Blogs from Vanua Levu, Fiji, Oceania

That's a good description of visiting traditional societies around the world. Vanuatu in the South Pacific falls into this category along with the remote Lau group of islands in Fiji. Next week we begin our sail to that region and to experience life as it was many hundreds of years ago and continues today. For anyone interested on this topic, Jared Diamond has written several books describing bands, chiefdoms etc and their ways of child rearing, caring for the elderly etc. it's a privilege to glimpse into the past like this. Meanwhile aboard Rewa we snorkel and dive to our hearts content, plan our routes, eat like royalty and have movie night each evening. Some don't quite see films to the end!!! The boat song sums up our adventures and mindset. Gonna put the world away ... read more

After Edith departed for New Zealand after a few days in Savusavu, we were joined by Anna and Tabby from Denmark who would join us for a five week cruise around the north Eastern corner of the Fijian islands. We'd met in Whangarei and they'd joined a power boat called Atlantis with Stadem from the U.S. S/V Atlantis pulled in after a couple of days and aboard were Ernst and Inge - friends from 2008/2009 when we met in Apia, Samoa. Diving at Viani Bay with Dophin Bay Divers who I dived with last year. Long talks with Rashid and Natalie about the wedding and the Dubai ceremony as I walked along the beach and celebrated by running into the sea and doing a silly dance - true Tigs fashion. I had a little cry too ... read more

Well so started the slow process of finding crew for the sail to Fiji. It is only 3 to 4 days with the wind from behind so should be a good sail. I placed adds in the 4 main cafes in Neiafu and most mornings did a short add over the Cursers Net. No responses so far. So on the 16t I went out sailing by myself. I headed out towards Tapana Is as I knew the Geoff and Jo where heading out that way. I came across them at Nuku Is, with their collection of day crew – five on a 27 foot yacht. Not a lot of space. It was funny to watch they all sitting in the tinny cockpit. After anchoring just north of Tapana Is I invited Geoff and his crew over ... read more

Hi all still here. Managing to get out each day for at least one snorkel. Have also done one of the nature walks for a few hours. last night went to a Mele night (I think that is correct) at a local resort. Great food. Also have some neighbours for the past couple of days in villa. There at only the two accommodation units here so is very quiet. Just thinking about what we are going to do today. May go into the township or for a walk, or for a snorkel, Terry has just said the tide is really low so we could just about walk out to the second reef without getting our feet wet. Might have to try that. ... read more

Yesterday we went into the township to get supplies for a couple of days. Thanks for the text from work, sorry I was not available for teaching much better things to do - see photos. In the afternoon we tried the swimming hole quiet amazing the first foot is warm then quite cold I think there is fresh water under the salt water which never drains. Then we went snorkelling - there is an unusual feature here were there is one shallow reef which almost dries at low tide and a second deep water reef so we went to the second reef to see what it was like. There was a bit of current but it was better than many dives I've been on - no photos from here yet. Today as it was high tide ... read more