Malo e lelei!
Iβm constantly planning to go somewhere, this is a fact. But Iβm still amazed how sometimes I ended up somewhere that has been totally out of my radar 6 months before. Like my surpriseΒ trip to South Africa last year and now, here I am in Tonga,Β sitting at my personal tree house.
Tongatapu
Tongatapu or the βSacred Southβ is generally the starting point of visitors to Tonga. After about 30 hours of flights and layovers, I arrive at the capital city of Nukuβalofa. Iβm here to get on Infinity Expedition boat, but I also wanted to see a little bit of the land so I decided to arrive earlier to look around. I spent one week in Tonga capital, Tongatapu and Eua.
Nukuβalofa
Tongan people are friendly, like in the Philippines. They give me curious look being a foreigner, but have a ready smile when our eyes meet. Β There are Chinese in the island, mostly grocery store owners, but other than there, you donβt see them. Not in the market, coffee shops, nor the beach.
I was lucky to comeΒ on a long weekend and thatΒ my host Debra, who I foundΒ though Airbnb, has the time (and willingness) to show meΒ around Nukuβalofa. Itβs small so we were able to cover many places like theΒ Royal Palace, the Royal tomb, the Cathedral, the wharf where Iβm going to hop onΒ the Infinity.
There is a big Saturday market at the ferry wharf where they sell 2nd hand clothes from Australia, New Zealand, knick-knacks from China, and some PX goods from the US. Itβs beside the fish market where they sell their catch of the day. You get a plastic bag with variety of plate size fishes for 10 TOP (210 PHP). Thereβs also plenty of Tuna and itβs what Iβve been eating everyday for a week.
The city is noticeably clean and the road is free of rubbish. Even at the Saturday market where they sell food. I see some workers picking up the trash every where. Iβm not 100% sure but I was told that these are the prisoners who are let out during the day to pick up trash. Interesting.
On the same day I get to sort out my bank and cellular needs. Again, thanks to my helpful host.
Banks and ATM in Tonga
There are 2 huge banks in Tonga, ANZ and Westpac. ATMs are available in the major islands of Tonga. Maximum withdrawal in the ATMs in Tonga is 900 TOP (19,000 Php, 420 USD) and a charge of 12.5 TOP (262.83 PHP, 5.85$) on top of your bank charges. Ouch! Credit cards are accepted in many shops, some charge 5% surcharge though.
Mobile data internet available in Tonga
There are 2 cellular companies in Tonga: Digicel and U-Call. I had 2 people toldΒ me differently which is the better network, so I decided to get Digicel because this is the roaming partner of Globe, and it seemed like a bigger company. There are Digicel Top Up station everywhere. Data internet is quite expensive 36 TOP (757 PHP or 16.82 USD) for 2 Giga of data, but the service is good. While only on 3G, it is not intermittent like in the Philippines! Maybe itβs a small island but so far Iβve not experienced any dead spot.
Island of Pangaimotu
Tongans are very serious about Sabbath. Absolutely no work isΒ done on Sundays, not even laundry nor cooking. Tongan people go to church on Sundays and spend time with families. Many differentΒ Christian churches are represented here in Tonga. For people who donβt go to church, you canΒ do a small island resort day trips. They have the Fafa, Atata, and Pangaimotu.
Which we did, we took the 10min dingy ride to the Pangaimotu Island Resort. Itβs worth while to see while there. Β Food and drink has to be bought from the Big Mama resort in the island. Big mama. The sun was out and the water was crystal clear for swimming and snorkeling. The island is so tiny that you can walk around leisurely along its perimeter in about 30 minutes. The scene is beautiful.
Tongatapu Attractions
Monday was the Emancipation Day, a national holiday in Tonga. SoΒ we did a small road trip across the Tongatapu island visiting tourist spots.
The most remarkable for me was Mapuβa Vaea, blowholes in the coral reef in Houma. What a long stretch of coral reef with an amazing fountain show. Itβs very hypnotic, I could stay there watching the display the whole day.
There are several other view decks around the island including Thomas Cook Landing and the north west point where you can see breaching whales during the season (we did not). We hang out at a nice beach resort called Likuβalofa for some lunch and swim at their swimming pool in the water, and then finally ending the day at the famous site Haβamonga βa Maui, a sacred kind of structure from the 1200βs Β at the eastern side of the island.
Here are some more photos during the day.
For Tuesday, I contemplated on going on the boat or go to this βamazingβ island everyone is talking about. I have to go to Eua everyone said. Dive in the Cathedral. So I googled it and I decided I should go for it. Infinity doesnβt leave until the 13th. So I hopped on the boat the next day.
Visa To Tonga?
Filipinos needs visa to visit Tonga. Follow the link for info on how to apply Tongan visa in the Philippines.
Hi Nina! Since there are direct flights to Tonga, where did u pass? And was additional visa required for those countries you had to go through to visit Tonga?
My connecting flight was thru HKG, AUK, with Air NZ. I did not need to get transit visa for NZ as I just stayed in the airport.
how did you get your visa to tonga in the Philippines?
It is not hard, just takes very long. I will post how to apply for visa to Tonga soon!
Hi Wanderlass,
My name is sharina
I have a good friend in prague,czech republic shes a doktor and shes inviting me to come to her place maybe next month and she will support me everything(food, acommodation flight ticket and etc.) and she will send me and invitation letter also…what else i need to prepare for the requirment (i only have a passport i dont have money in my bank and i dont have a job at the moment am taking care of my mom can u give me a help@tips how could i get a visa and what do i need to present in the embassy….
Thanks ahead
Sharina:)
funny comment to this post about Tonga
You’re off to a great start! I always look forward to your updates on Instagram :D