Captain Cook's Landing Site

This little adventure happened about a month ago and I'm finally posting about it. *blush*

While my cousins and I were visiting in Mu'a, we went to the Captain Cook Landing Site. It's pretty close to our residence so our professional-walking legs transported us there.

The sign describing the site.

Quote-

Famed British explorer and navigator Captain James Cook visited Tonga three times, first in ‘Eua. 1774 in Ha’apai and again in 1777. It’s said that on his third visit in 1777, Cook came ashore at this point from his anchorage in the bay, and then rested this Banyan tree (‘Ovava). The present tree is a descendant of the original, which was named Ma’malu ‘o Fulilangi meaning Shading Under the Sky.

While Cook spent on the islands of Tongatapu, Nomuka and ‘Eua, it was Lifukam, among the Ha’api group that he was promoted to name the archipelago “The Friendly Islands”.  Cook and his men enjoyed the lavish feasting and entertainment of the people of Ha’api so much that they stayed for several months , from April until July of 1777.

It was not until years later that it was revealed that the High Chief Finau ‘Ulukalala and his nobles had planned to murder Cook and his men, and to raid their ships. There was an argument between the chief and his nobles over whether the deed would done by day or night, and eventually the plan was abandoned. Cook left Tonga none the wiser, and The Friendly Islands continues to be used as the nickname for the Kingdom of Tonga today.

Upgraded by:

Tonga Visitors Bureau

For some tourist information on Tonga, please visit www.tongaholiday.com or Phone (676) 25334

The Banyan Tree

A monument 

Here stood formerly the Great Banyan “Malumalu-‘o-Fulilangi” or Captain Cook’s Tree under the branches of which the celebrated navigator came ashore on his way to Pau. The Tu’I Tonga (Sacred King of Tonga) on the occasion of the Inasi (Presentation of the First Fruits) in the year 1777. 

and the other side 

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 and their royal highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne visited this landmark on the 7^th March 1970.

The view out to the lagoon. 

I can go on and on about the peace that surrounds this setting, but a picture should help.

Imagine the calm water out lined with towering coconut trees, low clouds, the cool air brushing your cheeks, the sound of tapa cloth being beaten and the occasional car passing by and maybe a fish jumping out to say "Hi".
You now have a taste of this scenery.

To the left side. 

Olivia demostrating her ability to rock-climb. 

To be honest, I was waiting for her to fall back into the bushes and straight into the water.

Lute and I just chillin.

On the site.

:) 

The trio. We all met each other around the same time. It's a blessing that it happened that way, because if two of us already knew each other really well, I'm not quite sure how well we would've meshed. But because we were all still getting to know each other at this time, the relationship was the same all around.

Our view of the moon on the way home.