With things easing up ever more in Tonga, there are only a few lockdown things still in place.
*** More photos and videos on my Instagram as I go through 1.5 years worth of videos and images of my accidental life in Tonga. @tongadiaries ***
The ships to other islands have been running the past few weeks, and I decided I'd start to be less nervous leaving my little island home and go a bit further afield.
Much like any type of travel in Tonga, the research and getting up to the point of going is actually the most difficult thing. Made worse by the fact that half of the resorts etc are either not open due to COVID or were destroyed by cyclone Harold.
So here's some information I found out if you want to go to Ha'apai Island on Tonga.
- Ha'apai Island Travel -
----- There are two ferry companies that go here. Each only knows information about their own company - so they will only tell you about their own ferries returning. During COVID period there is about one ferry once or twice a week. Details are hard to find, tourism office doesn't know much etc but...
**** TOP TIP: FACEBOOK ****
The shipping companies have updated Facebook pages.
- Friendly Island Shipping Tonga
----- Friendly Island Shipping Tonga cost:
79 Panga, Tongatapu to Ha'apai single, standard.
(there is business class available where you get a bed and blankets. Would recommend, looked nice, but don't know cost and they sell out early).
----- Prepare for the ship
Bring food, water, snacks, things to do, chargers, AND 2 BLANKETS.
One to sleep on, one to sleep under. You will be sleeping on the floor.
Get onto the ship as quickly as possible and get the best seat! It might be busy.
It should take 12 hours but can sometimes take longer. Mine took 14 hours.
If you aren't pushed for time, check tides and weather. You won't want a bumpy ride for 12 hours and if the seas look rough, go a different week!
The ships often get cancelled due to stormy weather.
----- Prepare for Ha'apai Islands
Bring your favourite foods! The food choice here is VERY limited unless you are eating at restaurants and resorts all the time (expensive!).
Very limited fresh fruit and veg, almost none grown there and mainly all imports. Few chinese style supermarkets with VERY limited products. Bring as much stuff as you can!
----- Ha'apai Island Travel
1. Hire a bike and cycle North to South over the two islands
2. Go snorkelling at the Northern tip of Foa island at Sandy Beach resort and check out the sharks and best snorkelling in Tonga
3. Visit some historical and cultural sites.
4. Get off the main islands and head around visiting various different places! Get some friends together or inquire early on this one as hiring a boat for the day yourself will be expensive.
5. Kayaking, kite surfing, paddleboarding... All the water sports!
- List of countries without coronavirus (JUNE 10 2020) -
North Korea 🇰🇵
Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
Solomon Islands 🇸🇧
Vanuatu 🇻🇺
Samoa 🇼🇸
Kiribati 🇰🇮
Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲
Tonga 🇹🇴
Marshall Islands 🇲🇭
Palau 🇵🇼
Tuvalu 🇹🇻
Nauru 🇳🇷
Source: [ Ссылка ]
------------------- A Country Without COVID-19, You Say? -------------------
On 19th March I got stranded on Tonga, a small country in the middle of the pacific ocean with a population of 100,000.
I took a flight from Fiji to Tonga and that afternoon Fiji reported its first case of coronavirus. From then on, the rest is history - recorded on video for your enjoyment!
These corona-free diaries include lockdowns, fluffy dogos, and cyclones.
Let me know what you'd like to see more of in the comments below!
Stay safe, stay sane.
👇
[Music]
Ikson All Night
#covid19 #coronavirus #tonga
