Polynesia

Kingdom of Tonga

Three typically dressed Tongan ladies.  If a close relative has recently died, a lady must wear black with a tatty weaved straw skirt for around a year afterwards.

Beach near Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu.

Hurricane damage, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu.

Outside the Catholic Church, Neiafu,Vava'u

Western Samoa

Policeman in standard uniform. 

Baha'i Temple, central Upolu.

Papapapaitai Falls, central Upolu. 

Traditional Samoan houses have no walls so that hurricanes blow right through the house rather than blowing it away.

Sunset over Apia.

Mangaia, Cook Islands

Mangaia is a raised coral atoll.  This means that it used to be a typical isle with a coral lagoon but, at some point in the past, the island rose out of the ocean so that the coral reef is now 60 feet above sea-level.  The coral rim of the island is called a makatea and forms towering coral cliffs inland.  It's the most beautiful island.

The penultimate image shows a coral cliff outcrop.

The last picture is the Royal Palace in the main town, Oneroa.  We visited the Queen of Mangaia there and she showed us a tattered Union Jack given to her by Queen Victoria.

Raratonga, Cook Islands

A bus stop.  A bus. A windsurfer.