Labasa Bus

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 15 Jun 2015 22:47
Our Bus Trip to Labasa
 
 
 
 
IMG_3169  IMG_3171  IMG_3172
 
At a quarter to seven the rest of the Stealthy Six, to be called from here on in – the Stealthies, arrived at the side of Beez, dinghy tethered, we set about the ten minute walk to the bus station along the High Street. We were greeted by Arnand our driver, who after taking two pounds from each of us said all we had to do was pull on his frayed string attached to an old bicycle bell above his head, if we needed to stop to take pictures along the way. The locals concurred and all agreed they were in no rush and this was a very normal thing in their world. The half past seven bus pulled out at twenty to eight, air-conditioning was all the windows slid open.
 
 
Route
 
We were heading over the mountains from middle south to middle north of the island, leaving Savusavu with a population of seven thousand and thirty four for the capital city of the island – Labasa, pronounced Lambasa with twenty eight thousand, the Bollywood of Venua Levu.
 
 
IMG_3177  IMG_3179
 
Soon after leaving we passed the Police Station and on past a couple of posh houses........
 
 
IMG_3232
 
.............and traditional villages.......
 
 
IMG_3185  IMG_3191  IMG_3222
 
Out onto the ‘motorway’ where we saw many groups of schoolchildren walking barefoot to the start of their new week. The bus began its first steep climb, toward the top we all involuntarily wafted front and back in a Fred Flinstone movement, at the top we were met with quite a view of lush forest cloaked in morning mist.
 
 
IMG_3203
 
Over our right shoulder we had a view of the Bay.
 
 
IMG_3212  IMG_3214  IMG_3216
 
A couple of workers stopped to discuss what they were going to hack this morning. A group of college students.
 
 
IMG_3234
 
About the half-way mark we stopped at a junction and Arnand gave time for the orange sellers to wander the aisle.
 
 
IMG_3237  IMG_3238  IMG_3241
 
We stopped at a village well past its prime and later a pretty little temple.
 
 
IMG_3244  IMG_3242
 
Downward to the ‘dry’ side of the island the scenery changed and then turned to sugar plantations. This was the main trade of the area complete with rail line to take the cane the five kilometres to the nearest port.
 
 
IMG_0075  IMG_0079  IMG_0128
 
A few rickety bridges later, Labasa appeared and onto the High Street.
 
 
IMG_3249
 
Into the Bus Station. We had travelled eighty five kilometres at an average speed of twenty miles an hour from sea level to a highest elevation of five hundred and ninety eight metres. It was now twenty past ten and clearly it was time for a cup of tea.
 
 
IMG_3256
 
We were soon settled in a very popular cafe and just look at the prices – a cup of tea thirty pence, sausage and chips one pound thirty and whole chicken for the princely sum of two pounds and seventy pence.
 
 
IMG_0082  IMG_0084  IMG_0083
 
All the locals were so very welcoming and the waitress was with us in seconds. A two gallon kettle was seen swinging busily in the background and the hot cabinet was full of delicious looking curry, roti, ordinary chicken and the days special – beef stew. The boys tucked into meat pies that were a really good impression of a Cornish pasty. I had sponge cake, can’t really tell you what flavour it was but so light and moist.
 
 
IMG_3254
 
Maj had a roll with a hard-boiled egg beside it and gave us all a laugh when, on taking her first bite, the yolk quite unannounced popped out and bounced around on her plate. Mary delved in the Lonely Planet and announced we were off in search of the ni bokola – the head chopping stone and the bowl-like stone in which fresh human brain was placed to be savoured by the chief. Rightee-oo then, and off we went.
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL A MEMORABLE AT-VENTURE OVER THE HILLS
                     A GREAT WAY TO SEE THE ISLAND AND MEET THE LOCALS