The southeast trade winds howled again all night last night and continued to blow throughout the morning. Longing for a more tranquil South Seas setting, Liz & decided to drop the mooring ball and move to what appeared to be a more protected part of the lagoon. We dropped anchor in about 7 meters (21 feet) of very clear (and calm) water, just off of a small beach. The spot was picture perfect, complete with swaying palm trees, a cool gentle breeze and a guy paddling slowly toward us in a dugout canoe with an outrigger. It was clear that he was coming to see us. Hoping that we hadn’t anchored somewhere forbidden by some unknown local custom, we waved to him, which encouraged him to approach the boat. In response to my explanation as to why we’d chosen this particular spot to anchor, he advised me that we’d chosen well, adding that he owned the beach and the land from the beach to the top of the bluff. After talking a while, we invited him aboard the boat, which he accepted. Our new friend introduced himself as Vaha. We spent the next hour with Vaha sharing Diet Cokes and learning about his family, the concrete road (see previous post), his plantation, cultivating pearls, and about life in Hunga Village. Along the way we shared a little about our lives, but I’m sure Vaha educated Liz & me more than we educated him. Vaha hadn’t come empty handed, but with backpack full of items for sale. He showed us a conch shell, vanilla, and jewelry made from pearls that he’d harvested. We ended up buying a necklace that his wife had made. Before leaving, he gave Liz another necklace as a gift, and another in trade for a promise from her to mail him some necklace clasps. Meeting and spending time with Vaha may well become the highlight of our time in Tonga.
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