So after we met our Mission President, his wife and a few of the elders, we had to hangout with the AP's for most of the day. One of them actually is the guy who got me my job at Progressive Finance back in 2004 and now basically most of my family works there! His name is Quinton and he still lives in SLC.
So we had to head into town. And by town I mean Nuku'alofa. Remember that I am still completely in shock and would be for the next two years at how cool everything was!
These are what the Vans look like that they missionaries roll around in. They are called Toyota Hiace's and they don't have them here in America. Many a great time was had in these things. We were told that another group of missionaries we supposed to pick us up instead but they hit a dog on the way to the airport and ended up keeping it so they could turn it into a meal.
So we boarded up the van and hit the streets. We were off to Nuku'Alofa!
My first initial thoughts of Tonga was like how I picture Hawaii was like probably 50 years ago. Most of the North Shore of Oahu, still very much has the same look and feel of what it's like over in Tonga presently.
Pulling out of the airport there were fields, plantations and crops everywhere. Everything was green, and there were coconut trees everywhere you looked! The smell in the air was mixed with a hint of plumeria and hibiscus with a touch of campfire smell and people bbq'ing pig. I loved it!
Video of what it looks like around the Airport. Coconut Plantations everywhere!
More coconut Plantations... (Click to View Large)
Along the way into town we passed the Prince's Palace. (Click to View Large)
Passed through many small villages on the way and couldn't believe the size and condition that many of the houses were I saw. Coming from the States, it definitely felt like a poor country right off the bat. Beautiful, but poor.
It was very strange to see pigs walking all over the place, crossing roads, nearly hitting them with our van, as we made our way to the mission office, eating plants. It was too funny. These pigs would later have a stick shoved up their but and cooked over a fire. Ifo Mo'oni!
This video shows you almost exactly what my ride was like in the Van to downtown Nuku'Alofa. I love Youtube!
Here is an aerial of downtown Nuku'alofa. You can enlarge it by clicking it. The red arrow is pointing to two white buildings. The bottom one is the Mission Office, and the top on is an LDS chapel.
Nuku'Alofa is a very small town for a Nation's capital. It is a little dirty yes, but only because the government in Tonga sucks. You can find some real gems downtown though. There are some good restaurants; Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and American. They even have a restaurant that tries to copy KFC but I honestly think it's alot better. There is also an amazing market that sells great touristy stuff, fruits, vegetables, clothes, carvings, jewelry, etc. All the kids hangout downtown all day and so do the drunks, downsyndromes, and cross-dressers. Huge massive Tongan cross-dressers? Yup, they call them 'Fakaleiti's" and they are hilarious to joke with!
Below is a video on Youtube I found that takes you on a tour of the heart of downtown Nuku'Alofa.
So after getting to the Mission Office, we met everyone there, hung out for a bit and then headed to our new home for the next few days. Liahona. My next post will tell you a little bit about Liahona, and what I was doing there.
Let me know if you are stoked on this blog or not and leave a comment. Hopefully, I am getting you more familiar with what it was like on my mission.
After 2 long months of being in the MTC, I was completely over it and ready to get down to the islands to start my work. Fortunately we got to leave 3 weeks early as our Mission President wanted us to spend some time down in the 'Tongan MTC'. I had no idea what that would be like and at the time it sounded a little intimidating but at the same time, sounded adventurous.
The day finally came when all 7 of us missionaries loaded up into the big white van and made our trek down to the SLC airport. We said our last goodbyes with family and then boarded the plane. It was pretty hard seeing my family again and still seems like a really weird dream, but I was so full of excitement and energy at the time, I didn't think much of it.
I do remember how strange it was being the last one out of our group to walk into the terminal and have them shut the door behind me, and looking back through the glass window of the door seeing my mom crying and everyone else with a half-smile half-frown look on their faces. It was a weird feeling knowing that I was not going to be on American soil for another two years and I had about 75 feet of the loading terminal to walk down before I boarded the plane to L.A. Man it was a long walk to that plane and my heart was pounding but at the same time, I couldn't get over my excitement I was feeling. I also had a very calming feeling come over me letting me know that my family and everything would be watched over and protected for the two years I would be gone.
