Sweet Limonade

I made the most amazing Limonade today because someone decided to drop off 2 50 pound bags of limes!  Last week someone else dropped off a big bushel of Hopa (plantain bananas) and the week before that still another person dropped off a basket full of Coconuts.

I do not yet know who dropped off the limes but when I do find out I will make a lime pie for them as a thank you.

I find it absolutely amazing that people will just drop by and leave food for you without coming to the door to say hello or leave a note to tell us who these generous people are.  They don't want you to know who they are. Completely selfless and humble these people just try to help!

But I think I know who left the limes. Sam came by the other day while I was making some limonade and he asked me if this was something I do often but I only make it when limes are in season and you can get 15 for $3.  Today I have so many limes that they will last me for many months.  Barry and I will sit and juice all of these and freeze the juice so that we can have limonade all year long instead of just a few months a year.

When Sandy dropped off a whole bushel of bananas I made her banana bread. Now every time she wants banana bread she drops off bananas.  I think she is the one who dropped off the Hopa last week but I have not seen her yet to ask her.

There may not be a whole lot in Vava'u but the people here more then make up for the lack of department stores.

I love it here.

Pictures!!!! For Christmas!!!

So ....

As Barry and I are sitting here in Vava'u for Christmas and, being the off-season most others are away, we were invited by our wonderful and always welcoming landlords to attend the 50 Anniversary Gala of the Catholic Church High school.

This was a wonderful event where nearly 5,000 people attended in temporary pavilions set up over tables set up on about 1.5 acres. This was on the front grounds of the Catholic high school with about acres of 3/4 acres of green space inside the horseshoe.

While waiting for the festival to start the music started and people went onto the central area to dance and enjoy their event.

If you look carefully at this picture you will see a woman in the centre on the ground.  This woman is so excited for the day and for the festival that she has dropped and started rolling in Joy and happiness.  This is a common sight in Tonga.  People yell, whoop, dance and roll to express their joy and excitement when they have a festival like this.

On the tables the food is wrapped in serving size packages and is piled high on the table. Barry (handsome man in the picture) and I literally had to eat our way to our plates so that we could put the food on our plates!

Everything on the table was available eat or take home. People came, ate and left leaving room at the table for others to come and eat as well.  This picture shows only one table but in each tent is 12 tables and there must have been 100 tents.  The amount of food and people was truly amazing.

While the dancing and presentations continued during the feast the different groups or families would take the field and present their gifts to the school and to the dignitaries that were there for the festivities.

As the people bring their gifts of cloth, blankets, tapa, and mats to be presented to the school a young lady in traditional clothing is covered in oil and does a very delicate dance. The woman in blue is going to the young lady to put a $2 bill on the young ladies oiled skin as appreciation for the dance and a donation for their family/group.  One girl made $600 during her dance.

All in all it was a very interesting experience and I hope we get invited to the next one.

This picture is showing some of the handicrafts that are available at the market. Everything is hand made by the sellers and the selection is always because of this.  

The market is also the main place to buy all of your produce.  This is the closest thing that Vava'u has to a grocery store. Each table is individually owned and items for sale depend on the availability.  For example pineapples can be bought for 5 for $10 in November and December but they sell for $10 each the rest of the year because they are not in season.

For all imported food items you can buy those at the Chinese shops. Meat is bought at the Chinese stores as well but everything is frozen and the quality is not anything near as good as we get in Canada. 

Things to bring to Tonga

Everyone keeps asking what to bring and what not to bring when moving to Tonga.  I will tell you now that everyone wants/needs different things. 

When Barry (my husband) and I first planned to move here in July 2015 we packed everything we thought that we could not live without. Sentimental items, king sized memory foam bed, $4,000 fridge and freezer set, quad bikes, side by side, and a hundred more items that we figured we could not live without.  After being in Vava’u for 6 months we found out that none of that stuff is good for here and we were VERY GLAD at that point that life happened and we did not actually end up shipping all of that stuff all the way to Tonga.

And why were we happy about that? Because the bed is so big it will not fit in the bedroom that we have. The fridge/freezer – while beautiful, huge and perfect for our foodie tendencies – is too big to fit in the kitchen, not made to withstand the salt in the air, and would cost an arm and a leg to run in Vava’u. The quad bikes – while very nice – can be bought and imported cheaper then what their used value was in Canada and as for the cost of the side by side, one can be imported for less than the cost of buying and shipping one from Canada.

