Aug./ Sept. 2007 Kingdom Of Tonga through the Fiji Islands By Brad Yates   Authors A Dream Vacation For the Adventurous Traveler BULA   Sailing from the Kingdom of Tonga through the Lau Group to Fiji and on up exploring the northern Yasawa Group of the Fiji’s, all on a backpackers budget!! Toni Strubb’s Force 50 Ketch and his experience as a Captain made this trip a dream. I experienced what is what like to be part of the crew aboard “The Little Swan”. There where little chores to do, knots to learn, how to drop and weigh anchor, flush the toilet properly, how to take short conservative showers to save water, trimming sails, holding course, reading charts, standing watch at nights when underway and watching closely for the notorious “Balmy’s” (Coral heads that will sink you fast). I experienced a stormy night off Atata Island in Tonga with winds (we were told) that ranged from 40 to 50 knots. We had maneuvered through some “Balmy’s to set anchor, on our second day, in the late evening, the wind came out of nowhere and the sky blackened as if where night. Soon there after Toni said the anchor was dragging and we would need to head back to Nukalofa harbor. In that short amount of time the rain came pelting down and felt like bee stings, Justine started pulling anchor and Tony was giving the Little Swan the fuel to move her forward, I stood amid and relayed directions (because as Justine says..Tony and I are a couple of deaf old farts..!!)   From there it was Justine pouring over the charts, checking our positions, warning us of the submerged rocks and coral and letting Tony know how many degrees we needed to correct to stay on course and how far it was to our sanctuary. Tony brought “The Little Swan and crew into safety that night and then I witnessed the Brotherhood of the Yachties. As we arrived, other yachties had been monitoring our progress and were standing by like brothers and sisters to take our lines and help secure our new anchorage. Many ports that we stopped at where Yachties were gathered, I would listen to stories exchanged and would sit in amazement of this special breed of people. Yachties Little swan in the bay We swam, snorkeled and dove in waters that made you think you were in a fish tank, clear and clean, full of corals in every shape and size, Manta Rays, Parrot, Clown, Angel and too many varieties to name and every color the mind can imagine.  We traveled to ports with towns and villages of small to medium in population (a few thousand to a few hundred) mainly for provisions, boat repair items and to send e-mails to loved ones and of course mingle and have a few drinks with travelers from around the world.  We stopped at a number of resort islands, to name a few, “Castaway Resort" Just and Brad  Beachcomber island girls “Musket Cove” and the infamous “Beachcomber Island Resort” known as the party island of the South Pacific.   We went to a few islands made famous by the movies that were filmed on them, Nanuya Levu Island where “Blue Lagoon” was filmed, the beautiful, unpopulated island of “Monuriki”, where Tom Hanks was filmed in “Castaway” and most recently an island by the name of Vanua Levu where they are currently filming the kids version of “Survivor”. Little swan at monuriki Island Brad and the Chief Brad and his Chicks For me, one of the most memorable days was our anchorage off the island of “Naviti”, and visiting the village of ”Somosomo” in the Yasawa Group. The village consists of just a little over three hundred people, no stores, no streets, no running water, no police just peace and tranquility. It is the only island in the group where a lady is “Chief” and has been, for over twenty years. They greeted us with open arms. A very lovely lady named Lucy showed us to their Chiefs home and introduced us. We had brought the traditional gift of Kava for the Chief and she performed the ritual “Sevusevu”, a welcome ceremony. The village owns the land, the bays, beaches and reefs; this courtesy of a visitor’s gift is a show of respect. By the acceptance of this gift, the chief will say a piece in their native tongue and sometimes drink the Kava with you, this shows that the chief has accepted and acknowledged you and allows you to walk freely among them, photograph, swim, fish, hike and buy goods from them such as fruit, vegetables and crafts.  Of all my travels, I have never met a friendlier people, than those of the South Pacific. Toni and Justine were the perfect hosts, two wonderful people with life experiences that novels are written from. Both are incredible chefs which that would rival many noted restaurants. The amazing thing is that they create these feats of food in record-breaking time. I am still left scratching my head, over one particular time that Justine was calling that dinner was ready, just as I was finishing my one-minute shower!! This dinner was not in anyway precooked or assembled, magic I suppose   Vinaka Vakalevu Justine, for your wonderful meals, for showing me “the ropes” and being my friend.  Vinaka Vakalevu Toni, for having me on your floating home, “The Little Swan”, your hospitality, your wonderful meals and helping me fulfill a lifetime dream. The door to my home will always be open to both of you.   Vuda point sunset Daniel Kollmann (Reference) “I am so jealous... Don’t even tell me That is so cool. Wow! That sounds amazing I can’t believe it! ” These are just some of the replies I heard when I told people that I spent a week sailing on Little Swan around the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji . And people have every reason to be jealous. It was – without a doubt- one of the best weeks of my life. See the “Fiji Report” annexed.   Brad Wahoo Daniel Cheers Daniel and Sutapa www.adventure-yachting.com svlittleswan@yahoo.com.au