'Eua

The Tonga adventure continues. Anna has started to feel at home, Martina safely arrived on nov. 4th, so our crew is complete. Since we are waiting for the good weather window to go to New Zealand via Minerva Reef, we use the time to take a look around the area of Tongatapu. This way our crew gets used to the boat, the sailing and sees a little bit of Tonga. With this background we sailed to 'Eua yesterday. I had read, that this is very beautiful island with a big national park. And indeed, it is just gorgeous. 'Eua is now among my 3 favorite islands of the Pacific, with Easter Island and Samoa. Why? The variety of activities is huge and at the same time the place is so quiet and peaceful. You can dive and snorkel in crystal clear water as well as ride the bike, hike, climb rocks, look in to caves, walk along the beach and go swimming, or just relax at your hotel (there are two small guest houses on the island). The island is full of at least 4 kinds of butterflies, many singing birds, among them the parrot with a red belly ('Eua is the only place in the world where these parrots live), pigs (of course), cows, sheep, wild horses, cats and dogs…

I rented a bike and rode to the cliffs (puh, I am in bad shape; driving uphill in the heat almost killed me), over fields and through forests with a landscape which changed a lot. It was just amazing. and such wonderful smells everywhere, tress in bloom, so many plants I had never seen before. The list is long. Come and see this island while it's natural!

Here is just one picture, more will come either tomorrow or in about 2 weeks from New Zealand.