Australia/New Zealand & Fiji Trip - Part 11

January 23rd (day 20) was set aside to relax and enjoy our beautiful beach resort.  We joined others in our group in the pool by the sea, and then Sam and I went exploring the interesting areas on both sides of our hotel property.

  We enjoyed our time in the pool with

some other members from our tour group.

However, Sam got a little too much sun on

his shoulders, back, and chest where he had not applied sunscreen.

I know the sunscreen works, as I had a very small spot

on my neck and arm that didn't get sunscreen; but fortunately it didn't burn.

The location of our Intercontinental Hotel

on Natadola Beach.

A more detailed map of this area.

 This is the pool by our back entrance to our room.

On the other side of the sliding glass doors of our large room

was an attached veranda with sofas and a tub.

Opening the privacy curtain on the veranda room

revealed a serene view with a short path to one of the outdoor pools,

shown in the above picture.

Returning to our hotel room.

A view of some of the lodging at the resort.

 Sam at the front entrance to our accommodations.

 Landscape at the Intercontinental Hotel.

 The foliage was lush and beautiful.

 

One of the entertainers at the resort.

(Narene and Sam)

The finale of the entertainment that is presented each evening.

The beautiful view at sunset.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 We saw some local workers enter the resort area

through a large gate in the wall surrounding the resort,

so we decided to see where the path would lead.

(Narene)

 We followed along the railroad tracks that we

learned had not been used for six years.

They led through a jungle-like area to a small village.

 

 We found it interesting that we had not been very far

before a native came running up offering to take us

to his village.  We told him we just wanted to take some photos.

He was friendly and visited with us as we walked along,

and he is the one who took this photo of us.

(Narene and Sam) 

When we then returned to the resort, we had to smile

when one of the ladies selling her jewelry at the resort

asked us how we had enjoyed the village.

The word surely got around! 

Enjoying the evening meal with friends

 we have met and enjoyed on this tour:

Craig and Diane Oberg

And Flint and Lisa Jacobsen

And Natalie Millington (missing Steve)

Day 20, our last one before flying home:

When we told Craig and Diane about our visit to the village the day before,

they wanted to go back with us and were interested in seeing the

local crafts that we were told were for sale there.

 (Diane and Craig Oberg)

 

 Natalie joined us on the walk to the village;

but she had to return to get packed to have her suitcase

ready to be picked up, as this was our last day at the resort.

(Narene, Diane Oberg, and Natalie Millington)

 Again, as yesterday, the villagers somehow knew we were

coming; and we were met by this friendly man,

who gave us a tour of his village and invited us to

sit down in his humble church where he provided information

and answered all questions we asked.

At the end of our informal tour,

we were invited to see the local jewelry and crafts

laid out on the floor in their meeting house.

 The village lali or drum.

 Cute children in the village.

A little shy, but we got some smiles.

Narene and Sam enjoying our last day at the resort.

We appreciated the opportunity to visit the little village

and have our private and friendly tour.

Diane and I did buy some jewelry from the locals.

We were told one necklace on an inexpensive chain

was a black pearl.  It appears to be one,

which is a featured gem from this area.

Black pearls we had been seeing were very expensive.

Of course, size and color affect the price;

but if ours are the real deal, we got a very good price.

I saw a black pearl ring for sale on our cruise ship 

that was surrounded by diamonds

for a price of $34,000!

Ours cost $10.00 (no diamonds).

 

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

After leaving the resort, we had a half-day tour of Nadi before going to the airport

for our late evening flight back home.

We had a tour of the Botanical Garden in Nadi,

which was pretty but very hot and humid;

and I appreciated the large umbrella they offered us.

The following photos were taken in the

Botanical Garden.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

We also had a short visit to the

Sri Siva Subramaniya temple.

It is a Hindu temple in Nadi, Fiji,

located at the end of the main road through Nadi.

It is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern hemisphere.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 We are enjoying being back home;

but unfortunately, we left the sunny beaches

to come home to our world covered with white snow.

Australia/New Zealand & Fiji Trip - Part 10

We flew from Auckland, New Zealand, to Fiji on January 20th (day 17) and checked into our nice accommodations at the Intercontinental Hotel located on Natadola Bay on Fiji's main island of Viti Levu.  "Protected by a reef to create an aqua-blue ocean-facing lagoon, Natadola Beach has been voted one of the best beaches in the world."  This was our last destination and a relaxing way to end our vacation.

Going down this path was a short walk to our accommodations.

The next day, some of our group elected to remain at the hotel and enjoy the beach,

but we went with members of our tour group who had opted for the 

Sigatoka River Safari.  

Sam and I are sitting by the driver in the front

in the jet boat.

The following are photos showing some of the scenery we saw on this adventure

enroute to the welcome we received at one of the villages lining the Sigatoka River.

 

A welcome wave by one the villagers as we got out of the jet boat

by the path leading up to her village.

