Here we are approaching the volcano island that is just to the north of Niuatoputapu.


The anchorage at Niuatoputapu.


These are some Tongan kids, on their way to church.


One of the three villages on Niuatoputapu.


This is the wharf at Niuatoputapu. Notice how all the cruisers are wearing "lava lavas"
- it is considered impolite to show your knees in Tonga.


We attended a Tongan feast one Sunday afternoon. This lady is preparing papaya.


There are countless pigs running around all over the place in Niuatoputapu.
Pork is a major source of nourishment on the island.


These are our new Tongan buddies: Nido and Ladu.


This is a walk along the base of the volcano island.


And here we are walking along the trail on our way to the top of the volcano.


This is a view of Niuatoputapu from the top of the volcano.


One of our fellow cruisers checking out a classroom at the school on the volcano island.


These are the road workers fixing one of the roads on Niuatoputapu.


And this is what the road workers eat - freshly slaughtered DOG!


The surgery suite at the Niuatoputapu health clinic. You don't want to get sick HERE!


Some Tongan schoolgirls during their lunch break. These kids go to school
from 8 to 4 pm every weekday.


This is Happy (one of the primary school teachers) and
Dr. John (the physician at the clinic).


And this is our friend Mele. She's a 20 year-old who is trying
to organize the village weavers into a sort of co-op.


This is the Skipper trying on his new Ta'ovala - a traditional wrap-around
woven mat that is worn as a sign of respect (sort of like the American tie).


And here's the Skipper, shaking his tail feather with a Tongan lady
at one of the weekly "disco" dances.


This is the road to one of the many beaches on the island.


And here's the beach.


A gaggle of "Nancys".


This is a cut in the reef where it was possible to land our dinghy.


The Skipper and Mele all dressed up for church.


We were invited to two different homes for lunch after church.
This is the house of Mele Vi.


And this is lunch at Mele's house. It's interesting that, when you're invited
for a meal in Tonga, you (as the guests) eat first and the people who are
feeding you won't eat until you have finished eating and left the premises!


Our friend Mele. Notice the Bumbershoot T-Shirt. Mele says: "Thank you, Korum!"


We had a Tongan family out to Gumbo Ya-Ya for pizza and brownies.


Some of the tapas and weaving that were offered for sale or trade to the cruisers.


This is the weaver's "co-op" that Mele was attempting to organize.


While in Niuatoputapu, the Skipper gave a presentation at the primary school.
Here he is showing photos of Gumbo's trip from Seattle on his laptop.


The Skipper gave a presentation on rock 'n' roll and jazz drumming and then
showed one of the students how to play a simple rock beat.


This is the class that attended the Skipper's presentation.