Tuesday The Jewel of Fiji Day Tour

This day tour is called the Awesome Foursome. That is because we have River Canoeing, Fijian River Tour, Magic Water Fall and Bamboo Rafting.  Ann my new friend from Tasmania, Australia and I were picked up by a native driver from the Tour. Nice young man with dreads. He gave us a running speech while we drove down the Queen's Road. We saw cattle, horses and palm trees. Lots of shacks but they don't really need cover like we do. We do see a  really nice house and the driver tells us he is the Kava seller. LOL
We get to the drop off point at the tip of the Navua River. We are told to wait as the cruise ship people are carted off first. We are a unique group as we have chosen the Awesome Foursome.  We pass through quite a few rapids on our way up to the village. We dock and go up the stone steps where we are greeted by a warrior with a mean looking club. Didn't take a picture because my camera and all our stuff is in plastic bags to protect them from the rapids. This is from the internet. The house to the left is where the ceremony is held.
 
Another warrior standing beside the hollowed out tree greets us by blowing through a conch shell and beating on the drum. We are then invited to the ceremonial lodge where the oldest looking man in our group is chosen as our chief.
He sits in the big chair and the ceremony begins. He is then invited with the other males to sit on the floor in front of the warrior who will make the Kava drink for us. They perform the Kava ceremony and he is given the first cup. We all are then given a cup. It is a bit lip and tongue numbing.

This is from the brochure:

"After being picked up from your hotel, you'll travel to the Adventure Capital district of Fiji, Pacific Harbour,.Navua to begin a journey to a world away from the cares of modern living. And exhilarating cruise up the beautiful Navua River, past villages, farm lands, pristine tropical rainforest, deep gourges/canyons, meandering rapids and numerous cascading waterfalls. You may come across wild river ducks, white and black heron and other native birds.

 A Fijian Warrior will escort you to the village meeting house (Bure). Experience age-old customs and traditions, a customary welcome yaqona (kava) ceremony which will be performed for you. This sacred ceremony is only performed to visiting high chiefs or very important visitors."

The history of the village is recounted, war dances performed and we participate in the taralala and tuboto (Snake Dance) sorry no pictures, I was participating.We then go to the school where we meet the children and they perform for us. So adorable.

Our guide then instructs on the importance of the coconut and a plant that they use to make mats.

http://www.kivu.com/the-fijian-woven-mat/
We sit on benches and watch while the women weave and make place mats. Our guide has a villager open a coconut and for $2.00 Fijian we sip on fresh coconut water.

After that we are led over to the unearthing of our lovo lunch. They cook some of the food underground. We wander over to the eating place where we take off our shoes and enter. On the table is a feast. Lovely roasted eggplant, pumpkin curry, fish in coconut milk, chicken cooked over hot coals in the ground, potato salad (not like our potato salad) taro and so much more. We sit and devour this feast. I go back for a small bit of seconds. They do have lemon bars which I don't have because of the gluten. Ann goes back for seconds on the lemon bars.

In the meantime the ladies have laid out their wares that we can purchase. We enjoy looking at all the crafts and choose some.I got beautiful turtle bowl for Jim and a printed table cloth for my self.

The boats are waiting for us so off up the river we go. Again scaling some pretty mean looking rapids. The boatmen are quite skilled so we only get a little bit wet. We reach the waterfall trail. We hike in and it is amazing.

Once we get to the falls I discover there is no place to change into my bathing suit. I am wearing capri's and a tank top with a silky no sleeve top over it. I take off the silky top and wade into the water. It is a bit cold but not like back home. I try to swim to the falls but the force of the water coming down pushes me back. After the refreshing swim we go back down the trail. I get one of our fellow travelers to take a picture of Ann and I.

We then start our trip back. We stop by a raft made from bamboo. All of us decide to hop (crawl) on board and sit on the thick bamboo sticks. We have a leisurely ride on the unsinkable "HMS BILIBILI" a.k.a the HMS No Come Back. Explored the only way used by their ancestors before roads or motors were introduced. A reenactment of centuries old only means of transport down river. This is a smooth ride, no motors used.We drift down stream with our guide telling us about the history of village established by lone Englishman John Humphrey Danford, early 1800's.

We got back into the boat and motored downstream. We stop by the village to let one of our guides out. He had been collecting some sticks that he put in a cloth bag. The children are playing in the water and waving good bye to us.

The driver was waiting to take us back to our hotel. We decide to have a lovely cappuccino on the deck looking out over the water. We had an awesome day.

Monday December 1

Can't believe it is December when you look out and see palm trees and the temperature is like 85 degrees with humidity.
I guess I will get in the groove next week. Not sure how that is going to happen.
Jim went off to work and I went to have breakfast.
I decided to keep to the room today to work on the blog and also to keep out of the sun. I am going on the river trip tomorrow and want to be in good shape if it is really sunny.
It actually has rained for most of the day. Except during a break a little kid and his nanny were in the pool for a bit.
Again tried to rest this afternoon but the hotel is so noisy. I guess the people beside us was moving out. Not a place to rest.
Texted with Vicky, Tom and Jen. Skyped with Tim. Everyone doing ok. Can't wait till Mama's back.

