Fiji Time

The Yasawa Island group, home to The Blue Lagoon of film fame, sight of the infamous mutiny on The Bounty and once home to the fierce cannibals that chased the mutineed Captain Bleigh all the way to Timor in a cannoe...what a location for the last major stop on our voyage! There are more legends packed into this group of small island than people.

Having resigned ourselves to the fact that we would be spending more cash than anywhere else on the trip, we headed straight to the top of the chain, Nacula Island. A high speed catamaran took us most of the way (5 hours) with a local boat shutteling us the last bit to the beach. What we found on arrival were friendly villagers shouting the ubiquitous "BULA!", a white sand beach, crystal clear waters and and an arrangement of traditional style bure's (or thatched roof huts), one of which would serve as the last of our lodgings. I'm not sure I could think of a better place to wind it all up.

All though there were various activities on offer (snorkelling in the famed blue lagoon), what we did most of was chill. A vacation from our travels and a treat for making it this far was really all we had in mind...all to the accompaniment of the ever present Fijian harmonies that float along on langiud breezes.

The Nabua Lodge, as our accomodations were named, was a project of the whole village as opposed to Western owned resorts on other islands. We really had a chance to interact quite a bit the locals and it must be said they were quite a bit more hospitable than had we arrived 100 years ago. From The Kava ceremony to Big Woo ceremonies, we did as the Fijians did. It must be said...these people got it right. With their unhurried pace of life (Fiji Time!) and their ever so laid back attitudes, the life of a Fiji Islander is one to envy.

When it was finally time to leave, it was with more than a twinge of sadness. This not just because we were at the end of our tour but because we felt a close connection to many of those that had been our gracious hosts.

We are back in Nadi as I write this, awaiting our flight to New Zealand. The finality of it all is setting in producing a whole range of emotions. I can't wait to see everyone but can't believe it's really almost over. It will be hard to unpack my pack for the last time.....at least untill the next trip! I'm sure I'll be able to sqeeze in a few more posts before I'm back State side so stay tuned for the final chapter.