Dolfijn's Travels: 2011

Well here it is the final post (at least for a while!), the trip from the wonderful island of Niue to Tonga and from there to home in New Zealand. The sailing was tough on both legs with big rain squalls from Niue to Tonga, and a constant strong wind from Tonga to New Zealand - the upside being it was in the right direction and we got home quicker than expected!
Highlights were meeting up with lots of boats we hadn't seen for a while, hanging out with some cool locals, watching the Rugby World Cup (especially Tonga beating France and New Zealand beating France!) and arriving in New Zealand and catching up with family and friends and moving back into our house.
Lowlights were the attempts by Tongan immigration to make money from lots of boats without giving receipts (they were amateurs compared to Panama!!!), some of the attitudes of expats living in Tonga towards the locals and the cold on the trip from Tonga to New Zealand! Fortunately the weather seems to brightening up for Xmas and summer might eventually be here!

Raising the Tongan flag just after a rain squall passed through...

but it wasn't the last one we'd get before arriving!

OK so it's my watch...no need to laugh!

After we arrived the local Catholic church were celebrating - pity their band hadn't practised too much!

We went to a local culture night to see dancing..

and some where you were invited to stick money to the oiled bodies (it wasn't lap dancing though!)

and the band played on....and got better the more cava they drank!

Then it was onto a pig roast with health minister Pino and his family

where they all helped in the washing...

and the gutting

and even the novices were allowed to take their turn....turning!

and then it was done (despite my help) and it tasted fantastic

One of the anchorages we visited

with the sealife under the water

and very clear water it was too

with some good corals

and a nemo fish (clown fish)

And Nemo was guarding his mate the spotted conga eel below

Whilst the other sealife didn't seem too bothered by our presence (must have heard about my fishing prowess!)

But the Blue Chromis didn't stray too far from the protective fire coral

The variety of fish was probably greater than many places we have visited

Another beach another pig roast

though I'm not sure if Carl is holding a torch or a microscope - the poor thing was tiny!

But we all had a good time

lazing on the beach

We even got some lodgers that night - Raleigh was dog tired (sorry!)

but seemed at home on Dolfijn

Another night another barbeque, with Moses, Joe and Simon

Moses had some of his relatives help with the cooking

And on to the BIG night....

With even the Brits wearing black clothing

for the nail biting rugby world cup final

Afterwards everyone relaxed and enjoyed a few beers

Until we realised that we were setting off for New Zealand the next day!

So the New Zealand flag is finally out of the locker........

Whilst the first view of New Zealand was a little murky...

The real Kiwi hoists the flag!

New Zealand customs boat welcomes us to the Bay of Islands and takes photos

Then it's home sweet home..

Though the Morepork that watches over the grounds at night didn't seem too phased by us!

Well it was a like a breath of fresh air getting to Rarotonga and Niue - it's only when you arrive in places like these that you realise how little people smile everywhere else. Lovely people and sights around the islands, although a shame the harbour was under reconstruction when we were there in Raro. Highlights were the people we met, particularly Max, Wayne and TJ in Raro and Ira and Brian in Niue, the culture night and Ireland beating Australia in the Rugby World Cup (the first game we got to watch). Lowlights were the noise in the harbour at Raro and getting charged alot to stay there.

Land ahoy ! Rarotonga comes into view...

Civilisation at last - not only using New Zealand dollars but Steinlager too!

The Whatever Bar with Max and Wayne - great place for watching the Whales playing just outside the reef.

Culture night at Club Bana with Sarah and Stu from yacht Snow Leopard and a couple of Aussie girls, Leanne and Mary-Jane we met at Whatever

The band starts warming up..

Then the dancers ..

And the young ones get in on the act as well..

Dawn with two young girls who will be part of the dance troupe before too long...

Dawn and I get chosen to attempt Cook Islands dancing...

On the left, the new world champion Cook Islands dancer (for non-Cookies on Friday 2nd Sept!), and on the right the winner of "Who can choose the most embarassing dance partner from the tourists"!!!