So let's start off with the biggest event, I swam with humpback whales. Yeah that's right! Vava'u is renowned for whale watching and I had the fortune to go out for free on one of these trips. We started out early in the morning and almost immediately came upon a mother and calf. However, they were not very playful and kept disappearing and so our first contact turned out to be just whale watching. Later in the day, after some snorkeling and searching, we found another mother and calf and watched them play for a little bit. Getting to see them come up for air and breaching was one of the coolest things I've seen, but the anticipation of getting into the water with them and swimming was such an amazing nervousness. Finally, after the first group had gone in and swam for a bit, it was our turn. My heart was beating so fast and a million thoughts rushed through my head. In the water, I quickly swam to come along side the pair and from about 10m away, I watched as the calf nursed from the mother and swam around. I was asked before getting in the water where my excitement level was on a scale of 1 to 10. Out of the water I was at a 6 or 7, not sure I would actually get to swim with them. After my first experience though, swimming back to the boat, definitely a solid 10, one of the most amazing things I've done in my life.
Later in the day, we came upon another female whale and two males. We got in with them and the experience only improved. Swimming with them, we chilled at the surface with them for about fifteen minutes. When they moved we gently swam with and were pulled along by their stream. After a total of about 30 minutes with them, all three whales dove down in unison to the deep blue ocean below until they were out of sight. It was the perfect final swim and what I thought would be the final scene of the day. On our return to Neiafu, we came upon one final mother and calf slapping their tails and fins against the water, breaching the water and waving at us. An amazing day it was. Absolutely, a high for my adventures here in Tonga.
In other news, I mentioned cleaning up the laptop and that just to say, I've been going through all the pictures I've been taking the past couple months and organizing them so I can share my experiences here. Don't want people to think I'm geeking out in the tropical paradise I call home.
I've had a circle of bad luck with getting sick lately. I'm currently struggling with some back pain. I was picking up my newly adopted dog, Olivia and sure enough; I heard the pop and now I'm kinda house bound getting over the discomfort. The past two months have been filled with strep throat, the flu, Achilles Tendinitis and believe it or not Strep throat for a second time. One might think poor James, but I'm actually in such a good place, that it hasn't gotten me down. The amazing things I'm getting to do and the amazing people I have in my life here, make it all seem like nothing. However, I am hoping that September will be a injury and sick free month.
I also got PADI certified; finally. My best friend on the island and I went through the course and it's so cool to be able to do scuba here because there are so many cool things to see, 'under the sea.' Forgive my cheese. We're hoping to get our Advanced course done in the next two weeks.
I'll surely write more soon, but for now I'm gonna call it a night. Enjoy the pictures and look forward to more soon.
