Always the ladies with their umbrellas sitting down and
waiting for friends and neighbours to walk by so they can catch up on all the
news.
The basket weaving is done with a lot of pride and skill;
they really make some wonderful pieces, their work is a tight close weave so
the pieces look very finished, not at all rough as we have seen on other islands.
Try and carry these onto the boat and then fit them in the
galley! I asked what they were called but it was in Tongan, they are a tuber of
some sort and you eat them.
Mother Nature’s sculpture.
The Captain and crew were very happy, lettuce for salads!
We are always hunting for lettuce, they grow their own here so they have bags
of lettuce, fresh basil, green onions, a vegetable bonanza!
Great Papayas and watermelons.
These little clams are so tiny it would take a lot of them
to fill you up.
One stop shopping, crafts, food, sauces and Tapas.
Today, the Mracek’s and Ellsworth’s will
register in town and then enjoy the all day block party. We are going to take
in the sights and then eat at the 
they
have a great show every Wednesday evening presenting the kids from one of the
islands around here who are trying to make money to go to school, education is
very expensive and the parents have to come up with ways to procure money to
ensure their children will be able to attend school. We really enjoyed the
prevue of the kids as they entertained us during the day at the block party.
The full moon party started two years ago and yachties and
locals seem to be enjoying the party so hopefully they will have a great year
three.
You may have noticed that every once in a while a photo of a
flower appears, I am using them for fill.
Everyone is welcome…this little piggy went to market,
this little piggy stayed home…
Yes this is his pet and he knows this tiny little piggy will
become very big one day – but for now, he has a cuddly friend.
Face painting was one of the more popular attractions and
‘Billy Snips”, the local hair snipper, was out and about, you had
to catch him on the run as he was moving around town, so if you see him stop
him and he will cut your hair, oh yes, and we saw first hand how talented he
was! 
This seems to be a great way for the Tongans to show their
wares. They are very talented and the carvings are particularly nice. The
Tongan women and men make beautiful straw crafts.
And now, 
,
this group of dancers ranged in ages from four to eighteen are from one of the
local islands desperately trying to make money so the children can go to
school; education is very, very expensive In Tonga so most families struggle to
send their children to school.
This young fellow in the front has so much enthusiasm that
he became the number one favourite.
The Tongan women are very pretty – but one notable
aspect about the Tongans are they very large feet.
The Corn Hole competition, commonly known as the bean toss
was enjoyed by all. Jeanette and I were eliminated fairly early on, well
okay after the first game, John, Ian and Michael did much better.
We were invited to the local kindergarten to meet with the
kids and hear some of their songs and enjoy their art work. The school is very
deficient in school supplies and depends upon visitors to either make a
donation or as the chaps from Whangarei are going to do, try and collect
supplies for the kids and send them by boat. We should be able to have jumble
sales, etc and a portion could go to the schools in Tonga, I think I already
mentioned that it is very expensive for the kids to attend school.
We entered Sea Mist in the Friday and Saturday races; this
is what you should not be doing with your Spinnaker.
The Friday night rce takes place in the harbour, so not only
are you trying to compete with other boats but you also have to wind your way
therough the boats that are anchored and moored in the harbour! Saturday we
raced to 
