Tonga A-Z Visitors Guide - Small Guide to a tropical paradise
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 Tonga A-Z - The Tonga Visitors Guide

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Pacific Blue

Pacific Blue now has direct flights from both Sydney and Auckland. If you are planning a holiday in Tonga in December or January, book early because there are a lot of Tongans living in Australia and New Zealand who like to go home for Christmas. While it is easy to book online with Pacific Blue, travel wholesalers are sometimes offered less expensive fares. Email here if you would like a quote on flights and accommodation.
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Palangi

‘Palangi’ is the Tongan word for white people or expatriates. It is not a derogatory term unless accompanied by non-complimentary adjectives.
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Pangai Village

Pangai is a sleepy village with a population of around 3,000 people and the main town in the Ha’apai island group (on Lifuka). Along Holopeka Road, adjacent to the beach you will find most things tourists look for - King’s Palace, the courthouse, police station, post office, Tonga Visitor’s Bureau and the Bank of Tonga. Fins 'n' Flukes, the island's only dive base, can take you diving, snorkelling or whale watching and also provide tourist information. There are a number of locally owned guesthouses in and around town and the infamous Mariner's Café provides for that cold drink and good food after another tough day on the beach
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Parliament

The king appoints the 12 member Cabinet (who hold their posts for life). They sit in the 30 seat Parliament (Legislative Assembly) with nine members who represent 33 Nobles of the Realm plus another nine members who are elected every three years to represent the rest of the population (100,000+ commoners). The king has the power to dissolve parliament, dismiss ministers and veto any legislation but these days he’d be a brave or foolish man to do it without good reason.
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Passports

Visitors need at least six months validity on their passports upon arrival (and a return or onward ticket). Tongan passports have seen a bit of controversy. In 1983 Tonga started selling ‘Tongan Protected Persons passports to anyone seeking a new nationality for US$10,000. Under legislation only people who are resident in Tonga for five years can apply for a passport but this was pretty much ignored. Imelda Marcos was one of the more famous to become ‘Tongan’. Countries like Australia and New Zealand don’t recognise mail-order passports, which means legitimate Tongan passport holders may have a longer time getting through immigration than most. The practice stopped in 1998 and at that time it was estimated that some 7,000 passports had been sold. Many of the buyers moved to Nuku’alofa and set up small businesses, causing some ethnic tension in the community.
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Pharmacy

In Nuku’alofa the Fasi Pharmacy is on Salote Road near the Australian High Commission. The Village Mission Pharmacy is on ’Unga Road, behind the Talamahu Market.
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Polynesia

Polynesia means ‘many islands’ and those islands are located in the ‘triangle’ between Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island.
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Population

The population of Tonga (estimated) is over 100,000 people with 70% living on Tongatapu.
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Pornography

While once a big ‘no-no’, the uptake of VCRs and DVDs combined with the many video/DVD rental stores in Nuku’alofa has meant that violence and soft pornography is pretty much available to anyone. And it’s pretty hard to censor the Internet. Just don’t take your shirt off in public.
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Postal Services

The post office is on Salote Road (near Vuna wharf). Postage is inexpensive and you can buy telephone cards (public phones here as well). DHL Worldwide Express is on Wellington Road, next to Loni’s Cinema.
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Prawns

You will find tasty, large prawns on the menu but surprisingly they are imported and expensive - local lobster is good value though.
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Pumpkins

They don’t celebrate Halloween in Tonga but the humble pumpkin is one of the main cash crops. The squash pumpkin has replaced banana and copra as the major agricultural export. Fruit fly quarantine surveillance is critical in Tonga, which has a multi-million dollars pumpkin export industry to Japan. Dispose of any fruit you might be carrying in the amnesty bin at the airport.
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