When I was Tonga I had the chance to get away for the day to an island resort. I had the option of choosing a) an Aussie owned resort b) the German owned resort or c) the Tongan owned resort. I didn't go half away around the world to hang out with Aussies or Europeans. I chose c) Pangaimotu Island Resort owned by Big Mama. Big Mama was not in but I met some pretty great people and ate some amazing food.
(A big hello to David, Ashely, Ian, and Dewayne!)
If I got in a job in Tonga with a promise I could eat in the nice restaurants EVERYDAY, I'd probably have to move, it's that good. Nothing in the States can even compare.
Yes, it really did look like this. Pangaimotu is a yachtie hang out and if I had time that day I would have taken a cruise, but I headed back to Tongatapu for an invitation for a history making event (more on that tomorrow).
Tonga time is not the same as US time. And I'm not talking time zones here. I haven't found a conversion chart yet, but I'll post it when I do. Time is as Einstein said, relative. I had to ask people, "Are we talking Tonga time or American time?" That was somewhat helpful in a few occasions, but not really. What was most helpful was for me to say to myself, "Oh, we're talking Gary time." That's my husband. This was of my first clues that my palangi husband has a Tongan spirit. He loves to eat, sing, hang out at church, and is super laid back. That pretty much defines the Tongan way. If somebody had told me that the day we had married, it would saved me a lot of confusion.
Yes, that is a sunken ship in the background (probably a pirate ship) and I went snorkeling there. The ocean was just teeming with sea life. It was mind blowing! Note to self, "Next trip, underwater house for camera."
