The King's funeral was a VERY big deal. The last time a ruler had passed away was in 1965. Every Tongan who could possibly make it to Nuku'alofa for the ceremony came.
A group of us decided to sit a little ways away, so that we could exit without notice after a few hours instead of staying for the 8+ hour ceremony.
Jason & I had decided to start dating a couple days earlier ... we don't look disappointed, do we??
The King's coffin was carried by a 1000 pallbearers - you can see the black structure being carried here. This whole structure had been carried from the palace all the way to the tombs. There is one man allowed on the structure with the King. But, since NO Tongan is allowed to be higher than the King, the man was a Samoan man who had been friends with the royal family. He had a fan that he was waving around to ensure no flies or other in appropriate pests bothered the King.
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