Quite a lot cooler today in Tonga (still around 30c) with the odd rain shower. Very pleasant after the oppressive heat of Samoa.

We hired a taxi for a couple of hours to show us the island. We got a flavour of how people live but actually there isn’t much to see. We saw Capt Cook’s landing place 1777, the royal palace, the royal burial grounds (Queen Salote etc) and a couple of churches. Tonga is totally flat, a marked contrast to all the volcanic islands we’ve visited so far.

Our driver “Bill” had an auto syncratic driving style. Never more than 30 mph but he would drive about 3 inches from the car in front then, when nothing was coming towards us, swerve out around the obstructing car. It probably accounted for all the dents in his car. Anyhow we didn’t actually hit anything and we were returned safely to the ship.

Next stop Auckland on Friday when we will have a very busy day with relatives.

“Now you see it, now you don’t”. Saturday just disappeared. We went to bed on Friday and woke up and ‘Hey Presto’ it was Sunday. This was because we crossed the International Date Line during the night. So, we are now 13 hours ahead of the UK rather than 11 hours behind — all very confusing.

It has been very hot and humid today, the Captain said 36c although I doubt that it was quite that high.

We arrived with a pall of smoke hanging over the city, apparently caused by cooking fires for the traditional Sunday feast. They use the fires to heat stones and then cook on the hot stones.

We took a tour of the island on a privately chartered minibus with a charming driver called Josie. She took us to the Botanical Gardens, waterfalls, a beach resort and the former house of Robert Louis Stevenson, called Valima which is also the name of the local beer.

Today we were in Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango). This is the only USA territory in the Southern Hemisphere. It is pretty basic. The busses have solid seats and are not air conditioned. However, the scenery is most attractive and the people are very friendly and welcoming. The pictures include Peter our bus driver with his wife Susanna and our swordfish kebab lunch. Tonight we are sailing to Apia in Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa), this is an independent country which, amongst other things, boasts an International rugby team. More on that tomorrow.

We crossed the equator yesterday. The Captain said we would feel a small bump and that we would also speed up because we would be going downhill after that !

Here are two rather poor pictures of the “Crossing the Line” ceremony. It was difficult to get close enough to get decent photos.

Forgot to say yesterday:

Another important fact about Hawaii: they have the fatest bus drivers in the world — see photo in yesterday’s posting.

🚍

There are 6 islands in Hawaii. We visited Oahu, where Honolulu is located on Friday and Saturday. Yesterday (Sunday) we were on Maui and visited Lahaina. We also did a four hour tour to see some of the countryside and vegetation ………..erm, also the bars for cocktails.

Also saw whales, but not close enough for photos.

Our next stop is Pago Pago but it takes 4 days to get there so there may not be a posting every day.

101 facts you didn’t know about Hawaii

Well, two actually:

1) Hawaii has a national fish and it’s called the

Humuhumunukunukunaapua’a fish or, in English:
“The fish whose face looks like a pig”

2) there are feral chickens — no, really, see the photo below.

We had great afternoon tour of the eastern end of the island of Oahu after docking in the main port of Honolulu. This included the famous Waikiki beach.

However, the beautiful beach in the picture is not Waikiki.

Just us……….. Variation on a selfie……..

Due to arrive in Honolulu tomorrow.

Yesterday was extraordinary. In the morning it rained and rained. By lunchtime, the sun came out and we had a magical day. We rode the cable cars, had lunch in Fishermans Wharf and took in the sights including Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Day trip today from San Francisco. Cooler and rain early. Nice now. Lunch in Cannery Row, Monterey.