of about 6 shops and a bank.

For some reason when the government built the airplane runway here, they made it diagonal across the main island. So whenever a plane is coming they have to close down the one road that goes to and from town. Its so funny. I don't know why they didn't put it length wise.

Here's a picture of us at the beach. We go everyday here. Its beautiful and there is never anyone around.


Tomorrow we are leaving Ha'apai to meet up with my parents in Tongatapu. I can't wait to see them. I've miss them a lot this summer. We will spend 4 days with them there, and then we'll be off to New Zealand.

Tapa cloth

As part of the field study program in Tonga we were all required to make Tapa cloth.

We had to go through the whole process of making the tapa which began with cutting down the trees. It took me a good 10 or 12 whacks before I chopped down one of the trees. Keep in mind these trees are very skinny, maybe only a 3'' circumference. Michael had a much easier time yielding the machete.

The next task was stripping the bark from the tree. We each had to do 2 trees. Then we peeled the bark, separating the soft yellow inside from the rough brown outside.

The next step was by far the hardest. After soaking the long yellow strips we had to pound them out. We were supposed to get them from 3'' wide to about 10''. We were not very good at it. The tongan woman helping had to constantly fix ours for us. After pounding for almost 2 hours we were done with the blisters to show for it.


Here's us pounding away.



After pounding it out you dry the tapa in the sun. Then using a wheat and kerosene paste you patch the holes and glue sheets together.

Then again to the sun to dry.

Next you need to make the dye they use to paint it.

First you have to scrape off the outer layer of the Tongan coca tree. Then you have to scrape out a bunch of the pink colored fleshy inside.

Next you take all the pink shavings, soak them in water and wring them out to get the dye. Sounds easy but again its not. You have to weave this special strainer also made from tree bark. And wrap the wet shavings in the strainer like a burrito. Then you hang it up and put a log between it. Then a couple people sit on the log and twist and twist to get out the liquid dye.

Here's Michael twisting. If you notice there are 2 guys on one side and only Michael on the other :)




The whole process of making Tapa and making the dye was grueling. I can't imagine how anyone came up with it. But its a huge part of the Tongan culture. People even say a Tongans worth can be measured by how much Tapa they own. They give it as gifts for weddings and funerals.

It was a good experience making it, but we're glad we don't have to do it again :)

Piglet

So here's a funny story for you. In Tonga there are pigs everywhere. The Tongans roast the pigs in the underground ovens for special occasions. It makes me sad because they really like the meat from the baby pigs, they say its sweeter :(

The piglets are so cute and I have been wanting to catch one for a while but they are surprisingly fast. But a couple days ago I snuck up on one and threw my lavalava over it and caught it. I was so excited it was so cute. It squealed a little but then seemed fine. But then I look down and saw that I literally "scarred the crap out of it." Right on my shirt and pants. Michael thought the whole thing was the funniest thing he'd ever seen and couldn't stop laughing. I just felt bad that I scarred the pig so much. And I guess I got what I deserved.

Vava'u

Vava'u is beautiful. We really love it here. The only downside so far is that we have to drive to get to town and there are a lot more mosquitoes here. The main town here is called Neiafu. Its really pretty and there are a ton of sailboats and yachts that come here. Most of the sailors we've talked to are from Australia/New Zealand. There is a small market here, but nothing compared to the one in Tongatapu. They do have a lot of cool woven baskets and carved masks etc. at the market though. I plan to buy most of my souvenirs here. All the restaurants in town are pretty expensive because of all the tourist sailors coming here. So we go to this little chinese place for lunch when we are hungry and buy bananas at the market. We do all of our emailing from town as well, so we come here maybe 3 times a week.





As you can see I gave in and got some Chacos. I have always said they are ugly. And I still stand by that statement. They are ugly shoes and they make my feet look even bigger and uglier than usual. BUT they are super comfortable and practical. So after my first 3 weeks of wearing flips flops everyday and my feet killing me, my wonderful Mom mailed me a pair of chacos. So now my arches are fully supported and feelin good :)

Goodbye Tongatapu

Our last Saturday in Tongatapu we rented some bikes to ride around the island. It was really fun! We rode around near the beach for a few hours and stopped to swim by the palace. The King doesn't live in the Palace anymore. Now he lives in his villa which is bigger and nicer. So the palace is going to be used for government offices.







Monday we left Tongatapu for Va'vau. We love it here. I'll post soon with some pictures of Va'vau. Its the most beautiful of the Tongan island groups. Its all green and hilly, with beautiful water. And now that we are living with a family we don't have to cook anymore :) More to come.

Wharf

Where we live in Nuku'alofa, there aren't any real beaches close by. But we do live right near the wharf. When we want to go to the beach we hop on the bus for 30 minutes and ride to the west side of the island. To Ha'atafu beach. That's also the only good surf spot on this island as well.

We do go to the wharf to swim when its hot. (Which is pretty much everyday)

Here are some pictures of Michael jumping on the pier.




And here's one of us looking back at Nuku'alofa.

Raining cats and dogs

Monday night it started raining and rained the entire night. And this wasn't ordinary rain either. It was like monsoon rain. We woke up to our driveway being completely flooded. The city doesn't have any drainage system so all the water just pools until entire roads are covered. I guess this is why a lot of people built their houses on stilts. Because otherwise lots of them would have water coming in their front doors.

I took this picture this morning. This isn't even half as bad as it was yesterday. (Don't know who lives in this house)



After it rains, the next day is unbearably hot. With the sun blazing and all the water evaporating from the ground, you start sweating the second you walk outside. But I'll take that over snow in May (sorry Utah friends)