From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 4, December 1999.

Exploring an unknown destination without a map, may not be the wisest thing for anyone to do, but Canadian, Wanda Ariano, said that the experience of being lost on ‘Eua island was the highlight of her trip to Tonga.

“It enabled me to meet some nice Tongan people, and at last I found an answer to my long time curiosity about why Tongans are naturally so big and muscular. I think it is because Tongan mothers always make sure that their children are not hungry and they keep feeding them all the time,” she said.

Wanda came to that conclusion after spending five days in ‘Eua where she was lost in the bush twice, and each time she was taken care of and fed by strangers. “It was just unbelievable.”

Wanda managed a hotel in the South of France for a friend, while he was away working as a consultant in Tonga, and he recommended a holiday here.

“I flew to ‘Eua by the Royal Tongan Airlines and stayed in ‘Esia at Setaita’s Guest House. I decided to walk down on the beach toward the southern end of the island, to where Maui hurled his hoe and left a hole in the rock. When the tide came in I realised I would have to find my way back through the bush,” said Wanda  “There was no one around was because people were already in the town, getting ready for Sabbath. Then I decided to head  to town on a track.”

Wanda came across some men working in their garden, and a woman and children sitting under a tree weaving baskets. “They asked me if I was hungry,” she said. Wanda was surprised when they left and returned with a basket of cooked kumala and talo, and a pot of fish—shark that was cooked in coconut oil. “We ate and ate. Their van arrived, we were still eating, all the way to town. I just could not help but noticing how the mother kept offering food to the children, and telling them to eat, so the kids kept playing and eating.”

On Sunday, Wanda decided to explore the northern tip of the island and visit Nemo’s Cave at the foot of the Fungatave cliffs. “I got a ride back with a policeman who invited me to have a Sunday dinner with his family.”