Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Nukualofa still being rebuilt? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tonga
msdstefan 09:20 UTC 20 Sep 2008 | We were in Nukualofa in 2006 when the main street burned down. How is the rebuilding going? It's hard to imagine that everything is back as it was before the riots. Are the Chinese back, or are their shops still closed? What about the Chinese restaurant at the waterfront? |
jay_dee 13:17 UTC 20 Sep 2008 | I was there last October (having been there previously in 2005 - just before the riots) I think there were only two really two noticable sites of construction activity - one was in preparation for the pacific forum - had nothing to do with rebuilding - and the other was construction on the site of what had been that ugly chinese hotel on salote rd - forgotten what it was called - Feng Shung or something I think it was called. Otherwise the town just had lots of vacant lots were the buildings used to be. Affected businesses - including restaurants have either shut down or relocated - they're spread all over town now. There was a few chinese restaurants on the waterfront before the riots - the one just up from the chinese embassy on the vuna rd was still open. | 1
hardnosethehighway 19:17 UTC 20 Sep 2008 | "the one just up from the chinese embassy on the vuna rd was still open. " Yes and it is a shithole of the vilest most odious variety-execrable food served by certified morons. You read it here first..... Edited by: someone who was hard put to find something edible that day and made a terrible terrible choice | 2
amaile 22:35 UTC 20 Sep 2008 | There are a few buildings under construction now. Some of the reasons for the delay are that some insurrance policies did not cover the civil disturbance, that Chinese soft-loan scheme took too long to get finalized, that some businesses opted not to rebuild, and that some private land-owners (note that they are commoners) did not want to extend the lease. Chinese businesses are all back, mostly relocated and flourishing. New restaurants and accommodations facilities have been established. According to the report by ADB (Asian Development Bank), Tonga's economy is one of the best among the island nations. As a resident in Nuku'alofa, the Coronation festivities were great for us commoners to see and join. Tourism seems to be flourishing, with many accommodation facilities quite full. Chatham Pacific is doing a good job in domestic flight operation. Airfare from NZ is sooooo cheap at the moment as well. As for Chinese restaurant, I strongly recommend Phoenix (when the chef is not drunk), Angela, and Coco's (none of them are along the Vuna road, and not been damaged by the riot). Cheers, | 3
mandja 23:28 UTC 21 Sep 2008 | I take it that #2 gives the place no "stars" | 4