Tuesday looks good😀

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

After waiting for yet another part for the boat, it was finally time to get away from the city. Although it is handy to be at the dock, the constant noise of being on land has become something I am almost intolerant of.

The B&G WindSensor arrived in Nuku’alofa fairly quickly from New Zealand. I had been checking with the post office every other day, just so I wouldn’t miss it. And then, one day, it had indeed arrived.

What I didn’t know was that picking it up would be a full-day event. I wish I were exaggerating, but I am not.

I began the process at the post office at 8:30 in the morning. It wasn’t until 16:15 that I finally had the package in my hands—at the very same post office where I had started.

I had waved down a taxi to take me to the post office, and as it turned out, the taxi driver stayed with me for the entire day. This included lunch at “Billfish,” a popular bar in town. This was definitely the first time, in my life, I had wined and dined with my taxi driver.

Not only did I get to know the driver, but I also learned a whole bunch about the political and economic aspects of Tonga, as well as its long history and culture. As it turns out, he learnt about receiving a package in his country. So, you might wonder: how does it possibly take seven hours to receive a small package?

I’m still gobsmacked by the whole day.

But here it goes.

I arrived at the post office, and they gave me a note and told me to take it to Customs.

Taxi ride across the city.

Customs said, “Get a broker.”…… every time we were told to go somewhere, my taxi driver would say in his charming Tongan accent “welcome to Tonga”!

Taxi ride to another corner of the city.

The Broker said, “Take this paper to Customs.”

Customs said, “Take this back to the Broker.”

The Broker said, “Take this back to Customs.”

This continued about five more times, before they said, ‎”you need a temporary import number, go to Ministry of Revenue”. 

A taxi ride to yet another office. 

Then, all of a sudden, they said, “Now go back to the post office, where they will inspect the package.”

The post office said, “It’s already been inspected at the airport, but now go to DHL and get a signature.”

For kicks, apparently.

DHL had nothing to do with the package, so I’m still not entirely clear on what they were supposed to do.

Then it was back to the broker, followed by a final interview with customs, before—finally—I went back to the post office to actually pick up the package, just 15 minutes before they closed.

After all this, I was sure I would be left with a massive bill, presumably so everyone involved could get paid.

But all they wanted was 21.40 Tongan Pa’anga—about 8 US dollars.

I’m not entirely sure how these people make their money….

Tuesday looks good to begin the final journey to New Zealand💨⛵️….🇳🇿

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the little island outside of Nuku’alofa, the capitol of Tonga-where I’m anchored.