I spent an incredible year in New Zealand. A small slice of my young life that will live on with me forever. I saw much of the country on motorcycle, living in South Islands Picton as a cocktail bar manager and a simple housesitting like in Auckland’s North Shore with lots of travel in between. But it would come the day where I would leave this temporary life behind due to visa expiration for the Pacific Islands, my long awaited journey and a style of travel I hadn’t experienced before.
Leaving my life in New Zealand as well as my motorcycle mid sale was incredibly hard but I was definitely ready for something new. Three ish hours from Auckland, I found myself on Tongatapu, my first island on my new Pacific Island Voyage. My third Pacific island including Hawai’i Island and O’ahu since my Achilles rupture and surgery last year. Since I arrived at night, it was really hard to take it all in considering all I saw were street lamps and other cars arriving at a place recommended by my taxi driver since my desired guesthouse was booked up. Sounds super harsh but it was a bit overpriced for a single dirty room in a brothel looking guesthouse. But hey, I still accepted my stay as it was only about $20 wish USD for a night. It would be the next day where I would arise to a moving Nuku’alofa filled with men in Ta’ovalas and tupenus with Tongan women in their traditional attire as well. Observing the slightly chaotic streets opposite the uniformity of movement in much of New Zealand. The sound of blaring car music to a new Polynesian language actually spoken opposite of Maori drowned out by English. Walking around as much as I can to really take it all in, but it was still tough. Missing having keys in my pocket to start up my cruiser and go wherever I wanted. Fortunately there are two touristy cafes in the center to enjoy a decent flat white as I had so many in New Zealand to transition into my new travel style.
It would be that first full day in Nuku’alofa where I would swiftly transition into this beautiful culture. I decided to take a local bus outside of town just to get a feel of things and oddly, I began to feel more at home. It had been 3 years since my last tropical island, Cuba, and so many things became so familiar. A kind local woman gave me a ride back into town and I was soon ready to take on Tonga. Next day, I caught the same local bus even further out of the town center to see the uninteresting Cook Landing site. From here I would hitch my ride with a local to Ha’amonga’a Maui Trilithon site followed my four or five additional rides around beaches and places of interest. Next day I would borrow a Ta’avala & Tupenu to enjoy a day at church with friends I made the day before before riding around the rest of the island I didn’t get to see. Next day I would make it to ‘Eua island to continue my adventure.
Before I continue on rambling on about my travels, I just want to acknowledge how difficult it may seem to leave HOME all over again. Regardless if it’s HOME HOME or a home I created for myself. Adjusting to a new culture and way of life may be hard, but after all I am a traveler and adapting to change is what I do best. May not seem that way, but yes, it comes with as a world traveler. Embracing newness and gliding along with it. I have been in Tonga for a week now and seemingly longer. I have fully adapting to being here and the Pacific way of life and movement to enjoy the rest of my travels until Hawai’i. The people here are so friendly and fulfilling this long overdue dream of traveling this vast area of small islands has come true. An achilles tendon injury alone, can’t stop me!
