There once was a tale of the Rat and the Octopus and over the
years it varied. Whatever the 'true' ending of this tale may be,
the fact that the rat insulted the octopus is considered the reason
that ever since then, the octopus seeks revenge against the rat for
its betrayal. As a result, the Tongan maka feke lure resembles the
shape of a rat.
The maka feke lure is expertly crafted. A carefully selected cone
-shaped stone of enough weight to avoid floating, constitutes its
main part. Half of this stone is covered with a cowrie shell to mimic
the rat’s fur. The rat’s 'feet' are made from palm tree leaves, which are
also used for the long 'tail'. Palm tree root material is used to fix all components together. A line is tied to
the lure with which it is lowered into the water. On one trip with fishermen from Manuka village on
Tongatapu, the lure was used on a shallow coral reef. Here, the line was lowered into the water and
rhythmically shaken up and down, about one metre above the bottom. After about an hour, a medium-
sized octopus,darted towards the lure and grabbed it. In the same moment, the fisherman jiggling the lure
quickly caught the octopus with his free hand.
years it varied. Whatever the 'true' ending of this tale may be,
the fact that the rat insulted the octopus is considered the reason
that ever since then, the octopus seeks revenge against the rat for
its betrayal. As a result, the Tongan maka feke lure resembles the
shape of a rat.
The maka feke lure is expertly crafted. A carefully selected cone
-shaped stone of enough weight to avoid floating, constitutes its
main part. Half of this stone is covered with a cowrie shell to mimic
the rat’s fur. The rat’s 'feet' are made from palm tree leaves, which are
also used for the long 'tail'. Palm tree root material is used to fix all components together. A line is tied to
the lure with which it is lowered into the water. On one trip with fishermen from Manuka village on
Tongatapu, the lure was used on a shallow coral reef. Here, the line was lowered into the water and
rhythmically shaken up and down, about one metre above the bottom. After about an hour, a medium-
sized octopus,darted towards the lure and grabbed it. In the same moment, the fisherman jiggling the lure
quickly caught the octopus with his free hand.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| KINGDOM OF TONGA Where time begins. . . |
May 15 - July 14th, 2009
July 31 - Aug 24th, 2009
July 31 - Aug 24th, 2009
KINGDOM OF TONGA
Situated just west of the International Date Line and east of Fiji, Tonga is
unique in that it is the only Polynesian country never to have been
colonized, and the only monarchy in the Pacific.
This nation includes 170 tropical islands (...so many places to go, so little time)
with a population of just 120,898. The currency is the Tongan pa'anga.
4 Island Groups
VAVA'U
Vavaʻu is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones and are hilly
and relatively populated (pop: 20,000) in Tonga. Vavaʻu rises 204 meters
above sea level. The capital is Neiafu, which is the second largest city in Tonga,
situated at one of the best harbours of the world, the Port of Refuge.
HA'APAI
Haʻapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs and shoals in the central part of the
Kingdom of Tonga, with the Tongatapu group to the south and the Vavaʻu
group to the north. Seventeen of the Haʻapai islands are populated.Ha'apai's
are low-lying coral atolls with fewer villages (population 10,000) and even less
evidence of western culture.
TONGATAPU
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its
capital Nukuʻalofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it
gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately
71,260 residents (2006), 70.5% of the national population.
NIUTOPUTAPU
Located in the north of the country, 300 km away from Vavaʻu near the border
with Sāmoa. Its closest neighbours are the small island of Tafahi, only 9
kilometers to the north-northeast, and the similarly island of Niuafo'ou. The
three islands together form the administrative division of The Niuas.
Situated just west of the International Date Line and east of Fiji, Tonga is
unique in that it is the only Polynesian country never to have been
colonized, and the only monarchy in the Pacific.
This nation includes 170 tropical islands (...so many places to go, so little time)
with a population of just 120,898. The currency is the Tongan pa'anga.
4 Island Groups
VAVA'U
Vavaʻu is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones and are hilly
and relatively populated (pop: 20,000) in Tonga. Vavaʻu rises 204 meters
above sea level. The capital is Neiafu, which is the second largest city in Tonga,
situated at one of the best harbours of the world, the Port of Refuge.
HA'APAI
Haʻapai is a group of islands, islets, reefs and shoals in the central part of the
Kingdom of Tonga, with the Tongatapu group to the south and the Vavaʻu
group to the north. Seventeen of the Haʻapai islands are populated.Ha'apai's
are low-lying coral atolls with fewer villages (population 10,000) and even less
evidence of western culture.
TONGATAPU
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its
capital Nukuʻalofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it
gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately
71,260 residents (2006), 70.5% of the national population.