Barry and I spent 6 months in Vava’u and when my father came to visit he packed an extra suitcase just for stuff that we wanted. The list was very simple … Feminine hygiene products for me and new knives and measuring cups for Barry – both which are hard to find here in good quality.

Our next “order” coming in October 2016 is also very simple – knife sharpener for Barry’s knives, sewing machine needles, meat injector for our Deli business, flask (for the late night parties in the bush), and a few skin care products that I cannot get on the Island.

It all depends on what you absolutely have to have compared to what you need.  Toothpaste? There is lots. Not the wonderful assortment and fancy flavours that we are used to having our choice of but Crest and Colgate are available at many Chinese stores. Hell, I even saw Closeup at one store.  Some stores specialise in ordering from Costco in the US and will take orders if you ask them nicely.  And most times all you have to do is wander through the Saturday morning market to find other items that are not cheap and Chinese – such as Charmin TP (a big treat here but not something most people would pack).

As for larger items that do not fit in your suitcase quite so easily, shipping from New Zealand or Australia is fast, easy and reasonably priced.  For example, I just bought 160kgs of items online from a reputable store in New Zealand that I cannot get in Vava’u. I have contracted with a shipper in Auckland – Friendly Islands Freight (recommended to me by people who have used them for shipping to Vava’u) – and I will have these items in my possession within 2 weeks of ordering for about $150 NZ.  I personally think this a good price considering where we live.

If you don’t mind used items you can always ask around for items that others have brought in that are just sitting in storage right now.

Furniture can be bought from local builders or you can pay for the imported stuff from stores in Nuku Alofa or in Vava’u.  This price might seem outrageous at first but if you remember that the US dollar is double the Tonga Pa’anga or that shipping from North America is nearly outrageous then the high looking prices are definitely worth it.

Also, there are often people coming in who have no problem bringing the small “can’t live without” items like sewing machine needles, or watch batteries, are a bottle of an herb or spice that you can’t get here.

I recommend – leave your items in a prepaid storage facility near a person of trust. If after 6 months you think it is worth it to ship your items here to Vava’u then have your person ship them. If you don’t need them, then have your person sell the items. 

Because it is absolutely amazing how your priorities change after you have been here for 6 months.     

Why am I selling my some of my Hunga Properties

I always try to answer the questions and comments from my readers and below is one that I thought you might also find interesting.

Charlett,

Thank you for your reply!  I've read through all of your blog and what you are doing is something my husband and I have wanted to do and have been researching for quite some time.

Was your intention to build out the lots for vacation homes to bring in some residual income? Can you tell me more about what problems you've run into and why you are selling the lots?

We are interested in building a home for ourselves and then a place we can rent out for short term or vacation stays.  Also, I am working on creating a Clinic and Spa there bringing providers in from all over the world for various times and appts throughout the year.

Anxious to hear more from your hands on experience!

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany,

I will try to answer your questions as fully and honestly as possible but I urge you to ask questions of others as well just to make sure that you have all the information before making a decision.

First and foremost I am not a real estate agent and I do actually own the properties that I am selling.  I have owned these properties since 2013 when I bought them so there is still 96 years left on the lease with first option to renew.  Plenty of time to enjoy.

Yes these properties are located on the North/Northwest of Hunga Island in Vava’u Tonga and are approximately ¼ acre each.  They are located on the top of a 200 foot cliff to the open ocean below.  The properties themselves do include about 15 metres between the property line and the cliff edge but it is stated in the lease agreement that nothing can be built in this area between you and the cliff without your written permission.  This is to protect you from someone building between you and your view and to protect you and your property from erosion. If some of the cliff falls away as - cliffs sometimes do - you should not lose your property.

Also, This property is located on a part of the island that is currently undeveloped.  No real roads (only dirt), no water, no power, no stores, no transportation, no anything and no guarantee that anything is going to be there in the near future.  On Hunga Island there is no market, no doctor, and very little entertainment. Anything and everything that you will want/need will need to be brought to you via boat from Neiafu on the main island that is (I believe) 12 miles away by boat.

OK, so that is the bad news.

The good news is that there are currently a few very successful resorts on Hunga Island and there is ALWAYS call for vacation properties even if it is only for the night for other people to see the island for themselves. Over the past couple of years I have suggested to the local expats that I would like to run a spa on these properties including massage, facials, baths, nails, hair, all the luxury items that travelling women and men would adore after a long journey and they have all been very supportive of the idea and I still believe that if you offer a two or three day “spa retreat” you should be able to do very well.  I can even help you find the supplies that you will need.  This is an idea that many people, expats, locals and yachties will enjoy.  I know I will!!

