Fiji - Day 3 - Sand Dunes

We had a relaxing start to our day - we actually were able to sleep in a bit - breakfast was not until 8 o'clock this morning.

After breakfast we headed off to Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, which was a short 45 minute drive from our resort.  We started our morning off with some stretching exercise to get ready for our hike.  Then off into the woods we went.

We stopped along the way to plant some trees to help with their reforestation project after many native plants and trees were wiped out of the area.  Everyone then named their tree and came up with some really good names.

Continuing on with our walk, we entered the Driodrio Forest, which in local Nadroga means darkness.  According to Fijian folklore, the ancestors of Boli Boli Village believed this forest to be a gateway to the spirit world and if a falling star was seen in this forest at night, they believed it foretold the death of an elder in the village.

At this point, the students had to make a decision on which hike they wished to do - the 2 hour 4.5 km hike or the 1 hour 1.5 km hike.  We continued hiking onward to our respective sand dunes where the kids were able to participate in the local fun of jumping off the sand dunes.  Lots of fun was had by all.

We then went down the other side of the dune for a beach walk - hiking in a local Fijian way - barefoot.  They students stopped along the beach to pick up driftwood to later make a tree-hugger.   However before that, they learned about teepees along the beach - which they used to protect the sand from blowing into the forest and also used as a resting place for local fisherman.

Back into the forest we went to make our tree-hugger,which is driftwood and vines made around a tree to save it from being cut down.  According to legend, 6 women formed a circle around a big tree to save it, only to have the machines come in and slice through the tree and the women together.  Now tree huggers are put up in honor of these women and to save the trees in the future.  After our tree-hugger was completed we continued our hike back to the starting point.

We washed off from our sandy adventure and had lunch.  After lunch we did some silk screening the traditional way with roots and nuts and also played some volleyball.

Then back to the resort to wash up and enjoy a little down time.  School visit tomorrow and moving on to our next resort in Fiji.   Kids are all doing great and having the time of their lives.

Fiji Day 2 - Fijian Time

After our breakfast this morning - we started toward the village of Nakavu.  En route, our day guides, Jonah and Ase, told us about the history of Fiji and about the government and the of the chief or "Ratu" in each village.  Ratus are not elected - it is a birthrite, much like a monarchy; however, each village has an elected official - that can make "suggestions" to the chief, but cannot make any demands.  Ratus traditionally are all men, but in the last 150 years or so, if the chief's family had no male heirs, then the first-born girl rose to be chief.  

In order to get to the village, we got to ride in longboats - which took about 30 minutes.  The scenery was spectacular.  The boys were excited today, because we learned about the Fijian tradition that men always come first and we needed a chief for our tribe - and ended up with "Ratu Caulen" - a role which he gladly accepted.  As chief - Caulen led his "tribe" into a native village and was the first to take part in the Kava ceremony, a traditional ceremony.  Before arriving - we learned all about kava and how it was prepared, by the women chewing the kava root and then mixing it in water to make a tea - that is then shared a cup at a time served in a bilo.  

After the kava we took a tour of the village and visited the primary school (grade 1-6) and also the preschool (ages 3-5).  Ratu Caulen presented the highest rank teacher our donation of school supplies.  We had the opportunity to take pictures with the older kids and the preschoolers performed for us and we got some pictures with them as well.  

Then it was back to the village meeting hall where we enjoyed lunch with some traditional Fijian foods, including Tarot root and tapioca and some local specialties of eggplant salad (which was more like fried eggplant) and also a spinach casserole.  After lunch some local men performed for us and taught us some dances.  A good time was had by all.  

From there, we were back in the long boats for a short ride further up the river to get a waterfall where we all had the opportunity to swim and jump off rocks from underneath the waterfall.  It seems like all the kids had a great time playing in the water. 

Back in the boats to the village for an afternoon tea with lemon tea and homemade donuts.  After which we had to say our goodbyes to our hosts for the day, get  back in the long boats and make our way back to Naviti for some free time and then dinner.  We are all looking forward to what tomorrow holds for us!  

Fiji - Day 1 - Bula Vinaka

 We finally arrived in Fiji after a long journey to get here.  The kids all were wondering what happened to June 27th as we crossed the International date line and it just disappeared on us, but rest assured we let them know that we would get July 17th twice!!!


Once off the plane, we hit the ground running and headed to the coral coast and the Naviti resort - our home for the next 3 days.  On the way there, we stopped at Jack's for water and Sulu's.  Most of the girls bought themselves a sulu for our village and school visit tomorrow.

Then it was off to Kula Eco Park where we learned about all Fijian Crested Iguanas and how they are trying to prevent their extinction.  Originally these iguanas were from of Monuriki (where the movie Castaway was filmed) and only 70 were left due to predators in the area.  They have successfully been these iguanas and they have released 30 back onto the island.  Have learning all about then, they had the opportunity to hold "Ben" and "Kevin" both Fijian Cresteds.  They also had a chance to hold a 9-month-old boa constrictor, and yes, even the leaders have fears to overcome. They also met "Charlie" a crested cockatoo who was used in the film Swiss Family Robinson and he enjoyed talking to the students to get peanuts.  The students had the opportunity to feed a peacock and saw many different indigenous birds including the Fijian National bird - Kula - which the park was named after.

Believe it or not - the students learned that money really does grow on trees - if you lived in Fiji before Queen Elizabeth II colonized Fiji and brought sugarcane and all the problems with rats and mongoose with it, not to mention bringing in the poisonous toads to help get rid of the rats.  The students were warned not to lick the "frogs" (actually the toads) because of the poison they secrete.



After saying good bye to our awesome eco-guide, Miti, we made our final leg to the resort for lunch and some much needed down time after traveling.  After lunch, the kids could swim, play volleyball, go to the gym, swim in the pool and got a coconut lesson from Sunni, one of our hosts.

We have just finished dinner and getting the kids down for night for some much needed sleep.  We have a full day planned for tomorrow.