NIUTOPUTAPU
Located in the north of the country, 300 km away from Vavaʻu near the border
with Sāmoa. Its closest neighbours are the small island of Tafahi, only 9
kilometers to the north-northeast, and the similarly island of Niuafo'ou. The
three islands together form the administrative division of The Niuas.
Click on Images to Enlarge
Use Back button to return
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| ...Vava'u |
| ...Tongatapu |
| ...Ha'apai |
come tour with us...
| Tongans fish for Sea Cucumbers gleaning on reefs at low tide or diving in shallow waters. Sea cucumbers are sedentary marine invertebrates. |
Halodeima
Juvenile Banana pod
| Blue Star Fish - The sea bed is speckled with them at low tide |
Typcial packaging of Seafood
by roadside vendors. Inside
the Banana Leaf is Bobby's
favorite food - Octopus!
by roadside vendors. Inside
the Banana Leaf is Bobby's
favorite food - Octopus!
| length is up to 16 in, a weight of up to 9 lb, and a leg span of more than 3 ft, with males generally being larger than females. They can live more than 30 years. They are hard shelled except the soft flesh portion you see here speckled with orange. Cllick on Photo |
Bob, Kim, Dick,
LeiEllen and Lynn
hiking Eituleva island
LeiEllen and Lynn
hiking Eituleva island
Locals removing
decorations after a
visit from the Cheif
of the island
group.
decorations after a
visit from the Cheif
of the island
group.
In Asia they have been eating sea cucumbers for
hundreds of years. Sea cucumbers, also
known as beche-de-mer, are delicacies, health
boosters and maybe even a cure for impotence and
they are harvested all over the world. Collaborative
work done by scientists from China, Japan, Russia
and the United States indicates that certain extracts
in sea cucumbers may help stop the growth of cancer
cells. All sea cucumbers' skin are full of glucosamine
and chondroitin. Both are well-known for treating
arthritis. The slimy, sausage-shaped critters when
dried are an excellent source of protein. How
many would you like??
hundreds of years. Sea cucumbers, also
known as beche-de-mer, are delicacies, health
boosters and maybe even a cure for impotence and
they are harvested all over the world. Collaborative
work done by scientists from China, Japan, Russia
and the United States indicates that certain extracts
in sea cucumbers may help stop the growth of cancer
cells. All sea cucumbers' skin are full of glucosamine
and chondroitin. Both are well-known for treating
arthritis. The slimy, sausage-shaped critters when
dried are an excellent source of protein. How
many would you like??
beche-de-mer
Click Picture
sea cucumber
| Tongan Gravesites decorated with quilts |
Click Image
v a n i l l a
Vanilla beans are hand
pollinated, on family plantations. They
are then sorted by grade and premium
beans are cured, a process which can
take from three to six months
pollinated, on family plantations. They
are then sorted by grade and premium
beans are cured, a process which can
take from three to six months
| FOA Island anchorage at Dusk. Same Time - two views - both sunset and the Moon |
| From Uoleva Island we notice someone transiting the water from the distant island. He comes ashore riding... Returns to his home island with sacks of coconuts |
| Uoleva Island, NE end |
| Free Range Pigs? Tonga islands are peppered with and board their property to keep them out. The pigs eat the fallen fruit from Mango and Papaya trees making them very fat and little meat - Just the way Tongans like them! |
| Meeting local families and learning their ways gives us a glimpse into the hard life they lead. We met a young man who gave us a tour of his island and brought us to his home where he offered lunch to us. Found the father out back roasting the meat. Their meals typically consist of local grown root and vegetables including Bread fruit, Taro leaf and plantain. Their meat is usually fish, chicken, pig or dog. |
Maka Feke octopus lure
Tongan travels between islands...
Royal Palace of Tonga
| We were unable to view the grounds or the interior however found a link to photos on the Tongan Gov site |
| Muli'one;a type of sea slug, cut open to expose organs the Tongans eat. |
| Want a Coconut? The kids are keen to show their skills in climbing these towering trees |
| Driving by the school is great fun.!.. the students love to see you and run after the car. |
Seaweed gathered from the shallow
lagoons make a great salad!
lagoons make a great salad!
What is vanilla?
True vanilla flavor comes from
the cured seed pod (bean) of
the vanilla orchid
True vanilla flavor comes from
the cured seed pod (bean) of
the vanilla orchid
for village gatherings, matt
weaving and in this case
BINGO!
weaving and in this case
BINGO!