As for the reasons for me to sell my properties.  I bought 4 properties for my family.  One for my husband and I – that is the one I am keeping. One for my mother that passed away last year. One for my father that is currently ill and not interested in the property and one for either my brother or brother in law.  My brother in law will never come here because his wife just had a kidney transplant and they need the benefits that they can only afford with his job in Canada. And my brother is a home body that has claimed that he will never leave Windsor Ontario where his boys are.

I did not start the spa idea in Hunga because I ran out of money before I could start.  This may be a third world country but they do not have third world prices.  That is why the locals (Tongans) are so poor.

Anyway, On my way to Tonga in July 2015 after selling my house and everything I thought I could not live without I packed up the rest of my belongings to ship to Tonga.  I picked the wrong mover.  I contracted a company to move my belongings from Manitoba to BC for $2,300 and when the truck arrived in BC they told me they wanted $7,800.  Obviously I argued the point and the rude SOB drove away with my belongings.  I am still fighting to get them back. That was July 8th 2015.

Plane was booked and we could not stay to fight the good fight.  We had a contract to comply with which included being in Tonga on July 10 to take over the business.  We arrived in Vava’u as agreed with the owners of the business that we bought from - an American (sorry if you are American) and she decided that she was not going to transfer the business and was not going to refund our money.  Nice (sorry for the sarcasm). Anyway, my husband and I spent the next 6 months in court living off of our savings and the proceeds of our house just to have the judge put the case off to Supreme Court that would not hear our case for another 6 months.  In the meantime my mother passed away and my husband was being audited by the Canadian government for $21,000 taxes from 2011 – 2014.

Life fell apart for us. After 20 years of marriage we started arguing. We were broke, had no home, had no car, had no job, and had 5 different court cases going on.  We went back to Canada in December 2015 to go back to work. I came back to Tonga in June 2016 to attend Supreme Court where I won the decision.  I am still trying to get the business now.

But!!!!  I have decided to start anew.  There is lots of opportunity here for those that are willing to work and have the courage/foresight to see the possibilities.  I would love to have the spa on the clifftop with such an amazing view but life had other plans for me.

Now I am 2 weeks away from opening a Deli shop and will hopefully have the business that I bought soon.  Either way I am not leaving Vava’u.  The people are amazing, the weather is nearly always perfect – so long as you like HOT – LOL – and there is always someone willing to help you get what you need to be successful.  The more the merrier.

The biggest recommendation that I can give anyone is if you want to move here, come and live here first.  Be here for 6 months and make sure this is the culture/life that you want.  It is a different world. And I love it!

Did I miss any questions?  Is there more information that you would like?  Let me know!

Charlett

Breast Cancer Annual Event

Yesterday Friday October 14 2016 was the annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser.  It was a fun and interesting night of good food made by Belle Vista, drinks sold by Dancing Rooster and organized by Ladies of Vava’u including Lady Helen Fulivai, Diane of Vaka Vave, Milo of Belle Vista and Fatima of Basque Tavern.  I know that there are more but I do not know them by name.  Sorry.

These women work tirelessly all year long to ensure that the women of Vava’u get proper treatment and support for this condition so that those affected can go to Nuku Alofa for treatment and that their families join them during a trying time.

The event was held on the waterfront in the small marina under the open sky.  The weather was beautiful for the event which had an Aloha theme.  The men were all dressed in their Flowery best and the women all had the most wonderful dresses.  Fairy lights and Chinese lanterns were strung up all over the area and the “bar” was adorned by backlit pink and white balloons. Homemade citronella centrepieces and flower petals on every table with colourful napkins and table runners on every table.

All in all it was a very successful night.

The ladies of the committee did commission a calendar with 12 different Tongan men posed for the 12 months. During the evening there was an auction for one of three signed calendars.  The MC called all of the models onto the stage to “model” for those of us that were bidding on this calendar.  Now I know that for most people this would not be a big deal but the Tongans – especially Tongan men – are shy and reserved by nature so to actually get them on stage and modelling without their wives/girlfriends getting angry is a feat indeed!

Not only did the men get on the stage but they took their shirts off and danced the traditional Tongan war dance that is very flowing and graceful.  It was a wonderful show.

The other entertainment of the night included Polynesian dancers from Tonga and Fiji in two different shows and multiple singers throughout the night singing everything from traditional Tonga music to modern music.  Following dinner there was a general dance were everyone had a great time dancing to all types of DJ’d music.

