Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Volcanic Adventures in Tonga by Ann Goth and Lamb Tagine #bookreview #readingcommunity #lambtagine

Picture caption: Read and Cook banner Picture caption: The cover of Volcanic Adventures in Tonga featured a small boat on the ocean heading towards an island.What Amazon says

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the remote islands of Tonga with Ann, a young conservation scientist, in this captivating travel memoir that will leave you breathless. From smoking volcanoes to fierce cyclones, Ann braves the elements while racing against time to save an endangered bird. But as she immerses herself in the rich culture and untouched beauty of Tonga, she discovers the true power of stepping outside her comfort zone.
Join Ann as she uncovers the secrets of this breathtaking destination and navigates the challenges of living without modern comforts in “Tongan Time”. This thrilling adventure will ignite your wanderlust and make you appreciate the comforts of home like never before. It will transport you to a new world filled with tropical delights, adventure, a unique culture, and self-discovery.

Here is what you will discover in this book:

A captivating 17-month-long travel story that takes you on an exciting armchair adventure.Original photos documenting the journey and showcasing the vibrant life in Tonga.Unique insights into authentic Tongan culture, revealing experiences that go beyond what most short-term tourists encounter in the South Pacific.Fascinating glimpses into the life of a remarkable bird that relies on a volcano to incubate its eggs.My review

I read a recommendation for this book on a blog and its premise fascinated me. I am a great lover of southern African wildlife and a part time environmentalist so the idea of a young couple being so devoted to saving an endangered species of bird delighted and intrigued me.

The book tells the true story of the author’s experiences on a remote island in Tonga in the early 1990s. I am slightly younger than the author and grew up in South Africa so the descriptions of rural life and how the Tongan people lived and ate, are quite relatable to me. Having lived and worked in southern Africa for years and studied many reports about corruption and administrative red tape in setting up projects and businesses, those aspects of Ann’s story are also very understandable and relatable to me.

The difficulties faced by this young European couple in gaining entry to Tonga, setting up the project, and ultimately conducting it, were interesting, but the most interesting part of this memoire was the coming of age aspect and the information about the birds.

The couple were idealistic and full of good intentions when they set out on the project. They were going to help save an endangered an highly unusual bird on a remote island in Tonga. These are wonderful intentions but it was obvious to me from the outset, that the reality of what they were undertaking would be difficult and even disillusioning. The hardships the couple faced with illness, getting good food, understanding the culture and the language, and overcoming cultural obstacles and mindsets were fascinating. The story is actually a triumph for this couple who managed to stay true to their objectives in many ways, despite the huge obstacles and, towards the end, deteriorating health.

On reflection, I would never had done what this couple did at their young age, and even less so now. Perhaps because I always had a much greater understanding of what they would encounter on their path. This knowledge makes me even more admiring of their great achievement.

A fascinating story for lovers of wildlife and animals but also a story of enthusiasm, courage, and overcoming obstacles and staying true to an objective despite everything life throws at you in the process. An excellent book that I really enjoyed.

Purchase Volcanic Adventures in Tonga from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Volcanic-Adventures-Tonga-Species-Conservation/dp/1035809516/

Lamb TagineIngredients:

1.4 kilograms of lamb chops

Black pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

15 ml (1 Tbspn) garlic flakes

2 red onions, diced

60 ml tomato paste

1 cup dried apricot halves

30 ml (2 Tbspns) lemon zest

1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock

Spice mix:

15 ml (1 Tbspn) ground coriander

15 ml (1 Tbspn) ground cumin

10 ml (2 tsp) ground cardamom

10 ml (2 tsp) turmeric powder

7 1/2 ml (1 1/2 tsp) fennel seeds

5 ml (1 tsp) cayenne pepper

10 ml (2 tsp) ground ginger

10 ml (2 tsp) ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180C. Mix the spice ingredients in a small bowl. In a wok or frying pan, brown the lamb chops using olive oil. Place the browned chops in a greased casserole dish. Fry the onions in the pan. Once soft and browning, add the spice, tomato paste and combine. Do not let the spices burn. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Pour the chicken stock mixture into the casserole dish and cook in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and top up the liquid with more stock if necessary. Add the apricots. Return to the oven and cook for a further 1 hour.

I served with rice and garlic naan bread.

Picture caption: Lamb tagine with rice and roasted vegetables