On Feb 3, 2024 we docked at Nuku’Alofa, Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga. Tonga has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. The Kingdom is the only Pacific island group to hold and maintain its political independence as a monarchy. In 1900, its king established a friendship treaty with Great Britain; it joined the British Commonwealth as an independent nation in 1970. The second picture below is one of the monarch’s residences in Tonga.

While in Tonga, we took an excursion that included a drive along the shore to an area where “blow holes” exist. These are holes in the volcanic rock through which water from the surf blows into the air.

We also went to a resort that sits above a cave in the rock, that was very scenic, and then had a Tongan lunch, including a barbecued pig, and many local dishes, and were entertained by local dancers.