Tour groups are careful to visit a different village each day 

to minimize the impact of tourism on the village lifestyle 

in this remote part of the world.

 The man in red was the one who greeted our group

and became our guide and leader.

A member of our tour group on the right was

the oldest in our group at age 83 and was designated by

the village to be "our chief" (Mandy's dad).

As a representative of our group, he was given a kava root 

to present to the village chief.

 Women in our group were given a sulu (sarong)

to wear to the kava ceremony.

Also, as part of the ceremony accepting us as friends,

these flowers were draped around our necks.

(Sam and Narene) 

 We were invited inside their meeting hut and seated on mats

with the village men on one side opposite the

men from our tour group (at the right).

The women from our group were seated at the side

opposite the door.

 

  Inside the community hall taking part in a kava ceremony.
The native chief position is inherited and goes to the next oldest son.

 The visiting men sit across from the local men,
and Glen Mantlo, (our visiting "chief") is in the one wearing sunglasses.


The ceremony begins as the villagers grind up the kava 

and strain it through a cloth bag into a large wooden bowl 

placed in the middle of the room.

It is offered to their chief (sitting at the right) and to "our chief," 

followed then by offering the cup to all the local men

and next to all the visiting men.

Sam was about the last man to be offered this drink.

After all the men had their turn drinking,

it was offered to the women, one by one.

After the first two ladies, I was the next one to be offered the Kava.
I took a very tiny taste.
To me it looked like muddy water and didn't taste any better.
Some of the women only pretended to taste it,
and some of our group passed it by altogther. 
We had been warned about drinking the water and eating
anything that was not cooked.
I must admit that I did have some diarrhea that
likely was related to the experience here with the kava and/or food,
but a few in our group got sick and were throwing up.    

The process of dipping the kava leaves into the

basin and squeezing out the liquid back into the basin

was repeated several times before it was ready.

During the process of offering each person a drink,

the cup was dipped back into the bowl for refills,
often times with kava still remaining in the cup
when the prior person did not drink all of it.

Here is information about kava:
"Once you drink, you will probably feel tingling and numbness in your tongue.
Kava is a very mild narcotic and is known to make people feel relaxed.
You are guaranteed to have a good night's sleep after a couple of high tides (full cups)
and you will wake up feeling well rested and energized."
Of course, with the tiniest taste I had, I did not have this reaction at all. 

Mandy and her "chief" dad after the ceremony.



We were guests of a traditional Fijian lunch.
(Lisa Jacobsen, Natalie and Steve Millington) 
  


Our Fijian lunch



The musicians provided the music for the dancing
and entertainment.



Sam and Craig dancing

Sam with another dance partner.
 

 
 Diane and Narene dancing



The people were very friendly and fun.
(Narene)



 Children watching the dancing
and the women at the back washing the dishes
after our meal.



 Singing their "goodbye."



 The women joining the men in singing "goodbye."



Craig and Diane Oberg
and Lisa and Flint Jacobsen



Wearing the powder put on our
cheeks after the ceremony.
(Sam and Narene) 



Mandy comparing her foot to our local guide's.

The next photos were taken in the village:

 

A former chief's grave.

We enjoyed seeing the cute children.

Sam checking out the small horse.

Getting ready to leave the village.
(Sam)

After the traditional Fijian singing and dancing, 
it was time to board the jet boat again for the return trip.

Our jet boat driver.

Before our return trip ended,
our driver had fun giving us repeated thrill spins
with everyone getting a good soaking. 


The next blog entry will feature our resort in Fiji
and an interesting adventure we had exploring a little village on our own.


* * * * * * * * * * *


Before closing this blog entry, I thought I would share the incident we had 
with the Fiji airlines.
  

We had been warned that carry-on luggage on Fiji Airlines had to weigh no more than 15 lbs., but many in our group were not prepared to have a carry-on small enough to fit into the small container used to check on the approved size.  The carry-on suitcases Sam and I had were almost empty to make the required weight limit, as were others in our group.  However, when Sam tried putting his in the box to check for the required size, it did not slip down inside even though the outside pockets were empty; so Sam removed it and literally stomped on his carry-on to make it fit.  My carry-on was slightly smaller than Sam's, but the wheels on mine kept it from fitting into the box; so I was told I had to pay the required $150 (Fiji money, or about $75 U.S.) for a second checked bag.  Since I was going to have to check it anyway, I added my jacket to my carry-on instead of carrying it on my arm.  When we took our luggage to check it in, our large luggage made the weight limit and both were accepted.  However, when they weighed my carry-on, the airline person said it was slightly overweight and wondered if I wanted to remove something to make the weight acceptable as a carry-on.  By removing my jacket, it was within the 15-pound limit; and I was allowed to take it as a carry-on with no penalty.  We felt lucky, because several others in our group had to check their carry-on luggage and pay the extra fee.