Sunday Pacific Harbour Day

We were ready for the taxi man at 10. His name was Ram and we had a drive along the Queen's Highway. Mainly 2 lanes and they all drive crazier than we do back home.
Luckily it was sunny in Pacific Harbor. We visited the Arts Village and then off to the beach. We were at The Pearl which actually held that night a beauty pageant World Supermodel. Didn't see anything like that.
It was so nice to swim in the pacific ocean, it was warm compared to the Atlantic and the cottage.
Problem for me was getting burnt. Should have know better.

The Pearl Resort

Ram stopped at a road side and got us fresh coconuts so we could have fresh water. Yummy.
There is a picture of The Pearl Resort.
We sat over in shade (not me) and drank some Fiji bitters and Fiji Gold. What a lovely day at the beach.

Jim wading out into the water.

We laid down for a bit before going to have supper. I thought I heard a real deep engine sound. So I got up to look and there was right outside our door the largest catamaran in the world. It is called the Hemisphere.http://www.sy-hemisphere.com

 

Hemisphere

Somehow they came into the bay and I guess they couldn't really park there. So they turned around and headed back out to sea and parked behind Bat Island. Everyone was out on their balconies and out on the deck taking pictures of this behemoth. Excitement!
We then went to dinner where all the talk was of the catamaran. The Band was playing again so it was nice background music.
Came back and found an old movie "The Loser",  I have never seen this picture with Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari. What ever happened to them?  Cute but predictable.
Weekend done. Jim back to work tomorrow.

Saturday November 29

Saturday no sleeping in here. Too much noise where our particular room is situated. On the first floor right near the check in desk. We get up and go and have a lovely breakfast on the open patio. Later on we take a taxi to the Fiji Museum. I was there earlier in the week so got to see the gardens.It is raining cats and dogs and doesn't want to let up. Jim can't stroll around to take pictures. We get another taxi to take us to the MHCC place as we need a few things and want to walk around a bit. By the time we get to the downtown it has stopped raining so we are able to do our walk around not getting wet. Take him to Tapoo City and look at the stoves and such. There are so many clerks working the floor you have people saying Bula every few minutes and asking you if you need help. Not like where we come from and try and find someone to help you at the Bay.
We lug back our water and groceries in another taxi. By the time we are ready to go and eat there is a couple of guys playing guitars and singing. In the lobby are people who are part of a wedding party.The bride and groom are traditionally dressed Fijian style. We listen to the "band" for awhile before we go and eat. They sing contemporary songs and some Fijian. Nice to sit and relax.
I have the lovely fish curry again. Jim has the tandori chicken which is really good also.
Not much to watch on tv here. Thought about going to the movies but that is another taxi and that is at night. We understand that it is better to be indoors after sunset!
Did watch something for a little while.

Friday November 28

Anne and I meet for breakfast and to discuss our excursion. The Jewel of Fiji is recommended and it is a boat ride up the Navua River http://www.discoverfijitours.com/jewel_fiji.html
It is called the Awesome Foursome. We are to motor boat ride up the river, have a meet and greet with the tribal chief and visit a waterfall.
After sometime in the room we venture out to take a walk to the Lami Bay grocery stores. We find the MH grocery store and then walk a ways to the RB Patel grocery store. I buy another towel and a bathing suit which doesn't fit me. Do I return it or do I fix it at home?
We get back and again because it has been so hot and humid, back into the pool. I get a little bit red from the sun. Hoping to get a base.
Jim returns for a bit but has to return for the job at 10. We make plans to go to Pacific Harbor on Sunday. Someone at Vodafone recommends this taxi/tour driver that will take us there and then drive us back.

Thursday November 27

I decide today after having been in the dirty smelly city of Suva that I will stay in the room and catch up with the kids on Skype. Jen,Vicky and Chloe are there and we talk for a bit.
I check outside and it is quite nice so I decide to take a swim. I meet up with a woman from New Zealand who is here with her husband who is also working. She mentions about a sight seeing expedition next week. We plan to meet for breakfast Friday morning to discuss.

Wednesday November 26

Same routine, Jim leaves for work and I go and have my big breakfast. Today I decide to go to Domodar City. Supposedly has best grocery store for foreigners. It is called New World IGA,
It is quite farther than downtown Suva. Cab driver has to be paid extra. He drives like a maniac. There is no air conditioning and it is hot and humid again.
Domodar City is an outdoor 2 level plaza. IGA is on the downstairs and I grab a cart and start shopping. Fresh banana bread for Jim, gluten free crackers for me, sultana's and some more nuts.
I spy a suitcase that is about the right size for our extra's. 69.00 dollars Fijian, better price and just as good as the 139.00 one. I get it and am able to store my groceries in it while I walk around the mall. There is a movie house and a few other stores. Jack's of Fiji is there and I buy a few more gifts. Get a real Fiji shirt for Jim.
I feel I am done too early to get into another taxi so I go into another Gloria Jeans and have coffee and some of the nuts that I have bought and read the newspapers that I have bought. Air conditioned Ahhhh
Get in a rickety dirty cab. The young man tries to talk to me but I can't understand him and he has the windows open and the music on. Glad to get back and go for a swim. I meet Anne a woman from New Zealand we are able to chat and decide since our husbands are working we should go on an excursion.
Jim is late again so I nibble on fruit, nuts and I finally make some porridge which makes me feel better. Tummy was grinding!!!!