So we boarded a small plane and flew over to Los Angeles. We had a layover there for like 3 hours I think. I was really excited for the flight to New Zealand next. I had heard nothing but great things about Air New Zealand and how they were one of the best airlines in the world, so I was excited to check out the plane.
This is an Air New Zealand Plane at LAX airport about to take off to New Zealand.
The flight was a red-eye so I really don't remember much about it other than they played U-571 on the big screen. I ended up falling a sleep during the movie and waking up with about an hour and a half left in the flight. The flight was about 16-17 hours to New Zealand so I ended up sleeping for about 12-13. Not too shabby. But as everyone knows, missionaries can sleep very well.
When I woke up and found out that we had about 1 1/2 to 2 hours until we landed, I had a strong feeling that we were directly above the Tongan Islands. It was really weird. I could already sense the warm balmy air below, and the lush tropical forests and white sandy beaches beneath me. I got some headphones and plugged them into the radio jack and turned the stations to see what I could find. Surprisingly, I found a station that was playing Polynesian music. I was super stoked! With those thoughts in my head, and the music in my ears, I was so excited to finally greet the Tongan people in less than 10 hours! My island home awaited me.
I ended up dozing off again for another hour or so and was awoken by a sudden drop. It was the plane preparing for landing into Auckland New Zealand. I quickly looked out the window and noticed the city lights beneath me. I saw a ton of drivers on their early morning commutes. I noticed something very strange though, everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road! It was so weird to me that I woke up the other elders around me and showed everyone. It was very cool to see.
We made our way into the airport just as the sun was starting to come up over Auckland. It was one of the most beautiful mornings I have ever seen in my life.
The Auckland Airport was pretty cool. As we got off the plane, large Maori tiki statues surrounded us in the hallway. New Zealand has done a great job of keeping the Maori culture alive there.
A very strange welcome sign greets you as you walk in. Three heads and octopus legs? Cool.
The layover in New Zealand was pretty brutal. 6 1/2 hours. We saw everything you could see in about 2 hours of walking around and looking at every single thing in every little shop. We couldn't get over how awesome everyone's accent was. Funny thing was, everyone thought the same about us.
Right when we got off the plane, I needed to go to the bathroom so I walked over to a lady who worked at the airport and asked where they were.
She said "Are you from America?"
I said, "Yep!"
"You guys just have the best accents, I love them!"
It was pretty strange to hear that coming from somebody else but cool at the same time. It sounds weird but living in America, we take a lot of things for granted, even our accents. I came to appreciate American accents by living in a foreign country. I will explain this story further on when I post about serving in Niue.
This is in the center of the Airport in Auckland.
After our 6 1/2 hours of sheer boredom was up, it was time to board our plane to Tonga. Man was it an exciting time. We were all so thrilled that in two hours time, we would be in the islands and stuck there for two years!
Video, taking off out of Auckland towards Tonga...
We boarded the plane and I think this is when I realized what I was in for for the next two years of my life and finally it set in that I was on a mission and far far away from my homeland. Everyone on the plane had brown skin. Not only that but they were several pounds heavier than any of us. Even most the women. It was definitely a different experience. We didn't get to talk to anyone really as we all were pretty nervous about speaking the language to them and them not understanding a lick of it.
After an hour or so of talking about how amazing it was going to be, I could feel the plane lowering into our final descent into Tonga. Man I was thee definiton of giddy. I wish I could have seen my face that day!
I remember the captain coming over the intercom and telling us to look out the window as we were approaching the island of Tongatapu, which is the main island in Tonga. I looked out as he said that and saw that we were approaching a large pure green land mass. It was beautiful! As we got closer, I saw giant waves crashing against the outer reef of the atoll thousands of feet below.
I then started to notice, small houses roads and villages next to blue-turquoise waters. It did not seem real at all. I couldn't even believe what I was seeing. It all seemed like it was out of a movie. 6 months earlier I had gotten my mission call and was looking at pictures online of Tonga and now I was finally there. It was incredible.