Uarrgh! says Bobby as we join in
some pirate fun with our friends
some pirate fun with our friends
Pangaimotu
| An adorable little girl that would follow us as we walked and when close, stroked our of the kids want to touch a palagi. (white person) |
Blow holes - South side of TongaTapu
| The basket weaving is fabulous in Tonga. Better than anywhere we've been. We have many on the boat |
Catholic Church Neiafu ~ Vava'u
The visitors are most impressed by
singing at the church, which starts by a few people but grows
into participation of all attendants, men and women singing different parts without any written prompts.
singing at the church, which starts by a few people but grows
into participation of all attendants, men and women singing different parts without any written prompts.
| The major attraction of the town is Neiafu's Catholic Church, definitely the most outstanding building in the town. |
So Creative!!
| ...Niuatoputapu |
Falehau
Primary School
FALEHAU Village
There are three villages on Niuatoputapu
(pronounced; New-eh-Toe-poo-Ta-poo) and
Falehau being the furthest Eastern village. The
schools on this island are staffed with teachers
from the mainland however the school supplies
and curriculum are very limited and often created
by the teachers. The government supplies the
building and the villages construct the rest. These
remote islands depend greatly on the cruising
community to bring them supplies as the only ship
available is irregular and scarce.
(pronounced; New-eh-Toe-poo-Ta-poo) and
Falehau being the furthest Eastern village. The
schools on this island are staffed with teachers
from the mainland however the school supplies
and curriculum are very limited and often created
by the teachers. The government supplies the
building and the villages construct the rest. These
remote islands depend greatly on the cruising
community to bring them supplies as the only ship
available is irregular and scarce.
The kids revel in getting
their pictures taken and
showing us their school
work. Primary school
workbooks, supplies and teacher aids were accepted graciously. The following day we
returned with the class photos to find that the kids had worked all morning building
baskets and filling them with fruit and vegetables for us.
their pictures taken and
showing us their school
work. Primary school
workbooks, supplies and teacher aids were accepted graciously. The following day we
returned with the class photos to find that the kids had worked all morning building
baskets and filling them with fruit and vegetables for us.
Bread can be hard to come by
while only the Island
Baker but he is
also the Islands
Police Chief.
while only the Island
Baker but he is
also the Islands
Police Chief.
Village Bakery
Bob: "einiee, minee,
miney, mo...."
miney, mo...."
Preparing for a delivery
to the neighboring
island of Tafahi
to the neighboring
island of Tafahi
note his ovenmits
"Take Two"
family business
ta'ovala
The Tongan Ta'ovala is worn mostly on special
occasions such as: Weddings, Funerals,
Birthdays, Church and Special events.
And its a must to wear these Cloths when see-
ing the king, attending his birthday, attending
a nobles funeral or special events having any
doing with his royal majesty or her royal
majesty of Tonga or any like known nobles.
occasions such as: Weddings, Funerals,
Birthdays, Church and Special events.
And its a must to wear these Cloths when see-
ing the king, attending his birthday, attending
a nobles funeral or special events having any
doing with his royal majesty or her royal
majesty of Tonga or any like known nobles.
A taʻovala is a Tongan dress, a mat
wrapped around the waist, worn by men and
women, at all formal occasions. The
normal taʻovala, for everyday neat wear, is
a short mat worn over cloth skirt, coming
halfway up the thighs. It is tied with a rope
human hair of a deceased ancestor)
wrapped around the waist.
wrapped around the waist, worn by men and
women, at all formal occasions. The
normal taʻovala, for everyday neat wear, is
a short mat worn over cloth skirt, coming
halfway up the thighs. It is tied with a rope
human hair of a deceased ancestor)
wrapped around the waist.
soaked in the ocean (turns
them white), hung to dry
and then flattened. Strips of pandanus leaves
are cut by using the tool you see above,
giving them straight uniformed strips. They
are then woven into mats that can take
months to complete. Many women work
together to complete one. They sit upon the
finished sections as they work to finish.
them white), hung to dry
and then flattened. Strips of pandanus leaves
are cut by using the tool you see above,
giving them straight uniformed strips. They
are then woven into mats that can take
months to complete. Many women work
together to complete one. They sit upon the
finished sections as they work to finish.
I met her at Church and I
loved taking her photo
loved taking her photo
Local family we befriended, Sia and
Niko and their youngest son. Sia is
the Customs and Immigration agent
on the island shown here with their
visiting priest.
Niko and their youngest son. Sia is
the Customs and Immigration agent
on the island shown here with their
visiting priest.
Tongan fales (homes) consist of an open-room with mat floors for
sleeping, little to no furniture and a Kitchen in another fale not attached.
1 - Sia washing dishes at her outdoor Kitchen.
2 - View of inside her Kitchen
3 - Picnic at the Beach with Sia and her family
sleeping, little to no furniture and a Kitchen in another fale not attached.
1 - Sia washing dishes at her outdoor Kitchen.
2 - View of inside her Kitchen
3 - Picnic at the Beach with Sia and her family
