Port day today: Fiji. I was here 27 years ago with daughter Jeanette on our way back from Australia. We were checking out a business arrangement that we did enter into, but abandoned some years later. It was the hottest day of my life up until then, not much has changed it seems.
We four were booked on a ship's tour to sail to a private island and have a swimming, snorkelling beach day. We did just that and it was wonderful. The pictures will tell the tale I am sure. The Fijians on the boat, all 12 of them were happy and congenial, polite and respectful. It was a pleasure to be with them.
Jim, Gail and Fellette are snorkelers, I am not, but today I was. There was a group of three novice snorkelers and two strong Fijian boys with me/us. I had so many 'swimming noodles' on me I must have looked like a spaghetti mass, swimming. The snorkelers said it was a good day but they have been spoiled by spectacular snorkelling elsewhere, mainly Maui!
Soon it was lunch time and then some more relaxing and a swim or two and then it was time to head back to the sailing ship for the 3/4 hour run to our ship. We had a quick wander around the shops by the dock and back on board for a cool shower and a bit of a relax.
When we got to our cabin there was an invitation to a pre-dinner drink and dinner with the captain tomorrow night, February 6. He has every around-the-world passenger for dinner sometime during the cruise. He does them in batches of around 40?
Sister Moe had a long tour today, about five hours so she is a bit drained; good tour though. There is a bit of drama at her table. They have table for nine. One single woman there is known as 'The cougher' also a smoker. This has some of the people at the table somewhat nervous as two of the men have lung issues. Apparently some of the table want to change tables but Moe is getting off in a few days and does not want to offend the lady, naturally. How it will all end up nobody knows.
Bula is the Fijian word for Hello and it must be said with gusto, so much so that it sounds more like a threat than a greeting.
Pics: Fijian early sunrise from our deck; waiting to get off; on board and stifling hot by 9:30; the steerer; the island; our shelter on the left; Beach Babes; a cocoanut cracking exhibition, [good shot Doug]; the sailing ship and lastly the Traditional Fijian Policeman we all knew as kids.
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