The Coconut Wireless: A Travel Adventure in Search of The Queen of Tonga (South Pacific Shenanigans Book 1)

Simon Michael Prior does a masterful job recounting the decision to move from England to New Zealand with his girlfriend. They decide to make an adventure/vacation of the long trip and spend a few weeks in Tonga where they meet locals, experience some Robinson Crusoe style adventures, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of royalty. A delightful read and a wonderful peak into a couple’s burgeoning relationship.

Written before 9/11, this is a pleasant travel journal of peace and love in the Tongan Ilands. Beautiful friendships and experiences made for a very relaxing read!

Simon's dad was in the crowd for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, and never forgot the Queen of Tonga smiling through the rain in her open topped carriage: and she waved and smiled directly at him. Simon grew up with the story, and it gave him a deep seated desire to see the Queen of Tonga himself, and have her wave at him. Fast forward many years, and Simon is living with his Kiwi girlfriend - but her visa is about to expire. What to do? Well maybe travel back to New Zealand with her, and pack in a few adventures along the way. When he finds out they can travel via Tonga, and spend a few weeks there, he resurrects his desire to see the Queen of Tonga, and that simple (or not so simple) quest is the basis for this book. Simon has such an easy writing style that I was hooked from the beginning. Many adventures including living on a desert island, joining in a kava ceremony, and a deep sea diving rescue make this a fun and entertaining read. Did he meet the Queen? Do you really think I'm going to give that away? Apparently this is going to be the first in a series. I can't wait to see where life takes Simon next.

Fiona and Simon—New Zealand and England. What happens when your visa runs out and you just moved in together. Both in there 20’s andliving in London luckily Simon has a friend that was in the same position previously so of he went to find out how he fixed it. Easy enough—they left immediately as the visa ran out that day and went to France then she was able to come back to England for a few months but then what. As the time was nearing to make a decision Simon decided to quit his job and move to NZ with Fiona. Then the fun starts. The worked hard, saved as much as they could which wasn’t going to be enough but at the lasts minute they got a windfall and Simon was off to see how they could spend it on the way to Christchurch. That is where this wonderful story goes—I loved his diving trips, getting to act as a leader, won’t tell you what happened. They spent many months on almost deserted island—I think you have to be in the 20’s to go thru what they did and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this book.

In this charming and light-hearted memoir of a travel adventure Simon Michael Prior and his girlfriend, Fiona, spend six weeks in Tonga on their way to a new life in New Zealand. Why Tonga? Well, it all comes down to Simon’s long-held memory of hearing about his father’s visual encounter in London with Queen Salote of Tonga when Simon was just a boy. The tale catches Simon’s imagination, and he is determined to see the Queen himself, albeit not the same one. So when the opportunity arises to go to Tonga on route to New Zealand, he jumps at it.Whether he sees the queen or not is something readers will have to discover for themselves, but suffice to say the young couple have a wonderful time in this desert island paradise. I enjoyed the delightful local characters, the laid-back approach to living and the evocative descriptions of island scenery and weather. I also liked Simon’s ‘aside’ thoughts, which pepper the book. It’s a story of romance, youthful travel, and the joys of experiencing pacific islands and all they have to offer. Recommended feelgood reading!

A nice insight on life on these remote islands. The author is able to go with the flow which is so much easier when one is young. I envy him and Fiona, the experiences they had and the characters they met. We should all try to continue having adventures throughout our lives, adjusting to our capabilities as we age.

I enjoyed reading about a trip that with the passage of time and growth of an area may no longer be possible but that I would want to take. There was enough of an arc to make it worth the read. Well written. Good descriptions. Likable people.

I think that almost every page had a tinge of laughter in it. When i wasn’t laughing, i was thinking that I am glad I am Simon Prior. Then again, when he reached out to travel, he did it well. Ah if I were only younger.The biggest disappointment for me was coming to the end.

I was hooked the minute I started this wonderful travel memoir and read it in one sitting, I love the title and the cover.Simon and his partner, Fiona, his Kiwi partner, are living in London, realising that her visa has expired they decide to hop on the Eurostar for a weekend to Paris, hoping to extend her visa on their return. Simon decides to pack in his job to follow Fiona to New Zealand and this sparks the initiative for their once-in-a- adventure.Back home they set about saving as much money as possible, including weekend working at Fletcher's Steam Fair, these extra earnings along with an unexpected windfall enable them to have the much funds to be able to detour via Hawaii and Tonga.The fun begins when they invite you to travel with them on their crazy trip to visit Tonga on their way to New Zealand. Since his father told him about his encounter with Queen Salote of Tonga in 1953 on her visit to the United Kingdom, it has been Simon's life's ambition to see the current Queen of Tonga. His descriptions of the beautiful South Pacific islands of Nuku'alofa, Ha'apia, Pangai, and the Bounty Resort, all come to life with Simon's easy relaxed style of writing.From the beginning, this memoir is packed full of adventure and energy and you feel as if you are there with them on the beach, in the sea, or enjoying a feast with the people of Tonga and indulging in the local cultures.Thank you, Simon, I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. Hopefully, there is another one in the pipeline.

What a terrific read!The author has a life ambition to see the Queen of Tonga. Sounds unusual? Well, there are special reasons for this. Living in London with his Kiwi girlfriend, he uses her expired visa as an excuse to spend time in Tonga en route back to New Zealand. And what a grand trip they have.Related with charming humour, Simon Michael Prior describes their adventures through lickety-split dialogue and superb descriptions. I enjoyed learning about the Tongan islands. I was fascinated by the culture and loved every moment of his deep-sea dives. And, as with all talented writers, each chapter ended with a cliff-hanger that teased me to read on.This highly entertaining book will take you on an unforgettable Pacific island escapade. You’ll be roasted by the sun, cooled by the sea, wowed by the jungle and woken early by raucous animals. And does the author achieve his dream to see the queen? You’ll have to find out for yourself. Happily, I believe there will be a sequel to this memoir, which I look forward to reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous, well-written account of the author's trip to New Zealand with his Kiwi girlfriend. The major part of the book is about their stay in Tonga, on some of the islands which make up this small nation. So good are the descriptions that I am convinced that I would never want to spend more than three days there. The people sound delightful but the awful food, the stray dogs and the litter on the beaches would be too much. However, thanks to the really good accounts of the people he met and the places he visited, I feel as if I have been to Tonga. I look forward to reading the next book in the series - about his time on the South Island of New Zealand.

The beginning sets the scene for the main tale, and I like the style of writing. Interesting places they stopped off on the way to Tonga. Loved the descriptions of people, scenery, history in Tonga. Enjoyed all the diving experiences. I appreciated the Epilogue.

Came across via a friend and how glad I am, it was such a refreshing read. Feel that I was actually there with Simon & Fiona experiencing the places, the description of the people they met and places visited so alive. Look forward the the next installment.