Got to the marina this morning and our boat was pulling out on it's way to Taveuni without us!!! My fault though - forgot to change the time on the alarm to daylight savings time... grrr... So anyways, it's been pouring all day, so we headed to the gym for a bit and we're having a nice relaxing day at home before catching the 5pm boat this avo :) Even watched 'Once Were Warriors', a sad but interesting Maori movie I haven't seen for about 15 years. Also doing loads of craft and watching christmas movies with Tyla.
By the way, I'm still waiting for my 2pm farm ride to come and pick us up from last Tuesday! I wish I was on Fiji time like everyone else over here :)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Fijian People, Schools and Paradise
Tyla gave out her presents to her two favourite taxi drivers yesterday and they were both really glad to see her. Here is a picture of Tyla with Inoke (who drives the orange taxi).
She gave him a kangaroo holding a boomerang. Sake (who drives the aqua taxi) got a koala with an Aussie bandana... When we saw him later in the day he had his kangaroo hanging from the mirror in the taxi so Tyla was very happy with herself :)
On the way bag to the landing at Matei we passed the natural spring where we went swimming last time, and a couple of ladies from the village were washing their clothes there. They remembered Tyla so they were more than happy to pose for the photo she wanted to take of them. Ty's become quite the photographer! Very different ways of doing washing than back in Oz!
After grabbing an ice block at Bhula Bai, we sat at the landing waiting for the boat. Some people from a village in Qamea called Vuanicau (pronunced voo-ah-ni-tha-oo) arrived to go shopping. I got talking to them and it turns out they run a school of about 100 students over there. The principal has invited Tyla and I to come and watch their dress rehearsals next week - can't wait! It'll be great to experience the culture of another school on an even more remote island. Their school holds the licence held by Malcolm Forbes from when he built a school on Laucala back in the days when he owned the island. From all reports he was a god-like figure over here and did everything he could to help the local people (unlike the current owner). In the 2000 coup, the military invaded Laucala and the school was closed down. I'm pretty sure Mr Forbes had died before then but Im going to ask some people today to find out more about it. So anyways, Vuanicau Public School holds the old Forbes-Laucala school licence and relies on donations from the Fijian government to provide for their kids. I hope they're not holding their breath for funds because I'm pretty sure they'll be waiting a while for their current government to help them out?? I wish I could find out more about the current regime, but it's kind of like an unspoken topic over here. Apparently he has the Fijian's best interests at heart. I'd actually love to meet him and have a chat about it!
Apart from that, tomorrow morning we're heading down to the south end of Taveuni for a holiday at 'Paradise'. Can't wait!
She gave him a kangaroo holding a boomerang. Sake (who drives the aqua taxi) got a koala with an Aussie bandana... When we saw him later in the day he had his kangaroo hanging from the mirror in the taxi so Tyla was very happy with herself :)
On the way bag to the landing at Matei we passed the natural spring where we went swimming last time, and a couple of ladies from the village were washing their clothes there. They remembered Tyla so they were more than happy to pose for the photo she wanted to take of them. Ty's become quite the photographer! Very different ways of doing washing than back in Oz!
After grabbing an ice block at Bhula Bai, we sat at the landing waiting for the boat. Some people from a village in Qamea called Vuanicau (pronunced voo-ah-ni-tha-oo) arrived to go shopping. I got talking to them and it turns out they run a school of about 100 students over there. The principal has invited Tyla and I to come and watch their dress rehearsals next week - can't wait! It'll be great to experience the culture of another school on an even more remote island. Their school holds the licence held by Malcolm Forbes from when he built a school on Laucala back in the days when he owned the island. From all reports he was a god-like figure over here and did everything he could to help the local people (unlike the current owner). In the 2000 coup, the military invaded Laucala and the school was closed down. I'm pretty sure Mr Forbes had died before then but Im going to ask some people today to find out more about it. So anyways, Vuanicau Public School holds the old Forbes-Laucala school licence and relies on donations from the Fijian government to provide for their kids. I hope they're not holding their breath for funds because I'm pretty sure they'll be waiting a while for their current government to help them out?? I wish I could find out more about the current regime, but it's kind of like an unspoken topic over here. Apparently he has the Fijian's best interests at heart. I'd actually love to meet him and have a chat about it!
