Christmas in Tonga?

It seemed like a good idea to fly home at 9 pm on Christmas Day. Now I have buyers remorse.

The plan is to fly back to Nuku'alofa on Friday the 21st or Saturday the 22nd (have inquiries out for booking the flights).

I'd like to attend Church. Are there Christmas Eve services? I heard it was possible to attend the same church that the King attends. (Where else would I have the chance to do that if it were possible?)

I read somewhere about villagers burning palm fronds on the beach in celebration. Do they do that on Nuku'alofa and is it on Christmas Eve or on Christmas night? I also read that people walk door to door singing Christmas carols.

What about food? Do they sell prepared holiday foods and Christmas cookies? I assume everything will close down beginning Christmas eve? Should I get a self-catering place to avoid starvation and if so is sauerkraut, knockwurst and a Crisco like product available (to cook the sauerkraut with)? Should I tell every Tongan that I meet that I will be alone for Christmas, far from friends and family?

Anything special happening the weekend before Christmas?

How do I get to the airport Christmas night? I mean will I be able to get a transfer?

Well, I wasn't on Tongatapu at Christmas, but spent that week on Vavau. So, things may be a little different. But---I didn't see any prepared foods for sale at all. The main market and almost all shops and restaurants were closed on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day (Dec. 26) a few restaurants opened and a couple of shops. Most shops opened only for a few hours. The "Chinese" shops were open a little longer. The main event was the set-up of two four-foot high speakers in the middle of town, on the front patio of a large grocery store, which then proceded to blast everything from techo to hip-hop to whatever all through most of the day and on into the evening. Not a lot of fun unless you were about 13 to 20 yrs old. Somehow the locals did manage to find a lot of beer, as they were drinking everywhere. About 2,000 people lined the street at one point, over maybe 10 blocks. It was a bit crazy, but fun for a while, until one got near those speakers.

On Tongatapu---I don't think there will be a problem getting to the airport on Christmas night. There is a main transfer bus that hits the Dateline Hotel and a couple of others. You might want to arrange to meet it at the Dateline regardless of where you are staying, as it seems like the most reliable transfer situation.

I was told that the Church the King uses (he was Crown Prince then) was the Free Wesleyan behind the Dateline.

Please throw a rock at the Dateline on your way past.

harry mud, Delta has many jets leaving the USA, get on one!

His Majesty and other Royal family members usually goes to Saione, the main Weslyan church south-west of the Palace.

Up until 2005, Police and Army brass-band went around town playing Christmas music until January.

Church events' calendar every year, so it might be better to ask around once you get to Tonga.

Transfer is available.

Pago you ignorant fool. I told you in a previous post that I am not American, nor am I in America, nor is my signature anti American.

learn to read, then grow up a little.

Hi ,

Just to help , there is a reliable transfer that runs from the hotel .Email tetatour@kalianet.to because Teta Tours are the only one that is the cheapest in Tonga - $10 Tongan Pa'anga one way .But pls email tetatour@kalianet.to to arrange Transfers.

I emailed tetatour@kalianet.to on October 15th to make plane reservations (I just double checked the email address). I did not receive an answer. (Went elsewhere.)