November 24, 2012
“It’s all real.” That’s the thought that popped into my head this night as I looked out at Pangaimotu’s beach and palm trees in the light of the near-full moon. Gray-white clouds hung over the island, and stars twinkled above them. It was one of those perfect warm nights in the tropics, and one of our last nights in Tonga.
And all I could think was: it’s all real: palm trees swaying in warm trade winds under the moonlight; skies filled with a million stars on moonless nights; lush green volcanic mountains plunging into the sea; tranquil lagoons in sleepy atolls; water in every shade of blue and green from almost white to almost black; being greeted by tropic birds and dolphins as we near land; fiery sunsets in red, orange and pink; drenching tropical downpours; golden evenings with charcoal gray clouds and rainbows; swimming in pools at the base of waterfalls; swimming in the ocean with fish of all colors, or sea turtles, or manta rays, or even a humpback whale and her calf; and being in water so clear it looked as though our boat was floating in mid-air.
Cruising the tropics has its frustrations, discomforts, and hurdles, but if you’re willing to endure them, the rewards are great. For us, the South Pacific has more than lived up to its promise and is as magical as we dreamed it would be. We were very much looking forward to New Zealand, but we will always treasure our memories from this part of our cruise. -Cyndi
