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Published: September 10th 2010
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After two days of nothing but reading, walking the beach and the occasional swim, today I decided I should “do” something. One of the daily offered activities at the Beach House (where I’m staying) is to go on a Jungle Trek with Juta, a man who lives in the village just down the road. I met Juta the first day I arrived here and every day he’s been asking “Canada, are you going to come today?” He was pleased that this morning rather than lounging in one of the beach side hammocks, I had my walking shoes on and was ready to go.
There was one other couple on the trek with me - Molly and Jerry live on a small island off of Puerto Rico. The four of us set off, walking first up the tree lined hill that wraps around the resort’s property. At the top, we met up with the main road and followed it into the village of Navola. Juta knew everyone we passed - the children in the schoolyard, the woman giving her baby a bath, the men who rode by on a horse, the people who drove along the main road. We paused for
a moment at the bus stop and Juta told us about the village. In the centre of it stood a very large and very nice looking school - the area’s secondary school. In front of it hung a South Korean flag. Juta explained that the school was built by people in South Korea. He then asked if we knew why South Korea had built the school in that village of all places and said it was “by the grace of God”. Juta said that when the missionaries first came to Fiji, most native people resisted their message. But the people who lived there in that village welcomed them and they were the first who did so. Because the village’s ancestors had welcomed the missionaries and therefore God, they had been blessed with good fortune ever since.
We passed through the village, then into the mountains that were the backdrop. We passed over a small stream and then into the jungle. Along the path, Juta continually stopped us to point out different natural things and what they’re used for. The red clay that they make pots out of. The types of leaves used to weave all sorts of different household
objects. Bamboo that is used to build traditional homes. Plants that were good for everything from curing diarrhea to making babies. All of it, Juta explained again and again, was due to the grace of God.
He pointed out countless different plants and fruits used for food - and he’d tell us the recipes to make the dishes with. Molly and Jerry run a guest house so they were excited to learn of new recipes they could make with the plants that they recognized also grow on their island.
After about an hour’s walk, we reached our end destination of our trek - a waterfall. At it’s base was a pool that we jumped into for a swim. The water was cold - it took me a few minutes courage to get in - but after a long hot walk through the jungle, it felt incredible. We took turns climbing up the waterfall, getting our photos taken in it’s stream. I could’ve stayed in that pool all day. There is nothing more beautiful, refreshing and cleansing than swimming in the fresh water stream of a waterfall.
But we needed to head back in order to get lunch
before the kitchen closed. So back through the jungle we trekked. We stopped at the river stream to fill up waterbottles. The water is clean, cool and unbelievably fresh.
A side story about drinking water - when I first landed at the airport, I bought a water of Fiji drinking water, just like what is sold back home. At the resort where I’m staying, I was shown a rainwater collection tank that can be used for drinking water. I am all for drinking fresh water and not bottled. Coming from Canada where we have the greatest supply of fresh water in the world, I won’t buy bottled drinking water because it’s a waste of energy and needless amounts of plastic. However, when I travel, I know that bottled water is often a necessity. So when my bottled water was running out, I debated about whether to trust the collected rain water or buy another bottle. I decided to fill my bottle once and see how it tasted and how I felt afterwards. I finished off my purchased bottled water, filled the bottle with rainwater and immediately tasted it. It was exactly the same. Often you can taste a different
between bottled and collected water, but not here. It was unbelievably good. I’ve been refilling my bottle ever since.
When we reached Navola, rather than taking the road back, we cut down to the beach. The tide was out so we could walk along the ocean’s edge to the resort. Young boys from the village were out at low tide. Juta said they were collecting urchins and sea cucumbers - the urchins to use the meat at home and the cucumbers to sell; they’re high in demand in Asia.
At the resort, I had a nice lunch and then partook in the afternoon’s free activity. Another local man, named Mali, was demonstrating coconut leaf weaving. Working on the cruise ships, in many different ports I’ve seen the tourists eagerly buy hats and animals made from the palm leaves. But I haven’t seen anything being made in front of me. It’s incredible the things he can weave together so quickly. He tried to get me and a couple other travelers to make something ourselves. He had me finish off a bow - like what you put on the top of a present - and then a little box. I
was getting really frustrated trying to do the box. I just couldn’t get it. The teacher in me was frustrated by what seemed like Mali’s inability to teach. He was so good at what he did, but would only show, not explain. If I struggled, he would take it from me and just do it, rather than explain. It was a good lesson for me to remember next time I’m the teacher! After the box, we moved onto a bracelet which I caught onto really quickly. I have this feeling of certainty that I have woven something just like it before but not out of leaves . . . sometime when I was really young . . . but for the life of me I can’t remember what or where. It just seemed extremely familiar to me. I whipped up a couple bracelets and did a hat and then it was time for Mali to pack up for the afternoon. He said he’ll be back tomorrow - I want to try making a basket next.
Then it was back to my “routine” of reading and lounging in a hammock and strolling the beach. Nice way to end a great
day.
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swills82
Sarah Willett
LOVE the fresh water! Wish Honduras was like that! Sounds like you're having a wonderful trip!