Category Archives: Fiji

Adventure River Tubing and Mud Baths

Leave a reply

We take an adventure on the first day that Wayne arrives in Fiji.  Sure, he just flew for 24 hours, but why not?  We join some old friends Mani & Thomas (Scooter), Andreas (Pico) and new friends Olivia (Juniper), Holly (Gecko), Natasha (chef at Surf and Turf), and tour operators Sharon Wild and Sami.

We pile into a large 5-ton truck with benches and tarps over the cage siding.  Really loud and bumpy ride, but fun none the less.  The tubes followed in a separate truck.

The tarp was down so we could only see the view from the back.  What we could see was super lovely.

And it just kept getting better as we went up the mountain side.

We all grab our tubes and make our way to the Nagawaga River’s edge.  We were unsure as to whether or not we would be able to tube because it had been raining all day.  Sharon, our guide, said that we may have to abort due to rapids and debris.  But, lucky for us the river was perfect!  The river was super lazy and slow with very minor rapids in a few places.

Nagawaga Fresh water

It is a fresh water river that runs through the forest.  It is a wee bit chilly!

We had a great time goofing around.

At one point, we started a long train down the river (even across a few rapids and a corner in the river).

Everything was so lush and green!  We even saw a cow enjoying his lunch by the river.

We end with lunch on the river’s edge.

Several of us wore wet suits in preparation of the cold water.  I was super comfortable with what I wore even though I look like the Michelin Man in black.  Matt and Wayne only wore t-shirts and shorts – not sure how they did it!

Hot Springs and Mud Bath

Sharon, our guide, took us to a super cool hot spring / mud bath.  We all gingerly climbed in as it was pretty warm (jacuzzi warm).  As you moved around the muddy pool (which had clear water even though it looks brown), you find little pockets or holes where the heat rises from.  It gives you toasty toes.

The ladies give each other a super mud facial to cleanse our skin.

What a spectacular day we had tubing down the fresh water river through the forest.  The hot springs and mud bath were the toping on the day!

Events from this blog occurred in early July.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind actual events. We sail from Southern Lao to Savusavu in our last blog post. 

Sail: Fulanga-Taveuni-Savusavu

Leave a reply

Sugar Shack is in Fulanga which is in the southern Lao group.  Super fun place to be, but Wayne is coming to Fiji soon so we have to sail back North.  We head toward Komo, but quickly realize we have a great wind angle to go all the way to Taveuni.  There is a beautiful place called Paradise Taveuni Resort that we can stop at for a quick dinner before heading back out to sail toward Savusavu.

Trip Details

  • Total miles: 160nm
  • Passage time total: 22:35
  • Max Speed: 13.2
  • Average speed 6.9
  • Sea was huge and uncomfortable at 3-4 meters
  • Very sporty ride.

The resort is very cruiser friendly.  They provide (7) moorings for free for cruisers to stay with the hopes that we will patronize their resort. 

WE did not get to enjoy their pool or other services, but hopefully next time.

We arrived in time to have a late lunch with our friends on Sea Jay (they arrived shortly after us).  We

Sail: Taveuni (Paradise) to Savusavu

It was a really short visit, less than 12 hours, but we had to leave.  So, we pull off the mooring shortly after sunrise.

Trip Details

  • Total miles: 45nm
  • Passage time total: 6 hours
  • Max Speed: 13.7
  • Average speed 6.9
  • Sea was huge and uncomfortable at 3-4 meters (still)

We spend all of Friday and Saturday running around doing errands.  Not to bore you, but we hit (3) different grocery stores, (2) butchers, the bakery, liquor store, fresh market (produce and kava), fuel (gasoline), post office (buy toys for kids), Jack’s of Fiji (gift for Wayne’s bday), Digicel, and Vodafone.

Of course, I wanted to do my quarterly chores before Wayne arrived so I spent half the day cleaning all the stainless steel, oiling the exterior teak, cleaning the bathrooms and setting up Wayne’s room.

I’m exhausted before he gets here, but we are ready to entertain him for 3 weeks.  But we are ready…

We are invited to a lovo celebration in our last blog.  Events from this blog occurred in early July.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind actual events.

Lovo Birthday Celebration: Fulanga

Leave a reply

Our host family invited us to Sunday service at their church and then lunch at their house afterwards.  However, it turned out to be a huge lovo celebration!  

We left Sugar Shack at 0900 as it takes 15-20 minutes to dinghy to the closest landing near the village.  It is often a wet and bumpy ride.  Once we get to shore, we wade across the water to land where we drench ourselves in mosquito repellent.  Now we are ready for the 20-minute walk into town thru the lush surroundings and over a small dirt path.  We arrive with 5 minutes to spare where we drop off fresh baked banana muffins and homemade chocolate chip cookies for our hosts.

We are ushered to the church where all the cruisers seem to congregate in the back.  The village has about 90-100 people and there are at least 50-60 cruisers.  Even with all of these people, there is plenty of room in the airy and spacious church.

Fulanga Church

Fulanga Church

Above is Matt and I with our host family, Lucy and Nico along with photos of the church and some local children.  The entire service was in Fijian so we did not understand a single word.  However, one of the elders did speak to us in English as he welcomed us all to the village and to their church service.  He said they were honored we should share this time with them.

The singing was lovely and harmonious.  The only thing was a man was playing the triangle and I swear it pierced my brain.  Lucky for me, he fell asleep during the service and was not playing the entire time.

Lovo Birthday Celebration

After service, we were told that the entire village was preparing to celebrate one of the elder’s 70th birthday with a lovo celebration.  We would not be having lunch with our host family, but rather with the entire village. Most excellent.

The men prepared the lovo earlier that morning including 3 pigs, casava, taro root, and veggies.  The lovo has been cooking for nearly 4 hours.  They slowly uncover all the food bundles.

In the community hall, the women of the village, have laid out fabric in a large U shape.  On both sides of the fabric are plates.  Over the next hour the women prepare the food, unwrap the lovo items, cook the fish and finish setting the area for everyone.

Everyone forms groups and chats while we wait for the feast.  The kids are chatter and giggle while hosts share village life with their cruising families.

The Birthday Boy: 70 year old Elder

At the head of the hall is the place of honor for the birthday boy.  In Fiji, they only celebrate 3 birthdays.  Your first birthday, your 21st and your 70th.  You become an elder at the age of 65 (no matter your station).

Palm fronds are placed in the center of each fabric piece and then the food is placed on top of the fronds.  They served hundreds of fish, hundreds of pounds of casava and taro root, a spinach type dish and the 3 pigs.  I am liking this lovo a lot!

Somehow, Matt and I (and our friends Fred and Chris on Sea Jay) end up the main table in front of the birthday elder!  Lucky us!  We get first hand experience with the birthday boy and a few elders during the meal.

It is a bit awkward to get used to eating on the floor (while not showing your knees), and not using utensils (its all using your hands).  But we manage to fully enjoy the very tasty and delectable food.  There was tons and tons of food!  Lots left over which we hope is spread out and shared with the village families.  Sweet lovo celebration.

We discover the Cave of Bones in our last blog.  Events from this blog occurred in early July.  Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind actual events.