Wordless Wednesday....!

(You know me....had to get some of those Fijian babies to pose for me!!)



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Island Hopping Amid A Tsunami Alert!!! Say What???

On Friday, March 20th, we ventured onto a bus and 10 minutes later we arrived at the jetty where boats awaited for our trip down the Tuva River.  Our destination....Robinson Crusoe Island Fiji!!!  It was going to be a day of island hopping!!! :)  Ah....a day of sun, sand, ocean water and snorkeling!!  I was ready!!!

We boarded the boat and began making our way down the river while our guide, Latu Vakacegu, began to speak to us about the Tuva River and Robinson Crusoe Island.  Suddenly, she was being hailed over the "CB" radio and when she ended the conversation, Latu asked the captain of the boat to shut off the engine!!!  So here we are floating down the river slowly and Latu is again having a "CB" radio conversation.  Okay...so what's up (you could see that question on every face)??  Finally, Latu informs us there has been a tsunami alert put out for the island and we may have to return to the jetty.  Say What?????  You could have heard a pin drop on that boat!!!!  Kidding...nope she wasn't kidding.  Ten minutes later, the "CB" radio chirps again and Latu informs us we are good to go to the island....the engine revs up and we're off.  Talk about a group of nervous people!!  Latu assures everyone....while on the island she'll keep in close contact with her coworkers about the alert and we'll all be safe...just no wandering off alone.  Hey, you don't have to tell me twice...she'll be within my sights for sure (that's what I was thinking)!  No swimming, no snorkeling, no kayaks....not today.

Yep, that's Latu on the CB!!

After a 40 minute river cruise, Robinson Crusoe Island comes into our sights.  It was breathtaking..to say the least.  You could see white sand, white canopies, hammocks, palm trees...just awesome!!  As we disembarked...we're led to the hut area where drinks awaited us and Kava was being served to anyone wanting to partake.

Now, let me give you a little information about this beautiful island.  The sacred island of Likuri ,also known as Robinson Crusoe Island, has an amazing history which dates back 3,500 years to when the First Polynesians landed their huge outrigger canoes on the shores of the Fiji Islands.  Almost 500 years later, the next wave of people landed, these were the Melanesians. Today, the indigenous Fijians are descendants from a mix of the two cultures - Polynesians and Melanesians. Since those early days, Likuri Island was used for traditional ceremonies and chiefly gatherings. In fact, it was almost solely used for the chief's pleasure, a custom which was handed down from generation to generation. Only recently has the island been opened up for tourism, thanks to the High Chief - Ka Levu Tui Nadroga and the chiefly family.

Since we couldn't do any of the water activities, we had a coconut husking demonstration, a palm leaf weaving demonstration and a demonstration of how the islanders retrieve the meat from the brown coconuts (a piece of wood with a shell attached to the end or just a shell) and the coconut milk (they used the bark of the coconut tree, placed the coconut meat in there and squeezed out the juice).  Did you know the green coconuts (have no outer hairy covering) are the ones you drink coconut water from as soon as you pick it from the tree and chop off the top??  Yep...brown coconuts provide the meat and milk...green coconuts provide the water!  Goodness..the things I learn! LOL!!!  Then came the climbing of the coconut trees to harvest green coconuts for all to drink from.  Talk about an education...this educator received just that!!!

While all this is going on, the women on the island were preparing our lunch...a Lovo Feast.  The potatoes, fish and some chicken were cooked in the ground....called a lovo which is an earth oven —a fire made in a pit in the ground lined with heat-resistant stones.  When the stones are hot, food, wrapped in (banana) leaves or palm leaves, are placed in the pit, covered with soil and left to cook before being exhumed and eaten.  We watched them unearth the lovo and then several of the islanders (members of the Sawau Tribe of Beqa) did a "Fire Walk" on the coals that remained after the food was removed from the lovo!  Talk about amazing!!!  Our Lovo Feast consisted of:  Lovo cooked fish with miti, kokoda (marinated fish with onions, tomatoes and coconut milk), lovo potatoes and kumala, lovo pulusami (spinach with onion, tomato and coconut milk), oven roasted chicken and ham, coconut salad, rice salad, pasta salad, island slaw and baked bread.  It was a FEAST!!!  As we ate, we were serenaded by a traditional "Kavaholic Band"  (lol...that's what they call themselves) playing island guitars, singing and enjoying their Kava!!

