DAY EIGHT - VAVA'U

Today is Tuesday the 28th of October and so was yesterday. We have crossed the International Date Line and gained an extra day. We are at sea today on the way to Rarotonga and yesterday we spent the day on Vava’u, pronounced vavavoo.
I had arranged to be met by a taxi driver named Semisi the RoadRunner at 8.30am after we were transported to shore via ships tenders. The ship arrived on schedule at 7am and Mary and I managed to catch the first tender ashore at 7.30. We were closely followed by Kate and Ian plus Evon and Peter our travel companions for the day. Semisi had emailed me that he had an eight seater and we would easily recognize his car with the RoadRunner signage. When he arrived on time at 8.30 we were all very pleased to note that he had probably the newest and cleanest passenger mover on the island. He explained that although his was a taxi he didn’t operate as such. No crops, pigs or tapa cloth mats in his truck, he said. “I only drive tourists!”
Semisi has a VHF radio and is on call by the resorts, the yachties and the airport and takes bookings via the internet for tours. Roadrunner@vavau.island.ee
We had asked Semisi to take us for a complete tour of the island with as many photo stops as possible. We also asked to have a look at some village life, some resorts, beaches, handicraft production and have us back to the port by 12,30.
Vava’u island is one of the 21 inhabited islands in the 34 that form the Vava’u group of islands and the capital is Neiafu. The town runs along side the very peaceful looking Port of Refuge which Semisi said had until about a week ago been filled with yachts from all round the world. Most of them had now moved on to escape the approaching humidity and heat of the summer months. The town has nearly all the sort of shops one could want. A Post Office, a Bank, quite a number of general goods shops, a couple of supermarkets, cafes and bars. Out of town these facilities are almost non existent and the two or three resorts on the island provide transport to and from the center. Much of this is provided by Semisi.
Semisi went out of his way to show us as many parts of the island that he could get to. I should point out that much of the worth seeing points on Vavau are via dirt roads not much better than goat tracks. Even on the main roads the speed limit is only 60 kilometers an hour and down to 40 when going through villages so don’t expect to get around very fast. Vavau is quite hilly as compared with Nukualofa which is flat. Semisi took us to one particular spot, up a dirt track that ended at the top of a spectacular cliff top looking out to sea. He said that on many occasions whales could be seen from here but not when we were there. A great photo shoot though. Back down the track to a village and we were invited to visit a group of local village ladies at the community hall as they worked on making Tapa Cloth mats.
From there Semisi took us to a small beachside café where the owner showed us a range of fresh water pearl jewellery. Evon couldn’t resist and bought a love.ly twisted neck strand.
From here we headed for the Tonga Beach Resort for our final stop before heading back to the ship. A cool drink on a lovely beach with a great view of our ship resting at anchor across the bay. Another great day ashore and another tour I would highly recommend.