raki-raki has more wind than me

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hi everyone,iiiiimmmmmmm back and with more wind behind me than i need.i came back from wailevu,where my late aunt used to live.i arrived there with this huge pit in my stomach and when we pulled up to the house i instant ly burst into tears.last time i was there it was over twenty years ago and i remember my aunt coming around the corner of her house to greet me with a huge smile.yes there are smiles bigger than my mouth!i look over on the yard as i compose my self and my uncle is on a small hill chopping off a goat's head and getting it ready for my lunch.poor goat,i said a grill cheese sandwich would have been fine.my uncle and i sat together for a long time and chatted about my aunt and we cryed together.i think being around my aunt's kids and husband gave me a sense of her.i went and sat by the river where the mango tree's branches sway into the water and thought of her and the last time we were here together.the next ady we went horse back riding to the mountains to find the waterfall where the prawns hide under rocks,but the water was too low.the horse must have known i was tourist cause when we were crossing the river it sat in the water and started to take a bath.i had to jump off fast and scadaddle out of the water.he neighed but it sounded like a snikker.my cousin made fresh roti's on open fire griddle and along with open fire cooking comes smoke.my eyes burned but the curry and roti was delicious.i also visited my childhood friend Bijju and fell in love with my old hood.although i could do without the pit toilet.my old house is beside Bijju and is occupied by native fijians is in ruins now.the tin is old and rotting and the yard which was once lush and green is now unkept.i stared at the house for hours and tried to bring back the old memeories of me as a child running around and riding on my grandpa's back.i was allowed to go into the house and look around and see the room i used to sleep in and that was weird.i saw the place where my grandpa used to keep the stalk of the banana and the place where my grandma and i used to sleep.i stayed at Bijju's for one night and promised to return to tour the village.well i must sign off and let u all get on with life.i hope the pic's come throuh..love u all,especially my beautiful family.love mom/veenesh

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Photos

bijju and vee
in the village with bijju.wierd being back.

me on the horse
at my aunts house going to the mountain for some prawns

veiw from the mountains
after a long ride to the top i took this picture of the water

sittin at aunts house
eating cocnuts

Comments

[anonymous]

How about a paragraph?
Hi Vee, I very much enjoyed your blog today. It was wonderful to hear what you saw and felt. The words combined with the imagery took me right to your aunt’s home and inside your head. For months we have talked about what you wanted to accomplish and see when you were in Fiji and it seems like you finally started to unwrap the onion -your history. As with onions the deeper you go, the more you may cry, but the richer the flavor and the sweeter the taste. {how do you like the metaphor?} I am very interested to hear more about your conversations with Biju. What has she been up to since you left? What was her time like without her father? how’s her husband (is he as awful as me and yes it is always about me…), is she happy? Tell me more “blog mistress” (thought you would like that label). Anyway, don’t stop, each day you look into your past and make your notes the more I smile. I am warm just thinking about your journey and thrilled that you are taking it. Enjoy the ride, I am. Lots of love and even more peace. Ray