October 31, 2014 Departing Day

Wednesday October 29th we went to Keleti Beach.

Tide is out and so we can enjoy wading all the way out on the coral formations.

You have to watch where you are going because the water spurts up through
the holes and can get you by surprise.  Fortunately I was in control of the
camera when I got drenched, so no one could record it!!

This shows how rough the coral can be.

Even in Tonga there is a prison!  They have a large prison garden and sell their
produce everyday.  For 10 Pa'anga you can buy a whole stock of bananas.  That
is $6 US for 180-200 bananas!

Always wanting to capture pictures of their true culture, we  stopped where a large group
was harvesting sea cucumbers to eat.  This group did not waste anything.
Glad Margaret and Cyndee got to see this!

This lady is beating the outside skin with a rock.  I wish they could speak
better English to explain what they were doing with them.  I assume
they were "tenderizing" them!

With a cut off corned beef can for a scraper/knife this lady is cleaning off the
outside, then cutting off the end and squeezing out the insides.  She used
the sand as an abrasive to help clean the outside.  She said they also use the
insides for food, like the other ones we have photographed before.

This boy was just relaxing across the street from them.  Oh the value of a rusted out refrigerator in Tonga!

Along the ocean someone was drying a group of Tapas they had the first paint patterns on.

Cyndee standing by the Ha`amonga Trilithon.  One of the few archeological
sites in Tonga.  It was built in the 13th century and each rock weighs 30-40 tons.

We made it back from our final morning tour in time for the faculty
Christmas Party at noon.  We couldn't miss it because I was asked
to deliver the Christmas message.  It also included entertainment.
 

Kathy Walters presented a Polynesian Dance while others put money in
her dress! (Tongan Tradition)  Mele Funaki and Sela Tukuafu presented
their flowers to Cyndee and Margaret.

OOPS....We for got to warn the "guests" that you can be called up at
anytime to be part of an "event"!!!  They were good sports....

...and earned shell necklaces....

...and a lot of laughs!

All good things must come to an end and the past nine days have flown by.

We left the party just as they were having "light refreshments", so they sent a box
for us.  "Light" means there is at least enough for two or three meals each
for a palangi.  We are still eating the leftovers.

While waiting for the plane Cyndee made friends.  Her passport has animal pictures
and she would call them by name, then the girl would tell her the Tongan name.

Thanks for a great nine days.....good bye! 
This is an emotion that we have not had to experience out here!!!