As the plane was about to land, I noticed all of the coconut trees that went on for miles and miles. Coconut, or Copra (dried meat of coconut) is Tonga's main export good so the trees are everywhere. It was beautiful!
The plane touched down and we all had huge grins on our faces and could not believe we were there. We didn't know what to say other than, "Can you believe we are here?" There are no terminals in Tonga, just the airport. So you get off the plane just like the old days, or for anyone who has ever flown into Long Beach, CA, you know what I am talking about. The Tongan Airport is about the same size, but actually has two floors!
As the flight crew opened the cabin door, I could immediately feel the warm humid air and smell the tongan island scent that I loved since first whiff. Yep, it was love at first whiff.
After entering the airport, it was time to do all the fun customs crap. But you know Tongans, super laid back so it was a breeze and didn't take long. Here is where you get your baggage. LOL. When I was there, there were kids drawings all over the place like you were at a Grocery store. It was pretty funny. Welcome to Tonga!!
We ended up meeting with two American elders and the Mission President and his wife. It was so cool to meet everyone and finally be there! Here are a couple more shots of the aiport:
Tongan version of a terminal.
Stray cart, and apparently you can't park in front of the Tongan Airport!
Coming up next. My first sites, smells and sounds of Tonga!
So basically, I just got this idea for this blog. I was thinking how cool it would have been to have had a blog when I was on my mission. The technology on the internet since I have been home has been insane. I have seen incredible things get huge overnight basically and I have adapted to all these new technologies pretty well. Thats pretty amazing after coming from a 'third-world' island nation that calls airplanes "Vakapuna" which translates to; flying boat.
Since returning home from my mission I have started many projects that are internet-related. I have always had an entrepreneurial-type spirit about me but it has really exploded since I have been home from the mish.
Just to keep everyone up to speed with what I have been doing... In 2005, I launched the first action sports (extreme sports) related website. It quickly grew to almost 12,000 members and I am in the final stages of selling it finally (so relieved). I then started an e-commerce site called AP Mailorder. That thing got hacked with over $15k in orders made by hackers. Not a fun deal. I then created my media site, then my own website, facebook , linkedin and twitter accounts, and mostly recently launched a blog community focused on action sports, music and art. Oh ya and I forgot to mention Robyn and I have a blog as well.
So I myself am absolutely no stranger to this abundance of web technologies that are at our fingertips. But I really wish they would have been available to me on my mission in the south pacific.
Memories are the most important thing you can take with you on your mission sure, but photos are almost as good. I unfortunately had thee worst luck with cameras on my mission. Not to mention, they were all mostly disposable, POS cameras. But most of the time, I didn't have a camera at all to use.
So what's the point of me creating this new blog? I am going to hopefully recreate my journey in the islands of Tonga and let you see how incredible my mission really was. Hopefully I can inspire a few others that have gone on mission's as well and didn't have a digital camera or had horrible camera luck like I did. Fortunately there is a great site called Flickr that has a slew of photos that other people have snapped of places that I have set foot on.
So without further adieu, I bring you my journey to the South Pacific -- remixed with my own personal style and other peoples photos. (hopefully I will get a chance to scan some of my own photos in as well)
This blog is mostly for myself so I can refer back to it from time to time, but you may just find it to be an interesting read... Enjoy!
These are what the Vans look like that they missionaries roll around in. They are called Toyota Hiace's and they don't have them here in America. Many a great time was had in these things. We were told that another group of missionaries we supposed to pick us up instead but they hit a dog on the way to the airport and ended up keeping it so they could turn it into a meal.
Passed through many small villages on the way and couldn't believe the size and condition that many of the houses were I saw. Coming from the States, it definitely felt like a poor country right off the bat. Beautiful, but poor.
It was very strange to see pigs walking all over the place, crossing roads, nearly hitting them with our van, as we made our way to the mission office, eating plants. It was too funny. These pigs would later have a stick shoved up their but and cooked over a fire. Ifo Mo'oni!
Here is an aerial of downtown Nuku'alofa. You can enlarge it by clicking it. The red arrow is pointing to two white buildings. The bottom one is the Mission Office, and the top on is an LDS chapel.
