Ripple2
Tue 31 Oct 2006 03:46
Fiji.
The day before Dewali there was a party at the yacht club. The ladies were
supposed to dress up in saris for the occasion. We had seen beautiful
saris on the women in town. Annie found a really nice Indian outfit to
wear in a shop. But alas it was one size too small. So she improvised with
what she had. As it turned out she was the only woman to dress up for the
party! She got a lot of compliments. We had a great night talking to some
interesting people. One woman brought along fireworks that she set off
from the deck of the club next to the water. It was thrlling to be right
there when they were going off. I haven't been so close to fireworks
since I was a boy. The same lady (who is Australian) invited us to their
boat for a sunday roast. Yum.
The day of Dawali (sat) we took a long walk and saw people out and about
visiting, setting up their lights, and wearing their finest saris and
jewlery. Quite impressive. Ripple was moored right in front of the centre
of town so that night we had a great view as people let off their
fireworks all over town.
Sunday in Fiji (like most of the pacific) is church, church and more
church. It is common to go three times on the same day. We had always
wanted to go to church in the pacific islands as we had heard that the
singing is, well, divine. But due to the fact that Sunday morning is so
close to a late Saturday night, and they start early, we've never made it
to church yet. This could be our last chance.
The Methodist service (most likely the second of the day) started at 10
am. We could make that. Just. We did and the singing was indeed beautiful
and almost brought tears to our eyes. We had hoped to sit at the back and
not be noticed. Instead we were told to sit in the FRONT ROW (with nobody
in it but us). The service was not surprisingly in Fijian. After some
time and all of a sudden they were spaeking in English. To us! There were
a few words of special welcome for us. We blushed and smiled. Later in
the service they again spoke English and we were invited to stand at the
front and introduce ourselves!! This was getting big. I summoned up my
courage and we stood out in front and made a short speech.
With church over we visited our new friends and had a most enjoyable
Sunday arvo eating, drinking and chatting.
We left Savu Savu on the Tuesday agreeing that it was a good place to have
visited. The locals were very friendly, the town just the right size, nice
cafes and restaurants, internet, and protection from the wind and waves.
There had been no coup, yet.
The next week was taken up with traveling the 100 odd miles to the western
side of the big island of Viti Levu and the large town of Lautoka to get
supplies to see us through to Australia. But before departing for Oz we
had to make a pilgrimage to Musket Cove on the island if Malolo Lailai.