“BIG. It’s larger than life, it’s unexpected, it’s the protagonist in a scene. It’s big. “
When I read what this week’s ” Weekly Photo Challenge ” was, I instantly thought of this enormously big tree I saw on my recent trip to the Ha’api island group in Tonga.
It was a tough call between the giant humpback whales I swam with, or this tree, but figured I have posted so much about the whales, the amazing tree really deserved some attention.
This tree literally stopped me in my tracks.
It was really hard to photograph because it had such a large presence and I really wanted to give it the justice it deserved.
A great example of how nature is truly so much bigger than us, literally 🙂
As a kid I remember always being told that Sunday was a ” day of rest”.
Time was spent with family, the streets were peaceful and “still”,and most shops were closed.
I was lucky to grow up in a nice community. I had roller skates and a bike and spent most of my time outside, rolling around the local streets, hunting cicada’s or playing tennis on the road with my sister and our neighborhood friends.
Life was simple and fun.
Over the years this changed as the shops started opening on Sunday, the “cafe society” boomed and life in general took on a far busier tone….
This morning I headed up to the local shops – around a 3 minute drive. I watched as hundreds of people sat in their cars, in a 3 km long traffic queue slowly making their way through the main street of this small north shore suburb. It was worse than peak hour traffic.
I guess everyone was on their way to the cafes for brunch, picking up the Sunday papers, doing some shopping or maybe off to a relaxing yoga class ?
Whatever it was they were doing, no one looked relaxed and happy.
Hardly a nice way to start what was once known as a “restful day.”
My how times have changed.
I reflected back to a couple of months ago, when on the island of Foa in Tonga the entire island shut down and how wonderful it was to completely ” stop”.
This is how I wish my Sunday’s to be.
Still completely obsessed with my time spent in that wonderful place, I think about it often.
After attending the Sunday Church procession on the island of Foa, I wrote about the experience.
What I didn’t write at the time was that following the church service, I spent a good part of the afternoon riding around on a bike. Just like I did 25 years ago as a kid.
It is a wonderfully simple existence on the “friendly islands.”
Sunday Morning Church, Foa, Ha’apai, TONGA
It has been a verrrry long time since I have attended a Sunday morning church service, but on the island of Foa, this is the place to be on a Sunday morning.
In case you are wondering why I am not on a boat swimming with whales, its because the entire island shuts down on a Sunday. It is a day of rest.
There are around 10 churches in Foa. This may not sound like many to most, but the island is around 10km long.
Tonga is a deeply religious country.
As we rode our pushbikes into the closest township we could hear the church bells ringing.
We chose a church that was sitting high up on a hill. We parked our bikes and wandered around outside waiting for the service to start.
We stopped to watch the locals in their traditional Sunday best slowly strolling along to their chosen churches.
This was not the prettiest church in the world, nor was it the richest, the ceiling was falling down, the surrounds were falling apart, but really, it did not matter.
We were welcomed quietly by a pretty young girl who was sitting outside practicing her reading. Once we were inside we were again warmly greeted with a handshake and kiss and “thanked for coming” by one of the church elders. The kids stared at us “palangi’s” inquisitively with a cheeky glisten in their eyes!
As we took our seats inside the church, the sea-breeze was blowing through the open windows, palm trees were swaying and in the distance we could see the aqua blue sea.
I thought to myself, “This is paradise, heavenly even”. What a place.
Not long after we took our seats the most incredible sound started.
It was the sound of soft, delicate, yet deep soulful singing. It was surreal. Slowly it began to ring out loudly all around us and in the distance as the surrounding churches started their service. How absolutely amazing! It sent tingles down our spines.
We did not understand a word of what was being said, nor did it really matter. This moment touched us deep within our souls.
After the service the young girl who had welcomed us introduced herself as Christina. She then introduced her mother Susan.
Susan and Christina very politely asked us if we would take some photos of them. Cameras were very much a luxury around these parts.
What proceeded was an impromptu and fun photo shoot under the church bell (including “gang signs”), even Grandma got involved. Afterwards Susan asked us if we could “find a boyfriend for her daughter”, much to Christina’s embarrassment!
Oh and after a very confusing conversation on how we could post the photos to Christina and Susan, email was the answer!
Not so primitive after-all hey!
What a great way to start the day! Love the Tongans. Thank you for welcoming us.
So on that note, I am going to put my feet up and read the Sunday paper. Should I mention this is the Sunday paper from 2 weeks ago I have not yet had time to read !?
A Tale or Two to Tell...... 