Fiji

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28.1.12

Sophie's shoulders were burnt so we stayed in the shade all morning reading on the hammocks. One of the workers then showed everyone how to peel a coconut and then crack the hard casing with your hands. I had a go of both and managed to crack the coconut first time and drink the water inside. He then scraped out all the coconut into a bowl added water then pupled it all together and drained it to make coconut milk. He then took some of the shredded coconut, added sugar and vanilla essence put it in the oven and made coconut lolly. It was really nice.

We had our lunch then the Bula fairwell song as we got back on the wooden boat to get back on the yellow catamaran to take us to our next island, Kuata Island. On arrival we were introduced to all the staff who were nice and had a brief intro of the island. We then went for an explore around the island where we found lots of volcanic rock formations in the sea and on the mountains. We had booked to go on a fishing trip when we arrive on the island so it was time to go on that. We boarded a small wooden boat with no seats and no fishing rods, only hand lines. The boat stopped in the middle of the sea, dropped anchor threw our bait over the side (which was a piece of fish) and waited and waited and waited... Sophie finally managed to get a bit but she paniced and threw the hand line to the floor, jumped back and screamed. By this point the fish had taken off with the bait. We were with an American couple who were filming a pilot for a documentary so we were getting filmed. It was called 'Dirt Cheap' so we might be on TV again soon! After a shower we went for tea which you could go back as many times as you wanted so we over ate.

We were then invited to join in on a 'Cava Session'. Cava is a Fijian tradition. We were taught how cava was made, where it comes from, how to drink it and cava etiquette. One person is chosen to set the pace of drinking. He has to say 'TAKI' whenever they want another round to begin. When receiving the drink you have to say Bula clap once, then drink it in one then clap 3 times after. The cava is a plant root which they crush down to a powder. They then put it in a cloth bag and ring it out in water like a big tea bag. You can drink as many as you want, normally more than 8 - it gives you a numb mouth and a very relaxed feeling. You drink it out of a polished half coconut. You either have a high tide or a low tide (full cup or half cup) I managed about 12 high tides and Sophie about 12 low tides. Between drinks you would sing along with the guitar (fiji and english songs) and dance along with a few of them. We were all sat on a verander with our legs crossed over looking the sea all night. Sophie went to make a bracelet out of shells and pearls with the other girls. We had a great night, swaying on the way back to our Bure and had a good nights sleep. M x

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