It was such a treat to watch all of the locals enjoy themselves alongside the expats and I did try to take pictures of all these things but unfortunately the camera on my phone sucks.  Thankfully my husband is bringing a decent camera with him from Canada when he gets back in two weeks.  Decent pictures for you and a handsome man for me!!.

As always, if you have any questions you can always ask and I will make sure to answer them all.

Have a great night!

Char

Lunch at Ene'io Botanical Gardens

Hey all,

On Sunday I went to Ene'io Botanical Gardens to have lunch at their weekly Tongan Feast.  As I have never been to a Tongan Feast and didn't know what to expect I was a little shy at first but the owners Lucy and Honateli were very open and welcoming.  Honateli is a very jolly man that loves people and loves to laugh. And Lucy is very open and friendly as most Tongans are.

The gardens host a huge variety of plants and trees - many of them you cannot get anywhere else on the island such as Bay Leaves and Allspice.  I am a food person so of course that is what I look for first.  But they also have Aloe and Orchids too.  Honateli will tell you that they have 21 acres of the most beautiful gardens in Tonga.  And I believe him.

The view from the dining area is breathtaking! While sitting on the open deck you look out onto the clear aqua blue water and sandy beach.  The water is calm and perfect for swimming for any age and if you look out in about 100 metres there is the breakwater coral reef that is constantly crashing where is ocean meets the beach.  It is the most amazing landscape that I have seen.  Of course I forgot to take a picture but I have included one from gonewiththebackpack.blogspot.com.

So this is the view that we have while eating fresh whole roasted pig, Taro, baked fish, root fritters with homemade mango chutney, garden salad and fresh seaweed. Please do not forget the array of deserts and other side dishes that I am sure I can't remember right now.  But it is an all you can eat buffet so very much worth the $40TOP price.

The drink special is a rum punch or non alcoholic punch made in a fresh coconut served with a straw (for the drink) and a spoon (to scoop out the coconut). I thought this way a very unique and novel topper to this meal.

The atmosphere is friendly and open as most of the people who go there for Sunday Feast are tourists willing to meet new people, tell of there stories and eager to hear yours. All in all it was a very nice way to spend the day.  I think this might be a new Sunday hangout.

Sunday morning in my world

So it is Sunday morning and I live in a very interesting area.

Because all of Tonga is very religious it is not unusual to find yourself being woken up at 4 – 5 – 6 am on a Sunday morning by the bells or drums of the local churches.  Because of where I live I have 3 churches that wake me up. 

There is the Catholic Church at the end of the street, the church across the street and the other church around the corner. Usually the bells of all churches start anywhere between 4 and 5 am.  I imagine this is to wake the people to get ready for church!  As Sunday is a sacred day and no one is allowed to work at anything this is the only reason I can imagine for the bells to start so early. 

I am so used to using Sunday to sleep in and catch up on house work (cleaning or repairs) that this practice is still hard for me to get used to.

So now that the churches have woken everyone up they start ringing the bells an hour later (5-6am) to call the people to go to church.  And then they start singing!

I can understand singing for your faith but I swear these people are singing for their sins.  It is so loud that I can even here the singing from the Catholic Church at the end of the road.  I can understand the bells but singing that loudly. 

And I have a church across the street!  I swear there is one woman in that church who believes that the loudest person wins!  She is so loud that we hear her over everyone else in the area.  It almost sounds like she is yelling but she still keeps her tune.

And if it were not bad enough being woken up so early to this on a Sunday they do it again at 9:30, 12:30, 3:30 and sometimes 6pm all on the same day.  And I swear that same woman is across the street singing at the top of her lungs for all services on Sunday.

The best part of my Sunday is that after church at 9:30 my landlords come to our house and visit and they bring us a traditional Tongan brunch called a Lu (lou). It is corned beef or lamb cooked with onion wrapped in leaves that is cooked in a ground oven (Umu) since before church. A little salt and pepper and this is a great brunch for all. It is also a time that we can sit with our hard working landlords and not have to worry about them getting up to clean and/or fix something.  Our landlords are excellent – as I have said before.

Other than that Barry and I sit outside under the shade and watch the day go by. Many times people will visit for a little bit just to say hi because we live so close to town and they may be on their way home from church or visiting other people.  It is very slow – I almost said quiet but it is not quiet – time. And very welcomed after a hard week of tropical breezes and working hard lol.

Have fun and be safe

Char