The first night in Sally’s beach house was not an unmitigated success… it was very noisy – dogs and roosters combined mostly, though Sally in the front room had problems with people talking close to her room as well. I, fortunately, remembered that on the plane I’d grabbed all the freebies I could and included in that was a pair of earplugs! Yay! So I stumbled out to get them from my handbag and after spending quite some time figuring out how to get them to actually stay in my ears found them to be extremely effective and was out like a light. Poor Sally didn’t have that luxury and my snores were added to her cacophony.
So I woke up bright and breezy and looking forward to our next adventure! Sally was out on the deck not so bright and breezy but always up for an adventure. We had thought we might catch a boat to Fafa or Pangaimotu and spend the day on a beach just snorkeling and hanging out in the sun. But then we figured that we could do the same here much cheaper and just as good if we could find the right beach. First we set off to Sally’s house to grab her reef shoes and picked up her earplugs for tonight. And off to Anahulu Caves, not to look at the caves but to go to the beach. Parked up and paid our 5 Pa’anga for the man to ‘look after’ the car and went off down to the most gorgeous wee beach.
Just around the corner from the rock above is a really great wee swimming hole – kind of a channel in the rocks. Sally led the way and we snorkeled – magic! Absolutely clear sparkling water and fascinating fish – nice little ones, nothing too threatening and brilliant colours. This is the place that Sally took the video of the ‘Spanish Dancer’ when she first came here – magic!!
We weren’t quite alone here but were pretty close to it:
Swimming in the sun with an umbrella – eccentric? Maybe – Genius? Most definitely!
I had a bite to eat and accidentally dumped Sally’s last two remaining Cameo Cremes in the sand (which was covered in ants(?!)) as I was offering them to her and ruined that for Sally. Feel very bad about that.
Then we headed off to look for a new beach – this one was lovely but it was rocky when you weren’t in the wee channels so not our dream beach. Drove up to nearly the tip of the island – Tonga is a funny shape:
And the middle road is a bit rough:
We ended up at Vakaloa Resort
(OMG!!)
and swam at the Konokopoli beach.
THIS is our dream beach! And we had it all to ourselves!! It was incredible – we pulled up and Sally asked the receptionist if we could swim at the beach and she was very happy to let us.
This:
And under the deck is beautifully shady and has concrete squares to sit on so you’re not on the sand
And the beach!!!!!!
No one about! Towards the end there was a couple walking along the sand. The ONLY people we saw!
Freaking magical.
I spent my time snorkelling once again – saw a large vividly blue tentacle starfish and a great variety of fish. MAGIC!!! Wish I had an underwater camera…
Sally had a walk and a bit of lunch while I wallowed in amazed delight 😀
Snorkelling is my new favourite thing!!
Came back to Sally’s and had a shower and relaxed a bit. Wandered over to the beach with a glass of wine to watch the sun go down
The pictures of the moon casting its light on the sea are not as successful as I hoped 😦
and watched some boys jumping off a sunken boat in the sea not far from Sally’s beach house
Envying the youth of today
We spent the evening at Weaving class, which is what Sally does on Tuesday since pub quiz isn’t an option. That was cool – have started a kiekie which is a decorative skirt worn on formal occasions and by public servants and school children… it was fun! A great evening with the other volunteers again and lovely way to end my last full day here.
I’m going to miss it – it’s been amazing. Highly recommend staying with mein host Sally, or if that isn’t available then suggest you give Vakaloa resort a try 😀
Thank you Sally – it’s been a joy!!!
BlueKahu 