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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Jan 29, 2019 10:00 PM Walking Sydney after years
It is nice to go around this city again. More skyscrapers in the downtown! I went to Royal Botanical Gardens, then around Sydney Opera House, then to the colonial quater The Rocks. to climb Argyle St stairs and took elevator to the bridge. Uuuu.... If you want to walk the famous Harbour Bridge you will walk now in the fenced corridor. Yes, there are holes for your camera to take the pictures but....
Yesterday in the evening I was enjoying the special atmosphere of the Circular Quay - with the fast ferries go up and down and the crowd of the people is strolling the promenade - the Harbour Bridge is not illuminated but the views of opera, CBD and the bridge are still nice.
Today in the afternoon I will be boarding my ship to sail around New Zealand in two weeks. The internet on board is very expensive so do not worry if you will wait for the next message few days... Ahoy!
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Jan 28, 2019 10:00 PM Fiji to Sydney
Nadi on Fiji is important air hub for the Pacific. A lot of people is transiting here so no wonder that local mobile operator is giving to the foreigners free SIMM card and 1,5 GB data transfer plus10 min for voice. Just report withyour passport in their office in arrival hall!
It was 7 am when I was walking from my little guesthouse to the terminal - it took me only 20 min. Check-in for Sydney flight was smooth, but in the security stand they wanted me to drink all water from the bottle. Half bottle is not enough!
Before they packed us to the airbus 330 there were another manual control of the carry-on baggage. OK. finally we started at 9.10am. During 4hours flight they served hot breakfast. But also (if you asked) beers and wine. Just let you know that Fiji Bitter is much better than Fiji Gold :)
In the middle of the day we landed in Sydney. Welcome toAustralia! They did not screen my luggage - it seems I look trustworthy :) Oh, my God! The 15-min ride on the train from the airport to the city costs 18 Australian dollars. I found my hostel on Pitt St. (25 AUD per bed in the 4bed dorm). For the first time I will spend the night in the center - this will be a good occasion to see Sydney by night!
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Jan 27, 2019 10:00 PM Bye, bye charming kingdom!
I spent two weeks on Tonga, visiting different islands, sailing little boats and meeting lovely people... In the morning my host took me to thd airport. Sorry - no public buses going there so you have to pay 40 paanga per car. The flight to Nadi, Fiji was on time and I had a chance to see the coast of the island from the air.
In Nadi in the middle of the day the temperature was higher than 40 deg Celsius. I walked to the well- known Westfield App. Finally I have internet access to check my e-mails and to response letters.
Tomorrow in the morning I am flying to Sydney, Australia to board the ship... It will be the time to relax before the next adventures...
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Jan 26, 2019 10:00 PM Sunday in Nukualofa
Everything is closed here on Sunday. Streets are empty except when the people go to the church. I decided to go anyway to the royal church expectind to see the memberrs of Royal Family. But nobody appeared - the red chairs were empty. In addition the church guards did not allow me to take pictures and recordings. Uuuuu... Singings an bress band were also only so-so.
Then I went to the Catholic cathedral church of St Mary, enjoying meeting with the people and being invited after the mass to drink kava with the members of the parish council (all men). They were listening with great interest to my stories from thd other Pacific countries (catholics are everywhere - from Papua NG to the Easter Island)
Then Father Sepa (born the same month and year as me) invited me for the lunch. Ho, ho, ho... I was trying raw fish, tapioca, yam, taro and other specials...
Thank you so much Father for all!
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Jan 25, 2019 10:00 PM Around Tongatapu
Taxi drivers will be happy to drive you around the island. Full day tour costs 150 paanga, half day - 80. Sorry, not for the backpacker! :)
At the beginning I wanted to see those unknown places I did not see 20 years ago. Somebody took me to the Vaino junction and then I was walking 5 kms to see the natural Bridge on the southern coast of Tongatapu. This bridge is not as huge as thd one on Eua, but also nice - see picture. Then I went by empty and bumpy coastal road to the blowholes - noturay geysers on the rocky coast - nice at the time of the strong wind.... Finally I reached western end of the island where is the monument pointing the place of Europeans landing - Dutchman Abel Tasman was here in 17th century.
