Fiji Postscripts
Many of Fiji’s island are very remote and poor. They may not see outsiders for months and have no services. We visited one such location on the north end of the chain with only five families. We saw grass hut, open fires, no electricity, no school, and no medical facility. We met with the chief and left basics like salt, flour, biscuits, cooking fuel, pots and five large bag of cloths.
Fiji Postscripts
About Recreactional Drugs
Fiji like every society has a favourate recreational drug.
It is called Cava. It comes from the root of the Cava Shrub. It is a common house gift when visiting friends for dinner……….. like gifing a bottle of wine. The whole shrub is given wrapped in news paper. It is prepared by grinding the root and cooking it in hot water like tea but the effect is a cross between boozy and pot. At the closing night Lava it was prepared at the cew’s party and samples offered to adventureous guests. Fiji exports a lot of Cava to Germany but it is a baned substance in Nort America due to liver damage.
Friday 20th
Well our Fiji voyage is approaching it’s finally with a visit to Blue Lagoon Cruises private island Nanuyain located in the Yasawa Group. If you are a beach lover or water enthusiast this is place to spend the last day. Scuba, reef diving, fish feeding……no sharks, sun, a beautiful beach and a Lovo feast prepared in an underground oven. Oh yes the Capt. will even do a sunset wedding.
Thursday 19th
Today’s adventure is the Island of Rabi off the south eastern coast of Vanua Levu. Rabi doesn’t have a resort, a hotel, a restaurant or anything resembling tourism infrastructure. The islanders were displace to Rabi when phosphate mining began in 1900 on Ocean Island in the Gilberts and Ellis Islands Colony some 1600 miles away. We toured a local school of about 3000 K to 8 students. The students put on a spectacular native dance demonstration. Sugar cane is the big cash crop but it was copra but now many of the citizens live on the former coconut plantati0ons.
About Cruising in Fiji
Endless beauty, 364 islands, beautiful beaches, 1000 of anchorages, lots of navigational aids……..paradise……. but big isolation, not services, no charter boats and very little shipping traffic. Blue Lagoon Cruises is the only way to go and it is in style.
Wednesday 18th Feb
Today we visited Taveuni, the third largest island. It’s inhabitants were feared throughout the Fiji group as fierce warriors who relished the taste of human flesh. We visited the 180th meridian close to the town of Waiyevo before heading to Wiriki Catholic Mission, an orphanage and boarding school set on a hill over looking the Somosom Strait. The church was built in 1907 of stone and glass, the church with on pews has survived all hurricanes……….. “a miracle”.
This afternoon we visited Kioa Island. Since 1946, when it was purchased by the Ellis Islands, it has been the home to 300 Polynesians from Vaitupu Island who faced over population on their own home island. They have a form of self government with compulsorily civil service for age 16 to 49. Sixteen council elders act a judiciary and administrative leaders. All have schooling and health care in a clean orderly environment….…….unlike adjacent islands. The locals came out to meet the ship in outrigger canoes. We had a guided village tour and traditional Polynesian entertainment. Then local crafts………..placemats for all next Christmas!
About Fiji Time
Not only is this the home of the 180th time meridian but like the Caribbean has a form of “island time”. It is not just about being late…… it can be early or….. not at all. Example; yesterday we arrived on the beach at 10 am for the 9am swim only to find it was going to be the 11 am bus tour but no bus arrangements had been confirmed. After two hour and some rain all was cancelled and we returned to the ship for 11 am morning tea to be served 1pm lunch. Believe me it get better!
Tuesday 17th Feb
The next day we sailed to Levuka, nestled at the base of a steep bluff on Ovalau’s south-east coast. It is well off the beaten tourist track with weatherworn clapboard building, narrow streets and friendly residents. Ovalau was the original capital of Fiji until it was moved to the deep water port of Lautoka. We visited the first, post office, bank (Bank of New Zealand) and the first newspaper called what else but ………..The Fiji Times, founded in 1869. The stop was not complete without a visit to Ovalau Club, the local drinking club. There was a first Masonic Lodge 1879 but the locals sacked and burned it in the rebellion of 2003. Yes that is correct 2003. A force of 300 strong Methodists lead by their minister had identified it as the home of Devil.
About the Ship
The m/v Fiji Princess is a 200 foot cat and was built in France 1997 as a ferry. Her life as a ferry in France was a short one because the owner would not take delivery. She was not able to meet design speed specs of 25 knots. She ended up in the South Pacific due to a “fire sale”. Her displacement is 500 tons. The two 1000 HP MTU diesels let her cruising speed is 10.5 knots with a top speed of 18 knots. Fuel consumption is 80 gallons per hour. She has 34 double cabins with a great open air layout on the two upper deck. There is, of course, Sky Lounge deck
Monday 16th Feb
We boarded the m/v Fiji Princess and sailed to the island of Nananu for swimming and a beach party……or “high tea” to the locals. The local rum is an acquired taste and definitely not Mount Gay. This location is noted or it’s proximity to the last cannibal village of 1953. The first day on board ended with usual Captain’s complimentary champagne party compete with canapés on the Sky Deck.
Fiji Short History
Fiji is made up of 364 different islands of varying sizes. The two largest are Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. Our port of embarkation and the current capital is Lautoka and located on Viti Leuv. Fiji has a population of a little less the one million people. It is made up of two equally sized historically ethnic groups. The first came from Asia and the second from India.
Finally……after an uneventful flight we arrived in the Fiji Sunday at 6 AM.
The airport is located in the main city Nadi on Denarau Island.
We are spending one day at the Sheraton Resort which is spectacular property. It is located on a four mile beach and interconnected with three other major resorts. The other five MYC couples joining us on the Blue Lagoon Cruise are rendezvousing here today. Some have been travelling in Australia or New Zealand for the last few weeks.
Tomorrow we board the ship.
Hi,
It turns out we had some 747 damage on landing. Tires, brakes and under carriage.
The plan is now for an 11 PM departure from LA and a 3 AM arrival in Fiji.
But…….no real conviction on the part of the messenger.
Meanwhile we have great digs with free wine and food at the LAX Sheraton.
Plus wireless!
Bob Voyage,
Ann & AndyD
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009Hi,
Every trip has to have a good story. I hope this is it!
We left the snow shovels behind but.....
Our Pacific Air 747 had a failure of the fuel pump that transfers fuel from
wing to wing. It is used to balance load if there is an engine failure. It
happened an hour out of LA and we had to burn off fuel so we could land. It
was a long night. The landing was hard and complete with 10 fire trucks and
emergency equipment. They made us stay in a remote area while the brakes
cooled off, in case of fire. Net, net they treated us very well.
So we will try again today at 6 PM and arrive in Fiji 3 am Sunday.
Bon Voyage
Ann and AndyD
