13 April 2011. Malo e lelei from Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. After 4 flights and hours of layovers, I’ve arrived at the first mission port for Pacific Partnership 2011. The people you meet while traveling have interesting stories, e.g. Roger who grew up in a missionary family in Papua New Guinea and now is a businessman in southern Australia traveling to Vava’u to look for additional business opportunities. And the young English couple with a Lonely Planet travel guide in hand who’ve been traveling the world for the past 18 months. The 7-passenger plane from Tongatapu to Vava’u, stuffed to the max with baggage, made for a spectacular low-altitude flight over the islands and reefs. But now I’m in Vava’u for the 3rd time (first 2 times with Fred and friends on bareboat sailing charters), and got the scoop on the current conditions from the Navy advance team over dinner. Ah, the tropics, where the chocolate melts and the sweat pours! Went to the local crafts market to buy a precious hand-fan, as well as shell and coconut husk jewelry. Now it's hurry up and wait for transit to the ship. The landing craft were unloaded this morning before a crowd of curious locals. To inquires from the locals about the purpose of my visit, they respond that they'll be coming to the clinic for treatment of whatever ails them, so I'm looking forward to meeting them again within a few days. More later.
Cheers,
Bridget
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