The real treat came after the Lovo Feast....yep, there was a South Pacific and Fijian Dance Spectacular Show!!!  Fijian Warrior dances, traditional Polynesian, Melanesian and South Pacific dances, Knife dances and Fire dances!!!  It was totally spectacular!!!

After resting in the hammocks, walking around the island and just soaking Robinson Crusoe Island in...it was time to board the boat and head back along the river.  We waved good-bye and looked over our shoulders to view the island one more time.  Cruising along the river, I reflected on all I had seen, eaten, heard and learned while on that island.  How lucky I was to be a part of this adventure and to experience another culture.  I would not find this anywhere else in the world!!!  Spectacular....totally spectacular!!

P.S.  About that Tsunami....I checked the reports and here's what I found, oh my goodness!!!!!!!!
Fiji’s Coral Coast warned of more big waves

Friday, May 20, 2011

Taken from / By: Google

Residents along the Coral Coast can expect more tidal-like waves to hit the coastline this evening as well as tomorrow morning.
Duty forecaster Raneil Prasad told FBC News the waves that hit the area this morning were a result of heavy swells caused by a high pressure system to the far south of Fiji.
He says while a high pressure normally brings fine weather, its southerly winds picked up waves that developed into high swells by the time it reached Fiji.
Prasad adds the high swells coupled with the high tide caused the waves to burst over land this morning and the same can be expected at high tide tonight.
“You can expect the waves to pass unimpeded and damage some coastline. You can expect water to pass over land at 9pm today. So if you can just move to higher ground and secure your belongings.”
Prasad says the heavy swells will start diminishing tomorrow.

Jet Boats and A Lump In My Throat!

The Sigatoka River is the longest river on the island of Viti Levu, running from the hills of the Navosa Province right down to the sand dunes in Kulukulu, on the famous Coral Coast.  Harley Man and I had the opportunity to travel by jet boat down this river to visit a Fijian village.  The river ride provided a spectacular view of the mountains and valley area.  During our boat ride we learned the river provides locals with fresh water mussels (kai), fish, prawns, eels, water for agriculture and for drinking. 

The river was used as the only means of transport from the coast to the interior right up until the late 1950's. The travel time for many villagers from Navosa in those days was 3 days down alone, with the return journey being even longer.

Our captain for the ride was Josh Ratukuna, aka Captain Jack Sparrow!!  His knowledge of the area was amazing and as we travelled along the river he would stop the boat and provide information about the landscape, the people and life along the river.  After a 20 minute ride down the Sigatoka River, we arrived at our destination.  Climbing up a steep, muddy bank and then walking down a dirt road, we were greeted by the villagers of the Naveyago Village.  Before we could enter the village, all the women had to don a "sulu" (a cloth that is tied around the waist to cover your legs) so as not to offend the villagers.  Women are not to be exposed in Fijian villages.  

At the main village house or community center we were asked to remove our shoes and come inside for a traditional Kava Ceremony a ritualistic and proper welcoming.  Sitting crossed legged on the floor, our guide explained the Kava ceremony; Bob (one of our group members) was elected our Chief Representative.  The traditional offering  of a kilo of Kava, called a Savusavu, was presented to the village Chief.  Each guests was given a bowl of kava which tastes earthy and watery.  The women were then given leis to wear and we all had white powder applied to our cheeks to symbolize peace.

We toured the village, seeing the church and houses of the village.  The villagers prepared a lunch for us, so we entered one of the homes and as part of the ceremony, lunch was spread out on the floor on cloths.  Lunch consisted of chicken, curry potato, egg and noodles, small cabbage salad, flat Indian bread called Roti, fruit and sweet cakes.  It was washed down with the local drink of water, orange juice and sugar.

Before I knew it... we were singing and dancing to traditional Fijian music with the village men, women and children.  The Fijian people love to show and share their culture with the outside world; their form of entertainment.  On a hot and humid day, the dancing was quite a workout!

We then said our goodbyes to the villagers and a lump formed in my throat as I realized what a privilege it was to be surrounded by such a gracious group of men, women and children.  They opened their village and homes to a group of strangers and showed all of us what having "heart" is really about!
Talk about an experience of a lifetime....I was humbled by the warmth and graciousness of these Fijian villagers!!!  They made a lasting impression on me...for sure!!!

Our guide and the village spokesman and several villagers escorted us back to the jet boat and watched as we boarded safely.  With final waves from everyone, Captain Jack revved up the engine and the jet boat’s speed gave us a welcome breeze as we skimmed and maneuvered across the river water returning us to our bus.

Magnificent.....it was just magnificent!!!