Note from an old friend who lived in Tonga for several years [and who is returning:

I had heard about Tonga, that South Seas island group that was known for its beautiful people and beautiful shores.  I was looking for a new life, new adventure and, honestly, new love.  Having been single for many years I was used to it, but I always longed to relive my earlier days with the experience of youth most of us still revel in, if only in our dreams.  Tonga’s Vava’u Islands were the answer to my dreams.

I arrived alone: the epitome of being single and being on your own does have some advantages.  The flight from the main island to this magical place called Vava’u was the first sign of a very warm welcome.  The small propeller plane was full of passengers, about 20 and mostly Tongans.  I sat in the middle and beside a very kind young Tongan, trim and very island style exotic looking who was my first contact and a wonderfully personal experience on the plane.

I didn’t want to be striking up any new relationships on my first day, so I let this lovely example of what dreams are made of slip-slide away out the door into the warm balmy air that was whispering lovely thoughts to me.  The small airport was full of happy people, again mostly Tongans with perfect white beautiful teeth and inviting smiles.  I couldn’t help to feel like I was being subtly solicited for some kind of engagement, engagement being a keyword here in this land of impromptu marriage talk.  The thought was tantalizing since it was only a thought.  I just smiled back and took a taxi to the hotel in the small town.  I can see why Captain Cook named these the Friendly Islands for even the driver promised these islands had everything I might be looking for.  The song,  Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places' certainly did notseem to be the case here.

Even the check-in was more friendly and inviting than I had ever experienced before in any of my travels.  I was beginning to think that perhaps I was imagining there might be more to the welcomes that appeared seductively deliberate.  I had heard the Polynesian islands in early times were very lustful, but the missionaries did a job to curb that way of life, or did they?  Certainly I had only the most loving sorts of gestures from old and young, and I haven’t even had dinner yet.  Speaking of, I deposited my bags in my room and proceeded into town afoot to see what I could see.  There was plenty to see and feel and the setting sun was just beginning its nightly light show, each one different as we are each different.  It was an inspiring walk with another ten or so encounters with both men and women according me an assured welcome.  It was as if my being new in town had people giving me the reassuring signal that I was welcome yet a bit beyond my expectations.

At 64 years I was beginning to worry that because of my age, maybe people were just being kind and respectful, but I hoped not to a fault.  I had to just enjoy the place and I was pleased to see the demeanor as positive, even if perhaps not as my imagination would like to perceive the implications of a raised brow and smile as in those single bars when I was a youngster. 
The picture was beginning to fill in as I past some of the evening places wide open to look straight through to that sunset and all of the patrons milling and enjoying the live Tongan music.  I was assured before my trip that walking around town in the evening was as safe as church, and there are a few of those here too.  I chose a softly lit place with some obvious levity.  The research I did on Tonga before coming out depicted most Tongans as being very large people, but fortunately there were enough shots of the more physically fit common folk who were right out of the model magazines.  The place I was that night was out of Vogue.

As I did my best to saunter in looking dignified, I wondered if these straight beautiful teeth and voluptuous lips staring at me were purely natural or was there a really good dentist in town.  Turns out, both, is the answer.  I took a seat at the end of bar where two other expats were sitting; a man and a women and noticed that the Tongan men and women tended to be separated by sex and standing grouped like we did in high school.  The group by the far windows with the sun setting behind was certainly looking lovely and the stares and smiles were noticeably in my direction.  I was not in Heaven, but it was starting to get Heavenly as I finished my second house wine.