I miss window shopping. I really miss wandering around an air conditioned shopping centre, trying on fun things and looking at window displays and sipping on an iced mocha from Gloria Jeans.

There is no window shopping in Tonga. There is no wandering around. No matter what shop I go into, the shop assistants follow me around, looking at what I am buying and just being pests in general.

I learnt how to say “just looking” and “go away” pretty quickly in Tongan. Its very intimidating trying to buy toilet paper and having the shop girl ask you “what’s your name/where you come from/are you married/where’s your husband/you have kids/why no kids/ something wrong with you?”

Yes, something’s wrong with me. I am about to hit you with my rolls of toilet paper.

The saturday flea market does offer some good browsing opportunities but the weather in Tonga is getting hot and gross, so I don’t like to spend too much time there these days.

To get my shopping fill, I’ve been wishing and daydreaming at stuff online. Here is what I would be buying if a) I wasn’t in Tonga and b) I had any money.

The cute clothes are all from Glassons and its not because I get paid to advertise their stuff but due to the fact that their online shopping cart loads best on my slow Tongan internet connection. Most of the stuff I like would not be at all practical for Tonga but I don’t care. Me likey.