Drive around Fiji
Rogue
Alan and Noi not sure which is which
Mon 24 Aug 2009 02:04
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On a drive round the Eastern shore of Fiji which is
4 wheel drive only, single track dirt road for 90% of the way with very little
in the way of transport. The government, who are responsible for upkeep of the
roads have stopped the buses running because the roads are so bad. The only way
to get about is therefore shanks pony. We passed one pick up truck during 6
hours and 80 miles of driving:
We stopped along the way to give a guy a lift. He
was in the middle of nowhere and walking barefoot on a very rocky road. Turns
out that he is a Pastor and had walked to a village about 25 miles away to give
a sermon, or whatever it is that Pastors do. On the way to drop him off at his
home / church we met these guys and Noi proceeded to give the kids enough sweets
to rot all 10 teeth they had between them. Looks like the horse could have done
with some fattening up but the kids didn't seem inclined to share.
  The Pastor and his church. He lives in a tin shack
at the back of the church with almost no possessions but an astounding view.
This was the 3rd time that morning to be asked in to someone’s house for tea and
something to eat. We didn’t go in, not enough time as usual.
  Local fishing thing? You can see them all over the
island and everyone paddles about with a stick. I can not figure out why they
don't at least fashion a paddle. Life just isn't that fast around here I
suppose.
 Next lift was to a lady dressed in her Sunday best.
She is about 28 years old and had been told by her Mum to go and take care of
her brother until he could take care of himself and he had become less homesick.
The brother is 25 years old and had been sent from the Capital in Suva to teach
in the middle of the jungle as part of his teachers training. He had called home
the week before in tears, he didn't understand village life and I guess missed
his mum.
  As there is no bus service the school is boarding.
It is fee paying and one of the very few secondary schools available. The blokes
are not wearing dresses by the way, it is a Fijian type of sarong. The kids are
the elite of their village as villages can only afford to send their best to
secondary. They all smile but look homesick.
  Next is a pit stop back on the main
road.
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