Saturday, 26 July (in USA) Sunday, 27 July (in TONGA) Right now it's noon; at about 2 p.m., I'm gonna try walking into town. Maybe have dinner there. Tongan shingles - palm leaves are split, left to dry, then woven and overlapped On Sunday, 99.9% of stores have padlocks on them, as does this roadside stand between Hakula Lodge and Neiafu. Nothing is open that late in the day but a few eating establishments. Upper income Tongan or maybe Plongi house A more standard "Tongan city" dwelling Manaia - where Veni's Aussie wife Mary is cook and where I had a great Mahi Mahi dinner on Friday night. The restaurant is on the water down a l-o-n-g set of stairs. The Mermaid Grill & Bar; like Cap'n Tony's in Key West - one place you have to go if you get to Vava'u & Neiafu. Brand new (opened Thursday) Sails Bar & Grill on the water and part of the the Puataukanave International Hotel. I may stay here after the 8th of August if I can extend my trip. This was THE ONLY place open after a LONG HOT trudge into town. [Click on either picture for more information. Puataukanave is Tongan for hibiscus.] The other view of Sails - above this is a set of rooms. (Wouldn't want to try to sleep there!!) Opposite the bar the entire wall opens onto the dock/deck

CONTINUE SWIMMING WITH THE WHALES
IN PULE'ANGA 'O TONGA WITH NEAL HERE