We finally got some better weather to get ourselves out of the Savusavu harbour and up the coast.
First stop is outside the Jean Cousteau Resort. You know, the resort owned by an American that has never been owned by a Cousteau. We're up early to see where the dive boat is taking the divers who have paid mega bucks to dive in the 'special Cousteau dive spots'. We follow out at a discrete distance. Great dive!!!!
On the way up the coast Sascha spots a pod of……are they dolphins or are they whales???? Out come the books and……they are 'Pigmy Killer Whales'. While I'm on the bow taking photos I get a shout to say Daryl and Sascha and getting in with them. They were pretty timid which the book said is typical of their nature. They seemed curious but didn't like anyone getting too close.
We get up to Rainbow Reef, a well known dive site, get the guide all organized and….the weather packs up. We got a snorkel and a dive in (close to shore) before we needed to duck around the corner into a sheltered bay/creek. And here we have been for most of the week.
We have been in the good company of another cruising yacht, SaVahn, with Fiona and Clare aboard (from England).
One day we decided to catch the local ferry to Taveuni, an island about five miles away. Great service- the ferry pulls up along side our yacht and we climb across. We had a great day, stopping to pick up locals in the next bay and on across the strait. A taxi ute took us into Somosomo town and we asked the driver to recommend the best place for a curry lunch. A quick stop to stock up on veges and it was time to get back to the ferry. The upshot of Sascha's chat with Isimeli, a local who works on the ferry, was an invitation to visit Loa village. Not just an everyday visit – a visit the day the Fijian Prime Minister is coming for morning tea!!!!! What a privilege. Isimeli wants our day in his village to be the best day we have in Fiji. And it was.
We went in at 7.30am to see the 'lovo' being opened and they gave us a sample taste of the taro. Isimeli tells us that the kava that we took to the village chief as sevusevu (traditional gift giving) the day before has been powdered and is going to be used in the kava ceremony with the Prime Minister. Imagine that, the Prime Minister is to drink our kava – we do feel special. The day gave us a wonderful insight into the traditional lifestyle of a relatively isolated village. The 'meke' dancing done by the young adults was fantastic.
As a thank you from both yachts Clare made a video of the days events on DVD for them and we put 400 odd photos on a disc. Their school has a computer and printer so hopefully they can print some copies from there. A truly memorable experience.
We did a day trip to a neighbouring island, Kioa, inhabited by Polynesians originally from Tuvalu, north of Fiji. Their island got overcrowded and had poor soil, so in 1947 they purchased Kioa from the Fijians. They are known for there weaving. Cool Bananas now has some flash new tablemat, Sascha a new bag and SaVahn a gorgeous new mat.
As for the rest of the time –
Fiona and Clare are scrabble players, so I can pretend my brain has had a bit of a workout!!!!
Sascha is refining the art of scone making.
The ferry boys didn't complain about my fruit and nut loaf.
And the maintenance list has never been so short.
We have now explored the bay both by water and by foot, the weather has finally abated, we've set the alarm clocks for a dawn start and we're on the move once more.
Warm Wishes
Laurel, Daryl and Sascha.
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