Tonga, a special place in our memories [1]
Friday, September 22, 2006 - 09:00. Updated on Sunday, December 15, 2013 - 16:39.
Dear Editor
Condolences on HM's passing to our Tongan friends and people. I really wanted to congratulate you and your Team for the magnificent pictures you have posted on the web on the events covering this royal event. This afternoon I have had a chance to look through on a quiet moment and so very much appreciate what you have done.
Having missed the events as covered internationally, I will be revisiting the site again to share with other family members, my father in law, a trader now pensioner 77, who refers to Queen Salote the clever and gracious one who educated her people and ...Tungi... whom he shared some laughs and fun when the ...Matua... was the meeting place of travellers in the Pacific during his youth. Not to mention our young nieces and nephews who live in Sydney and New Zealand, cities where a balance of knowledge is essential, and who as part of their education of the Pacific will be fascinated to see the umu...s dug by diggers and food lifted by cranes...
far less elaborate than the samoan ones of course they are familiar with.
Having lived in Tonga for some of our youth we hold a special place in our memories. Seeing the Mala'ekula, the Palace grounds, the ngatu, the I...e, everything, the school children everyone in black and their mourning mats, and understanding the meaning of quiet silence of thousands sitting down brings jolts of familiar thoughts rushing in.
You have reached the pacific, the world and us. Thank you for using technology, the Lords Love in sharing the things that leave a mark on us. Though we mourn Kaimana (a lovely friend) and Tuipelehake, now the HM, we pray our Father in Heaven instils in King Tupou V, and us the right leaders, the right words, the right actions for leading forward the future and people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Faafetai ma Faamalo.
Teresa Ngau Chun