 |
| View across from my hotel in Nuku'alofa |
1. Being early finally payed off. I always find myself arriving places early. I leave with plenty of time. I am rarely "fashionably late" and as result I often spend time waiting for others to arrive. This time, knowing my flight was at 9:40am I wanted to be at the airport with at least the full 2 hours beforehand to check-in. From my home to the airport is 45min drive with a clear run. The math says I should have left home at just before 7am. Knowing Sydney peak hour on the airport route can get nasty I left home at 5:30am. The M5 threw up its worst morning peak hour and it took me the full 2hrs 10mins to get to the airport. This meant a long queue at check-in. Add to this a 3 hr delay in Auckland and I didn't arrive in Tonga until 11pm, crashing to my hotel bed at midnight after leaving home at 5:30am.
 |
| Sports Hall where rules clinicwas held. |
2. Tonga is 2hrs ahead of Sydney time but that is not what is meant by 'Tonga Time.' 'Tonga Time' means that while I was due to be picked up at 10:30am on my first day to do a rules clinic with the Tongan Referees at 11:00am, the clinic doesn't actually start until 11:45am. This is a concept I was familiar with after visiting Fiji in 2009 where they run on 'Fiji Time' and after years of coaching young Polynesian boys who are never too concerned what time the game is due to kick off. As a result of 'Tonga Time' the 3:00pm final kicked off at 3:45pm and nobody seemed to care too much. I think everyone should add a little 'Tonga Time' into their lives.
3. Drink bottled water. Not that I got sick or had any bad experiences but if you look carefully all of the locals drink bottled water. The guys who looked after me always stopped off for water first each day and my thinking is if the locals are doing it then I should be too. I got through plenty of it as well. The weather was basically 27-28C each day and humidity was high as well.
 |
| The friendly bar tender. |
4. Tonga really is the friendly island. There were several examples of this during my stay. One night in a bar near my hotel I met another Aussie guy who was in Tonga doing aerial survey. He asked the bartender where in town he could get a massage. The bartender casually stepped out from behind the bar and proceeded to give him a 20min back rub and refused to take any payment. I was taken out after the Grand Final and could not have payed for a drink if I tried, they bought me lunch every day and bought all my water. Despite the fact that many of the people do not have a lot in the way of material possessions they would give you the shirt off their back. One of there referees had a wife who was on my flight back to Australia. He asked me to keep an eye on her getting through immigration and customs on arriving into Australia. They gave me some hand woven bags and shell jewellry for my wife. I was given then best cuts of the suckling pig and given the only two lobsters at the table. Amazing people.
 |
| Tongan Sports Minister |
 |
| Myself and my touch judges...photo taken by the Sports Minister. |
 |
| The losing team |
 |
| The winners 38-34. If the game had been 5mins longer they would have lost. They lead 16-0 at half time and only just hung on. |
6. There is plenty Rugby League talent in Tonga. Both the Reseve Grade and Top Grade Grand Finals were a showcase of very tough and skillful Rugby League. What they lack in structure and endurance they make up for in flare and physicality. While obviously not NRL standard I could easily see these teams competing in Bundaberg Cup with a few individuals definitely worth a contract at an Australian club.
 |
| Mormon Temple |
7. Religion is very important in Tonga. Grand Finals were played on Saturday because everything is shut on Sunday. The bar closed at 12am sharp and one of my fellow referees, a mormon, sipped lemonades while the others drank. The homes and buildings in Tonga a very basic. Even my hotel had seen better days but the churches are immaculate. It is illegal to be shirtless in the township and there were prayers before and after the games.
8. The village is still important. The teams I refereed were village-based. I was taken through some of the referees villages and as far as I can tell they are often grouped based on religion and family links. One of the former referees there was a chief and he was greeted by all who entered the bar and afforded respect by everyone. In fact I was introduced to one woman whom I later found out was the prince's daughter. I was told I was lucky because royalty don't usually address the locals but she did briefly chat with the chief and say hello to me.
9. It is a tropical island in every sense of the word. Covered in banana and coconut trees, surrounded by reef. Apparently some white sand beaches on the western side ( which I didn't see) and the blowholes on the south (which I did see).
10. Nothing beats being home. No doubt I had some great times but man it is tough travelling alone. Getting off a plane in a strange country and waiting for someone you have never seen or spoken with to pick you out of the crowd is a little stressful. Being away from my gorgeous wife and daughter for 6 days meant my sleep was not as deep as usual and seeing other little families around made it even harder. I felt priviledged to have been given the opportunity to go and even more so to return to my life here in Australia with a new appreciation for what I have. A full life, a loving family, a great job and no troubles worth mentioning.
Nice one!
ReplyDelete