At tge monument I met two local ladies travellind in the car - they invited me to go with them to the east of Tongatapu to see the cave and famous Haamonga Gate. Lucky me!
I returned in the late afternoon, tired but happy....
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Jan 24, 2019 10:00 PM The king is not here!
Bread in the supermarket costs 1,20 per loaf, a box of NZ milk - 2,50 and a bar of NZ butter - 4 paanga. Not expensive! After shopping I prepared my breakfast and took a long walk to the Royal Palace - I wanted to apply for the meeting with a king. What a disappointment! The king is ni New Zealand and will be back only on Feb 19th!
Bad luck! I expected at least to see him on the Sunday mass in the church.
Nukualofa changed since my previous visit in 1999. With the help of China and other countries they built a huge residence of the prime minister. Can you see the red roof on the picture? The embassy of China is now like a big, fenced campus. Some samples of old, colonial architecture remained - Friends Cafe is one of them. On Saturday along the coastal Vuna Road you will find many stalls selling local vegetables, bug also imported second hand clothes.
It is very hot. Still no internet connection!
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Jan 23, 2019 10:00 PM By ferry to Nukualofa....
Nowadays little ferry arrives to Eua on the weekdays brynging supply and taking passengers to the capital (fare is 20 paanga for 2,5 hours trip). I asked my host if I need to buy the ticket in advance - she said not necessary! When she gave me a lift to the jetty I saw a little crowd in front of the green kiosk where they sell tickets. - One ticket please! - Tickets are sold. Could you please travel tomorrow? Carramba!
I decided to wait , trying to convince them, that they should apply other rules to the foreign tourists... Finally I got the ticket, but the situation was very stressful...
It was a nice journey along the chain of the little islets... We reached Nukualofa before sunset and soon I found my accommodation: Tonga Holiday Villa on the outskirts of the town.This place - bookable through booking.com is worth to recommend - it is clean and has big, airy rooms and guest kitchen. Great value for money!
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Jan 22, 2019 10:00 PM Northern Eua Island
My host seems to be little disappointed - she expected to earn more money delivering me by her junk car to different places on the island. But I am a good walker - I prefere to meet people, talk with them, to enjoy flowers in their gardens....
Today I was walking north, crossing the main settlement - Ohonua and heading to the cliffs. The views were great - I reached also a little, isolated beach below the cliff. Sorry, little traffic this direction - nobody offered a lift. I experienced also little rain... In the evening obligatory laundry of the muddy trousers and cleaning of the shoes...
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Jan 21, 2019 10:00 PM Southern Eua Island
Most of the islands of Tonga are flat. Eua is the exception - along the eastern coast it has a high cliffs with the 312 m summit. The trails are not developed, bumpy and muddy... Of course you can hire a local guide, but it costs extra money. I decided to go alone with a poor map. To the southern tip of the island it is 11 kms each way. But somebody gave me a lift, then I was walking again... The highlight wad the stone, natural bridge at the end of the trail - see picture. I returned in tha late afternoon sweaty and tired, but the views were worth the effort. I did not meet any other tourist...
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Jan 20, 2019 10:00 PM Internet is down in whole Kingdom!
(posted a week later) Nobody in the Kingdom of Tonga has access to the internet. They say tha underwater fiber optics cable to Fiji is broken. I the old telecoms engineer cannot understand who invented such a project. Every telecom system must have a backup solution ready for immediate use! But this is Tonga! I am in thd middle of South Pacific...
Today I am leaving Haapai Islands and going on the little plane to Eua Island. I found in internet the Highlight Guesthouse. The owner was waiting for me on the tiny airstrip. I am the only guest - I pay 50 paanga for the room with fan and breakfast.
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