After a bit of back and forth I have decided to give Tonga a miss and hope the King of Tonga wont mind! As much as the island may be another fascinating adventure, it seems that it has become a haven for yachties and charterers replete with a full Moorings Charter Base. That plus some complicated immigration dance....

So, instead Im heading to the Fiji where I will meet a friend of mine, living there now, who I last met in, of all places, Kazakhstan when I conducted there. The last two days have been spent studying the charts as the entry into Fijian waters is reef infested. Or, as one guide likes to put it....'many a world cruise has come to an end on the reefs of Fiji.'

If that doesnt strike fear into a sailors heart. Gosh! I had better get back to studying.