19 7.360S 178 32.360W

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Fri 15 Nov 2013 14:29
8th NOVEMBER - 9TH NOVEMBER, 2013.
FULAGA, THE SOUTHERN MOST ISLAND OF THE LAU GROUP.

We passed through the past at 14.00 at a fairly slack tide with two knots under us just a few small standing waves as we kept a keen look out for the reefs and bombers.
Rested, swam and early supper before bed. The next morning we were approached by Aquila one of the fishermen and he said he would meet us at the village at 8.30 am so that we could present our Sevusevu to the Village chief and get permission to explore the inside of the lagoon, take photos etc. Jonathan wore his sulu and David his sarong, I wore a long full skirt. Having done the formalities we chatted and Simon who was the Chief asked where we had come from etc. We were then taken across to the school and met the headmistress so that we could give them crayons and pencils, rubbers and sharpeners for the school. They showed us around the school and dormitories where the young ones rested. I noticed a notice in the school office saying being a teacher one should respect the code of conduct and not demean a child in front of his fellow class mates and many other good points which might have been a good code for schools in the UK! Much of the architecture of the houses was more Tongan than Fijian with rounded ends to some of the houses. We saw a chap doing some wood carving so Jonathan bought a lovely Dolphin for me and David bought a turtle. We saw pandanas grass being woven into mats and handbags as well. We then visited Aquila's Mother who gave us a coconut to drink in the cool of her house. None of the houses really have furnishings you always sit on the pandanas mats and sleep on them as well, although now they do appear to have beds in some of them.
We were shown the church and invited to Sunday service this coming Sunday which we plan to go to, partly for the singing and to meet the villagers.
We hiked back to the bay where the yacht was then motored out to drop anchor off some of the coral motos in the lagoon. It was like anchoring in your own private swimming pool. We took the dingy over to a sand spit and explored the beach and limestone islands then snorkelled over a coral reef. One of the best reefs yet so many sorts of fish and turtles and lovely coral. David found a very large cowrie which he showed us and I photographed before putting it back as it had it's occupant inside still.
It is VERY calm and still here and just stunningly beautiful, very similar to the Tiomoto Islands instead of sandy islands these are tall coral uprisings full of vegetation.
We put Jonathan up the mast this morning to straighten the Windex and got him to take my camera up as well so when it is possible to download the photos I will do so.
We have been out of wifi contact now for 3 days as there is no mast here and Jonathan has not set up his irridium so that we can receive on the computer. Just hope all well with the family it's not good being out of contact, it feels uncomfortable for some reason.