Tonga: East Coast of 'Eua 22 - Descending the Lokupo Track

Ian Stehbens, on October 10, said:

EXPLORING THE RUGGED EAST COAST OF 'EUA

Part 22

《阿鵬》B@ngk☺k, on October 10, said:

WOW!!!!!! Awesome finding, Ian!!

Does the old tree still live?

w☺rap☺ng《阿鵬》

jymsn123, on October 11, said:

I like to see these old trees. It is lucky that the world is still not yet completely destructed by human. :(

Cheers, Jeff

bdeh, on October 11, said:

Beautiful picture Ian are this the roots of a Figg tree? Greetings Berend

Ian Stehbens, on October 12, said:

EXPLORING THE RUGGED EAST COAST OF 'EUA

Part 22

As we left the world of 4WDs behind, our trail that would lead us down to Lokupo Beach and the pounding energy of the open Pacific started out benign enough. Only a few venture down to Lokupo Beach. The track was almost overgrown, but that alerted us to the need to keep an eye out for a coloured ribbon tied around a trunk somewhere ahead.

'Eua National Park, the only national park in Tonga, is the narrow strip between the crest of the scarp and the beach in middle 'Eua. It is a steep escarpment as we were soon to rediscover.

Soon the steepness requires the trees to hang onto the big rocks and the rocks to hang on to the large trees. We clung to whatever.

It is as if 'Eua National Park is that section of the table cloth that hangs from the table and reaches to the floor. Here the virgin rainforest is home to koki, gecko and the cave dwellers: white tropic birds (locally tavake), pekapeke, pekapeke tai and pink crayfish.

I was pleased that this was a time for descent. The mythical Maui had been here before us, and even he had had a hard time of it, climbing the east coast of 'Eua. He had got cranky and had had to rest - and to put his feet up!

EVA_L, on October 13, said:

Absolutely great finding, Yan!

Eva

Ian Stehbens, on October 14, said:

A symbiosis, Eva. Like friends.

Yan