Vava'u Island Group

Wildfox
Anthony Swanston
Thu 26 Sep 2013 03:43
This is a bit like the San Blas Islands - dozens to choose from and all close together. From where I am now I can see my next anchorage all of 0.8 of a mile away. The winds are light and the sunshine is strong. Anchoring is always tricky but do-able. The snorkelling over all types of coral is wonderful but the latest thing to break is my underwater camera; before that my main VHF set. For VHF I am now down to one handheld.
 
A crowd of us desend on Lape Island where another traditional feast is being held - you pay as much as you feel like paying and all the money goes to the local village. They have just built a beauitful new jetty with past proceeds. I could stay here a for long time. There is lots to do, it is not expensive and all I have to do to get duty free booze is flash my passport! What could be better?
 
In the calm, clear and clean waters I have been cleaning my teak decks and re-considering my time table. Unless I really cut things short here I will only have two weeks to spare in Fiji. Given that it takes four days to get there, is expensive and very difficult to clear in and out of it hardly seems worth the effort. The timetable is, of course, driven by the cyclone season. So I will continue to enjoy Tonga and see more of the central and southern island groups. And then do Fiji next season.
 
The decisions I have to make....decisions, decisions, decisions........

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