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Sharon
with the driver and taxi that took us on a tour of western Tongatapu.
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One
of the sights on the tour is the “three-headed” coconut palm tree (we saw
this on the tour last November too).
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A
close-up of the three heads.
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We saw the
“Mapu’a ‘a Vaea” Blowholes (“the Chief’s Whistles”) on the south
shore of Tongatapu.
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“Mapu’a
‘a Vaea” Blowholes (“the Chief’s Whistles”).
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This tree
is full of fruit bats or “flying foxes.” We have become as used to
seeing bats flying by as we are to seeing birds. The bats usually
fly late in the day, toward dusk.
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We took a
long walk on the Ha’atafu Beach on the northwestern tip of Tongatapu and
stopped for lunch afterwards. Here Sharon cools down in the traditional
Tongan way, with fan and drinking coconut.
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Northwestern
beach of Pangaimotu Island/Big Mama’s Resort as seen from Larabeck anchorage.
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Southwestern
beach of Pangaimotu Island/Big Mama’s Resort as seen from Larabeck.
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Eastern
shore of Pangiamotu Island, looking north on the beach.
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Big Mama’s
resort with their water taxi parked on the right.
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Big
Mama’s deck.
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Big
Mama’s dinghy dock—view from the deck looking toward the anchorage with
Larabeck on the right.
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‘Ana Emberson,
aka “Big Mama,” is making sun shades from palm leaves.
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Big Mama’s
staff is also hard at work weaving sun shades, which will be placed on
the poles seen above them.
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Big
Mama's Yacht Club Log Book is proudly displayed inside the restaurant.
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A
close up of the 2010 log book shows boat names familiar to us from our
visit to Big Mama’s in November 2010. In the center is “Akka,”
and of more recent mention, two boats below, is “Avante.”
We are right beneath Avante (“Larabach”). “Larabeck”
is the first boat listed on the 2011 register.
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Lunch
Menu at Big Mama’s. Prices are in Tonga Pa’anga, which have the value
of about 0.6 US dollars. All the food we tried at Big Mama’s was
good.
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Sharon
on deck at Big Mama’s with shipwreck “My Lady Lata II” in the background.
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“My Lady Lata
II” lies in her final resting place near Big Mama’s. The snorkeling
is good around the ship.
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Sharon in
the Pangiamotu/Big Mama’s Resort water taxi to Nuku’alofa.
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Larabeck
anchored near Atata Island in Tongatapu. We hung the swimming
gear out to dry, which added some color to the life lines in this picture.
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The Larabeck
Crew at the Royal Sunset Island Resort on Atata. L to r: Michael,
Sharon, Sari the nurse, and Jess the nutritionist. Sari (from
New Zealand) Jess (from Australia) are both working in Nuku’alofa, and
we met them as they were visiting Big Mama’s one weekend. They invited
us to dinner at Sari’s house in Nuku’alofa. The next weekend we took
them out with us to Atata Island.
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Beach on west
side of Atata looking north.
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Beach
on west side of Atata looking south.
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Inside the
dining room at the Royal Sunset.
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The “royal
sunset” at the Royal Sunset Island Resort.
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These musicians
played while we ate our dinner at the Royal Sunset. They are from
the Atata fishing village next door. They sang four and five part
(another man joined them) harmonies to the accompaniment of their guitars
and a ukulele.
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The next day
we headed back to Nuku’alofa, also to musical accompaniment (Sharon on
the violin). L to r: Sharon, Sari, and Jess.
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Sari enjoys
a personal serenade.
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A little sailing
music.
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No
wind today, as evidenced by the flat, flat water seen here. Good
thing we carry a few extra liters of diesel (in the yellow jerry cans).
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