Blogs from Fiji, Oceania - page 142

Hey there everyone!!!! Well i dont know where to start with the past week!! Its been eventful!!!! We lied to you....again.... last time!!!! We actually didnt do the cruise at all (cause of the rain) and just went straight to Robinson Crusoe Island which was the best decision we made!! The place was stunning... as usual.... but this island is renowned for fun!! And that it exactly what it was!! Arrived on Monday afternoon and got on the drink straight away ... couldn't resist the cocktails in the sun stereotype!!! After the kava ceremony (yes another one!!) we watched an outstanding Fijian dance show where all the locals join in and show Polynesian dancing, fire and machete juggling!! It was unbelievable!! We have photos on here for you to look at... and more to follow!! After ... read more

It seems Fiji doesn't like us, for today we are both a bit under the weather. Louisa is feeling ill today after being sick during the night, her stomach has taken the most damage, but as always the staff at the hostel are more than willing to help and offer to massage her stomach which gave some relief for a short while. I've sustained multiple (44 at last count) mozzie bites around both ankles and they are rather swollen, all from one evening without using the insect repellent. It's yet another very hot and humid day, and the local store is shut on Sunday so no cheap Fiji beer for me today, and I need one, so I buy an expensive one from the hostel. It is excellent beer btw. We need to get off the ... read more

Our next stop after the Gardens was the Viseisei Village, which is where the first Fijian people landed and established themselves. Our tour guide around the village was Eleanor, and even though our adventures have only just started it is going to take something special to top Eleanor's tour. Eleanor and 500 other Fijians still live in the original community on around 35 acres. Eleanor was very friendly and explained that her ancestors were thought to have come from South Africa. When they landed her people split up, some staying on the coast, and others making for the highlands. Her community is split into three distinct tribes; carpenter, fisherman and warrior tribes. Before we could progress on the tour we were taken to a small market of about 8 stalls, which was run by ladies of ... read more

From the village Rajendra took us to Lautoko City, and on the way he gave us some background on the history and culture of Fiji. A man by the name of Thomas Baker was the first missionary to Fiji, and he brought with him his Methodist faith. He proved to be a very kind and friendly man who was popular with the natives. Some of the locals however, believed that if they killed Thomas and ate his brain they would become as smart as him. So they did indeed kill him. Eleanor had spoken to us about cannibalism, and showed us the tools they used to kill people, and how they extracted the brain and eyeballs for consumption. I thought Eleanor had said that they don't do this anymore except for at barbeques, but I was ... read more

We are in Fiji! It is lovely here although it does seem to rain a lot - it did not stop for the first day. It does't really matter though as it is so hot. Laura says the sea is really warm, just like being in a bath! I did not go in as I did not want to get soggy! We have done lots of fun stuff including a great hike through the rainforest. When we came out of the trees we were really high up and we could see the river snaking below us with low lying mist hanging over the trees. I never realised that Fiji could look like this. Off to the Cook Islands next, what a hard life! Wonder what the lab are up to.... ... read more