Last Big Milestone
Ripple2
Fri 20 Oct 2006 00:06
On the 400 mile sail from Tonga to Fiji we passed our last big milestone. The
international dateline, or 180 degrees longtitude. As mentioned in one of our
earlier blogs we changed day, to the same day as Australia when we arrived
in Tonga.
But Tonga lies east of the dateline at 174 degrees. They artificially bent
the
dateline east to include Tonga so that it is on the same day as it's nearest
neighbours Fiji, NZ and Australia.
I'm happy to report that the sail went well and without incident. It was a
good
fishing trip - we caught a 2 foot Blackfin Tuna, and a 3 foot Barracuda
(close up
shot of huge teeth coming soon). Both were very tasty. We have now caught 4
different species of fish and a total of 5 fish altogether (Tuna twice) in
over 8000
miles, good thing we weren't relying on fishing for our sustenance. To be
fair we
don't always fish and have lost more than we've landed.
The day before we left Vava'u we ran into 3 different couple we left
Panama at the
same time as, we had talked to each other on the radio each day and got
together
whenever we found ourselves in the same port. They are all heading for New
Zealand
so we had to say goodbye to them. Maybe we will see them again some day.
It was a
little sad and one more sign that our own trip is nearing it's end. It was
good
closure to actually say goodbye face to face.
We are anchored off the town of Savu Savu on the island of Vanua Levu in
Fiji. It's
nickname is Hidden Paradise and it is very beautiful. After the most
paperwork that
I have ever seen to check in a boat we went and had a great chinese meal
in the
sparsest chinese restaurant we have ever seen. Bare lightbulbs and not one
chinese
lantern or decoration to be seen. And strangely a TV going in the
background. It
made Beirut look like the Palace of Versailles. They did have nice
tableclothes
though. On the Tv was the PM of Fiji telling the people that "the army (of
Fiji)
poses no threat" and to "remain calm". If there's no threat why is he even
on TV.
The army issued an ultimatun to the govt to withdraw "unjust" bills or
resign.
Great, Fiji as on the verge of yet another coup d'etat.
We have just left Tonga, a nation in mourning after the death of it's King
and have
arrived in a country that could possibly be under martial law soon. We
have all the
luck.
On the bright side we have arrived just a few days before a big Hindu
holiday (49%
of Fijians are of Indian descent). Our usual pattern is to arrive a few
days AFTER a
big event. The holiday is called Diwali, also know as the festival of
lights. It
celebrates an ancient story of good over evil that brought back the light of
knowledge and truth to mankind. The Diwali illuminations brings supernatural
brightness and joy with the hope of finding light in darkness, achieving
knowledge
where there is inorance, and spreading love amidst hatred.
The holiday is a combination of our Christmas and New Year. It's a time of
gift
giving to family, friends and even business associates and to visit places of
relatives and friends. Homes and businesses are festooned with lights and
fireworks
are set off by everybody.
As I write this Diwali is tomorrow. A few firecrackers are already going off.
Ironically we won't be able to tell the difference between firecrackers
and gunfire
from a coup!
Stay tuned.