Volcanic Taveuni Island is number three in size in the Fiji nation and known as the "garden island". The highest mountain is Uluinggalau (1241m) and its main village is Somosomo on the west coast, but we visited Waitabu on the east coast. The strict modesty and respect dress code for Fijian villages applied, but these residents were well prepared for us infidels, and donated a sarong to each of us who needed one. (The sarongs could be donated back at the end of the visit if you didn't want to keep them.) This process was a little messy because it all took place on a tiny beach as we disembarked the Zodiacs at the same time as we needed to take off and stow our life jackets and board the mini buses.
For afar, the Taveuni skyline is characterised by exceptionally tall coconut trees on the ridge. [4391]
We were transported to Waitabu village and Tavoro waterfall on these two buses, which held the entire compliment of the Orion's passengers. [4398]
The landing place on Taveuni for Waitabu village was a rather inauspicious, tiny, muddy beach. This is where we donned knee-covering sarongs and boarded the buses. The life-jackets are left in bins. [4401]
Elaborate fireplace attached to a Taveuni village house. [4411]
Waitubu was maybe 5km from our landing place. The welcome there was astounding. The sun was relentless, but the townspeople had constructed a shelter for us only the day before, so we heard, and would pull it down again tomorrow. A formal kava ceremony took place where Expedition Leader Karla and about 6 dignitaries from the Orion squatted on a tarp on the grass were officially welcomed. Each of them skulled 2 full cups of the hallucigenic beverage. Luckily, for the rest of us, under the shelter, kava was optional. We enjoyed dancing by school-girls and a war-like dance by the young boys. And afterwards, we were treated to a feast of local foods, all collected and prepared by the ladies of Waitubu. We handed out Aussie kangaroo badges to the children which we very well appreciated.
Children waiting in the shade of a large tree, awaiting their cue to perform for us visitors. [4414]
Part of an elaborate kava ceremony, an established protocol for welcoming strangers to a village. [4424]
The Waitabu village boys perform in what appears to be a parody of a hostile reception. [4438]
Threatening gesture by one of the boys in the welcome ceremony. [4441]
The girls' part of the ceremony was more graceful and genuinely welcoming. [4450]
With legs kicking wildly in the air, these boys suggest what will happen to visitors of unfriendly intent. [4452]
These boys were happy recipients of kangaroo badges. [4458]
This boy was sitting on the beach with his dog. Maybe he was tired of the attentions of two bus-fulls of fairskinned foreigners? [4466]
This girl had beautiful white teeth, but try as I might, she wouldn't show them for the photograph. [4471]
Boys and a boat, the quiet lagoon protected by a fringing reef. [4473]
Another few km from the village is Bouma National Heritage Park and a short walk up a valley took us up to Tavoro waterfall. A swim in the deliciously cool and deep pool at the bottom of the falls was welcomed by all of us as a relief from the heat of the village. Souvenirs sold at the park office were popular with our co-expeditioners.
A house with a view! Overlooking the valley of the Tavoro waterfall. [4483]
The Tavoro waterfall in Bouma National Heritage Park on Taveuini provided welcome relief from the opressively hot conditions. [0619]
The brave amongst us swam under the waterfall, and jumped into the pool from rock ledges. Local village boys showed us the safe spots. [0630]
Then back to the bus, the Zodiacs and the Orion, and then we set sail out of Fijian waters.
Solar cells provide reliable electricity in this village where foliage is being dried in the sun for handicrafts and weaving. [4495]
This Lightroom photomap shows the places we visited in Fiji.
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