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Whale carving in the lobby of the Paradise International Hotel
I moved to the Paradise International Hotel and an "Island Side" room. I was near the road, in the hot sun, and surrounded by dense vegetation. There was not a lick of breeze & no ceiling fan. So I opted for an upgrade. Nice, but definitely nothing like the Tongan Beach Resort.
Today I am going into town to find out about my airplane tickets, arrange my last whale watching trips & meet with the dive shop and have them draw our dive sites & whale watching route on a map of Vava'u I bought.
I will also stop at the internet café and send this report.
Monday, 4 August (in USA)
Tuesday - a laid back day in Tonga:
My room #148 (way at the north end of the resort) view back to door.
This was the second morning since I got here that I did not have something "scheduled" to happen at 9 or 10 a.m. Other than the first Sunday, I have been either Whale Watching, diving and/or changing resorts.
My room view from door to deck
Today I had a continental breakfast at Paradise Int'l Hotel (hereafter known as PIH) and there met a woman with one of those orthopedic boots on her right foot. She was the mother of a family from Kansas that had just flown in via Auckland (their Nandi flight was "canceled"). Twenty years ago, her husband was out here doing something with tridachna clams and "Ocean Watch" and has always wanted to come back. Recently-graduated daughter & son wanted to come to the South Pacific - she to dive, he just to wander. The husband & kids were off in town arranging the sailboat they were going to rent for a couple of weeks.
After that, I walked to the Aquarium Café, home of food, drinks and internet.
From there I did some emailing with Andréa, and then walked back to PIH. I decided to stroll around and down to their "marina" for a swim. The marina is down a long set of steps and was deserted except for two derelict boats in a sort of bay behind the jetty. The water was cool and clear - I swam for about an hour, then trekked back up to my room. Rinsed out my gear, sat on the deck and had a beer while composing this report.
View from my deck north to the Harbor
In a while I need to go back into town to pay for the change in AirPacific tickets and see what the local travel agency has in the way of recommendations for lodging. I also will set up my whale watching/diving with Dive Vava'u . . . I really like the owners and their professionalism and love/respect for the whales.
View of the marina from my deck
I am owed two trips by Whales in the Wild (Hakula Lodge); they are scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) & Friday of this week. I have booked a "combo" with Dive Vava'u for Thursday, Saturday & Sunday . . . I need to find digs for Saturday onward. There are several possibilities; I'm working on another Island resort, Mala Island.
Where I swam - next to mangroves (fish hatchery);
Verandah back to reception and dining room
Looking back at the 103 steps down to the marina
View back to my room/deck - the one with the "laundry" drying
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CONTINUE SWIMMING WITH THE WHALES
IN PULE'ANGA 'O TONGA WITH NEAL HERE