18:39S 173:58W

 

We’re loving the sleepy and shabby village of Neiafu in the northern Tongan Vava’u group.  The anchorage is absolutely beautiful with crystal clear water and a lovely backdrop of green hills.   It’s been wonderful to just stop and sit on a mooring in calm water.   We slept for 12 hours our first night here – blissful after so many nights of night watch from Bora Bora.   Think it’s our calmest anchorage in ages.

 

Yesterday morning we headed to the markets and were overwhelmed at the produce – rocket, coriander, eggplant, beans, pineapple....all those things we haven’t been able to get for months.  We also found eggs – a treat (my powdered eggs have been fine in muffins but a frittata needs the real thing!).  There are loads of other cruisers in here so it’s been great to catch up with friends we haven’t seen for a while.

 

Our plan was to head out to the islands today but fellow cruiser Harry on Malua swung by for coffee and mentioned the fatal word “rugby”.  We are so out of touch we had no idea there was a game being played – let alone one of such significance.  So plans immediately abandoned and we’re here for another night.  The waterfront bar a stone’s throw away has a big screen so will be a novelty to watch the ABs – the first time in months.

 

Tomorrow we will head out and spend a few days exploring the outer islands, whale watching and catching up with others before coming back in to reprovision and internet.  Having fast internet has also been a novelty but we’re trying not to get sucked into it – just check mail, news and not sit and browse....it swallows way too much time.