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
