Coconut eating crabs

These crabs have extremely strong pincers and eat coconuts that have fallen to the ground.  They can easily take your finger off if you are not careful.  Green coconuts and the milk are eaten by the locals and once brown they are fed to the pigs.

Fish eating pigs

The fishing's great in Tonga - just ask the local pigs.
Some evenings when the tide's out, villagers' pigs join them on the beach at Talafo'ou in the island of Tongatapu, nuzzling out fish from the shallows for their supper.
Some say that when the porkers finally come under the butcher's knife, the resultant pork chops have a distinct fishy flavour - in the same way that the coconut-eating crabs of Vanuatu taste of coconut.
The fish-eating pigs of Talafo'ou are just one of the surprises in store in Tonga, a Pacific Island kingdom with a relaxed lifestyle where the warm weather is matched only by the warm welcome given to visitors.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/relaxing-with-the-fishing-pigs-of-tonga-20081113-63yr.html#ixzz20Zxj61vS

Wednesday 11th July: Dolphin Pacific Diving and Whale Watching.

Spent the morning going out with Dolphin Pacific Diving and Whale Watching.

Today Denis got up close and personal swimming with whales. I stayed on the boat to watch the whales as  I get somewhat clostrophobic with the snorkling gear on.

Friends cafe

We used this cafe a lot during our stay in Nuklu'alofa. found it a  great place to dine, make bookings and get information. We hired scooters through this place for a day of touring around on the Saturday.

Friday 6th July. Oholei Beach Resort. Dinner and show.

Visited Oholei Beach Resort for dinner and a cultural show. Saw Tongan men and women doing traditional dances as well as the men's fire dances and theTongan men's (war) stick dance.



The fire dancing was spectacular as well



A compilation of the dancing at the cultural show. Oholei Beach Resort.

Saturday 30th June. Auckland to Papamoa

Friday 29th June. Dunedin to Auckland