We left Niue last night, Friday evening, after spending a couple of enjoyable days there. It was "plane" day when we left. Plane day is when the plane arrives from New Zealand and there is much excitement around that. There are two plane days a week Tuesday and Friday. As a "yachtie", which is what they call us here, it is hard to leave, clear out, on plane day because all the customs and immigration officers are at the airport busy with the plane people. And , of course, Monday was going to be a holiday again (the Queen's birthday) so the customs officers were kind enough to clear us out Thursday afternoon but allow us to stay through the weekend.
We enjoyed Niue but it is different. There are no cemeteries and people are buried in their own yard. So, Grandma and Grandpa are still right there and, of course, some older generations too. It is a little strange to see. Tomb stones everywhere, death all around you. But they are well maintained, nicely polished, nice flowers nice golden letters. I suspected there is some prestige associated with how nice your tomb stones look.
We did scuba dive and that was a little different too. This dive was not so much about watching and admiring sea life but more to explore a huge cave with many narrow passages, tight turns, jagged edges, beautiful lime stone rock walls and in some places complete darkness. We were given flashlights to find our way around. I am still not sure if I enjoyed the dive, I certainly didn't as much as swimming with the dolphins or the sharks.
And then we took a road trip in a rented car. We followed the shore line and stopped at several places to admire, you guessed it, caves. This island is one big lime stone cave. They are very impressive and very worth visiting. But after a cave or two you think... OK.
We had a couple of nice dinners too, at Gills an Indian restaurant and at New York Pizza, a sushi restaurant..? Both very nice but again, a little confusing.
And now we are underway to Tonga. We'll arrive there tomorrow, Sunday, except in Tonga it will be Monday because they decided they are West of the international date line which they are not. Go figure..!
Will write again soon,
Captain Ruud