Apart from that, tomorrow morning we're heading down to the south end of Taveuni for a holiday at 'Paradise'. Can't wait!
Pencil Giving and Smiles
Yesterday was the day Tyla and I gave out all the pencils and things we've been collecting back in Australia for Naselesele Primary School. I've included a photo of it all :) 
The teachers were so amazed and grateful and offered us gifts of fruit to show their appreciation. We also gave them lots of printed photos from the school and a couple of meke's (traditional Fijian dances) that we attended last time we were here and they were overwhelmed. Apparently it costs $3 in Taveuni for 1 photo print! So to get about 200 prints was amazing for them.
The Head Teacher, Makarita, was in Suva yesterday doing a training course, so I haven't seen her yet but I'm sure we'll catch up next week. Next week is prize giving day so Kalera, Siiad and Maria (the teachers) said they will be able to give all the kids new pencils for next year, rather than just the 3 prize winners from each class. It's so amazing to think that some kids never have a new pencil to work with... we definitely take things for granted in Australia!!!
Tyla took this photo of some of the kids in her class. When our taxi arrived at the school, the kids ran over calling out Tyla's name! She jumped out and there were hugs all round - just like we never left! It was great to see everyone again and it's a great feeling to know that such a small gift of pencils, craft things and photos will make such a difference to a group of people.
So everyone, if you're reading this, donate something to your local school or some other people in need and you'll really get a buzz out of it. Every little bit helps!
The teachers were so amazed and grateful and offered us gifts of fruit to show their appreciation. We also gave them lots of printed photos from the school and a couple of meke's (traditional Fijian dances) that we attended last time we were here and they were overwhelmed. Apparently it costs $3 in Taveuni for 1 photo print! So to get about 200 prints was amazing for them.
The Head Teacher, Makarita, was in Suva yesterday doing a training course, so I haven't seen her yet but I'm sure we'll catch up next week. Next week is prize giving day so Kalera, Siiad and Maria (the teachers) said they will be able to give all the kids new pencils for next year, rather than just the 3 prize winners from each class. It's so amazing to think that some kids never have a new pencil to work with... we definitely take things for granted in Australia!!!
Tyla took this photo of some of the kids in her class. When our taxi arrived at the school, the kids ran over calling out Tyla's name! She jumped out and there were hugs all round - just like we never left! It was great to see everyone again and it's a great feeling to know that such a small gift of pencils, craft things and photos will make such a difference to a group of people.
So everyone, if you're reading this, donate something to your local school or some other people in need and you'll really get a buzz out of it. Every little bit helps!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Ika Vaka Lolo
Here is a pic of the awesome dish I had in Nadi the other night. Ika (fish), Vaka (Very), Lolo (Coconut Milk). In other words, fish cooked in lots of coconut milk. It has a sweet curry flavour and loads of yummy vegies - a traditional Fijian meal not to be missed! They usually serve it with cassava but I asked for hot chips instead (for Tyla).
Monday, November 23, 2009
Our trip, luggage and boat ride
Tyla and I arrived in Nadi safely and as usual, were the first through customs but then had to wait for our bags to come out on the carousel. Of course they were the last ones off!
Our trip to our hotel was fun. Our taxi had to drive along the sand and sometimes in the water to get to the Beachside Resort.
We had a nice night chatting to some other tourists and watching the porter double up as the guitarist and singer... and then he was there in the morning to check us out - talk about a jack of all trades!
Our bags were over the 15kg domestic limit (by 5kg each) so I showed them the pencils and craft things we have for Naselesele school and they gladly let us go through. Can't wait to take all the stuff we've collected over to the school!! We'll hopefully get over there by the end of this week.
Was great to see Ru waiting for us at the airport!
Luckily the boat was waiting for us at Qeleni, so we jumped on that, only to realise one of the 150 horsepower engines had flooded, so we were running on only one of them. Took us what seemed like forever to get to Qamea but just as we were approaching Matagi, another boat came and picked us up - was fun swapping boats in the middle of the ocean!
So here we are and loving it. Doing lots of swimming and even going to the gym.
I think the Fijians are really happy to see Tyla back. She brings a bit more life to the place! Suzanne from the farm is picking us up at 2pm this avo to take us to her house for Ty to play with the kids and maybe have a swim at the beach. Should be fun!
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