Tonga or Kingdom of Tonga, is a Polynesians overeigns tate and an archipelago comprising 176 islands with a surface area of about 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean. Fifty-two of these islands are inhabited with its 103,000 people. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest, the Samoas to the northeast, Niue to the east, Kermadec to the southwest (the latter both to New Zealand) and New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to a more distant west. Tonga is also known as the Friendly Islands going back to the days of Captain James Cook on his first visit there in 1773.

My Grandmother Matilda was born and bred in Tonga being a a PMEND (a person of mixed european and native descent – otherwise known as Fruit Salad!! and she would so well say «and every body likes fruit salad»!) What a character she was and certainly deserves a special dedicated post. Being a cousin of the Royal Family Nana as we called her was given Pangaimotu island over 40 years with one rule – as long as an Emberson is on the island it is your island. Over 40 years later Uncle Earl is still on the island – Mum & Dad have a lovely Fale (house) and Pangaimotu moves ahead. So many memories of my childhood, sister weddings, family celebrations & feuds make Pagaimoto very special to me. You can take the boy out of the Island but you cannot take the island out of the boy. These photos were taken during a trip for Tricias wedding.

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