Tsunami was predicted to hit Tonga and I found out after.... plus Tongan dinner and traditional dancing 17/09/2015

 I found out from Selena at the guesthouse that a Tsunami was meant to hit Tonga. With authentic island communication, Selena asked 'Did you get a message on your phone about the Tsunami?' 'No' I replied. 'It was predicted to hit Tonga at 1:19am, but it didn't.' Well that's good to hear!

Tonga remains on tsunami alert

Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 18:56.  Updated on Sunday, September 27, 2015 - 16:16.

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tonga remains on alert tonight during a Pacific tsunami watch, after a tsunami was generated off the coast of Chile earlier today. Tonga’s Chief Meteorological Officer ‘Ofa Fa’anunu said at 6:15pm that if the wave remains at its forecasted height of between .3 -1M as it approaches the Pacific islands, they will issue a marine warning later this evening.
“We will issue a marine alert about six hours out and three hours out,” he said. The alerts will be on the local government radio and on 87.5FM, as well as by email and on the Tonga Met website.
Tonga Met has not issued a warning for Tonga at the moment because “we don’t want people to panic”, he said.
“We are waiting for it to pass French Polynesia and to see the tidal gauges as it approaches Tonga,” he said.
According to forecasts from the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre today the tsunami is expected to pass Pitcairn Island at about 8:15pm (Tonga time), and move through French Polynesia between 9:00pm and 11:12pm (Tonga time). It is forecast to reach Nuku'alofa in Tonga at 1:19am tonight.
“If it was above 1 metre it should be a real threat to the islands and in that case we would issue a [land] warning,” said ‘Ofa, who is not expecting the tsunami to to reach that height in Tonga.
 “We have had a couple of these events before and we didn’t get much when the wave went through,” he said “The forecast is kind of elevated because of the uncertainties,” he said.

So the Tongan dinner and traditional dance in the cave was wonderful.  The Tongan fella who runs the show is incredibly charasmatic. He was telling us that his father used to own a resort at the same place, that provided Tongan food. His father, on his death bed years ago, asked his son to revive the restaurant. His son did this, twice over as a cyclone knocked it all down the first time. This man said that this did him a favour by knocking down what he didn't want. He said that one tree was left, to show that god had been there.

This man told us all about his beautiful family and his praise for his wife who raised their 6 kids. It seems that in Tonga, the average number of children to have is 6. He talked about how in Tonga, they have managed to still own their own land and culture. You can feel this here. Tonga only has 100 thousand people, in comparison to say Fiji that has over a million people. Tonga's life is not directed on making tourists happy, they just live their life as they want to.

Ive decided that Tongan ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon), seaweed and coconut and coconut clams and fish are my favourite Tongan foods. The roast pork was pretty amazing too.

I think I will only eat fish while I am here, which makes sense as I am in the Pacific Ocean. I was warned by an English medical student,  working in Tonga,  that the cocktails are lethal. I thought she was overexaggerating. Not true, I drank one, solid alcohol, could hardly stand!

I love the Tongan traditional dancing and costumes,  especially for the men; so powerful and fierce.

 

Today I caught a ferry out to the  Pangaimotu  island. There are a family of about 5 that live on this island. It was bliss, we hiked around the island had lunch and swam. I attempted to snorkle but the snorkle piece was broken so it kept filling up with water! There was also a strong current.  I fell in love with the island doggies and cats. The dogs followed us around the island and the cats cuddled up to us at lunch. The cats looked a little thin but still happy. 

 

 

 

 

I left  the handicraft flower that I bought by accident on the beach. That's what happens when you get super relaxed! I guess some people can relax intensely on the beach and not lose their things? I'm not one of them though!

Ah well, off to the market to get flower number two.

 

One of my new traveller friends 'Attila' said that Tongan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, well, there you go.

 

Attila also said that he received the previous Tsunami warning through a note on his bed left my his hotel reception staff saying: 'Tsunami predicted to hit Tonga at 1:15am. Thank you.' Love it!

I'm certainly adjusting to island life, along with its frustrations of island time. Like Atilla said about his hotel ' my friend and I ordered bacin and eggs, the first one came out in an hour, the next one, half and hour later. How long does it take to make bacon and eggs?!' It kind of teaches you to slow down and not take things so seriously.

I can here singing again outside my window and I love it so much.

Tomorrow I will go to church.  The king might even be there! The royal family takes on most of Tonga's money, but Ive been told that everyone loves the king and he loves the Tongan people just as much.

I wanted to go out tonight, but it would be on my own. Ive been convinced by the other travellers to wait until we all go out together to keep safe. The 20.year old Tongan boy said he will come along too! It will be his first night ever drinking.  He told me 'you will turn me bad'! I told him that I was not responsible foe his actions!

Sweet dreams

Xoxo