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March 2023

Fiji

A 15-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 6, 2023
    skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    St Joseph's Bay

    February 21, 2023 in New Caledonia

    St. Joseph's Bay at Île des Pins is sometimes called the Bay of Pirogues because there is a site where modern versions of the traditional outrigger canoes or pirogues are still being built. The 1st picture is of the pirogue I had a cruise on. The 2nd picture is another under sail. The 3rd picture looks across the bay.
    The cruise continues from St. Joseph Bay through the narrow channel into Upi Bay. Upi is often compared to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam (see another post). Like at Ha Long, there are many rock islets scattered throughout. The rest of these pictures are taken during the cruise on Upi Bay.
    You may occasionally notice the outrigger. The gentleman who sailed the pirogue also built the boat. Perhaps you can tell that it's handmade.
    You will notice in several of the pictures tall, columnar trees above the forest. These are the pines that the island is named for. They are endemic and unique. They are ancient survivors from the Triassic period.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Viti Levu, Fiji

    March 8, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The Republic of Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific that consists of more than 300 islands, only about 1/3 of which are inhabited. Viti Levu is the main Island. About 3/4 of the population of Fiji lives here, and the capital city, Suva, is here as well. The 2 main economic drivers are tourism and sugar cane.
    The 1st picture is along a coastline near where the 2nd picture was taken. You can get a sense of the clear water, sandy beaches and palm trees that this country is famous for.
    The 3rd picture is of Biausevu Waterfall, the largest in Fiji's Coral Coast region. It is a 3 km hike in, and worth every meter. The falls are 20 meters tall with the water falling into a pool that is a lovely swimming hole.
    The 4th and 5th pictures are 2 more examples of why Fiji is held in high regard by so many. It is a beautiful place.
    The 6th picture is taken from a boat of a river cruise through the mangroves on the way to Robinson Crusoe Island (see other posts). This is another side to Fiji, mangrove forests.
    The 7th picture is a quick photo during a drive by of the largest Hindu temple in Fiji. Most of the people here are Hindu, Christian or Muslim, living together amicably, I'm told.
    The 8th picture is the Namaka Public Market near Nadi. One of the things I really enjoy about the tropics is the year round fresh produce, especially the fruit. Markets like this plus roadside produce vendors make this really clear.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Tifajek Hot Spring and Mud Pool

    March 8, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Here I show off some extreme sunscreen, not an extreme tan (as if I could ever have had a good tan). Tifajek is a natural hot spring in an area of clay mud.
    The 1st 2 pictures are the 1st step of the visit: getting covered with mud from their mud pool. Step 1A is wandering around while the clay dries. After the clay dries, it's into the mud pool for the 1st rinse (pictures 3 & 4). That is followed by 2 thermal pools that are just right to relax and finish rinsing the clay (pictures 5 & 6). Then comes the massage, which really made for a good visit. I can say that my skin feels wonderful after the visit.
    The 7th picture is the actual hot spring that can cook an egg to hard boiled in almost no time. The last picture is of the staff singing a traditional Fijian farewell song called Isa Lei.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Natalau Village

    March 8, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Natalau is a small village in Fiji that works to introduce visitors to the traditions of Fiji. Visitors are welcomed with a kava ceremony. They say that kava is Fiji's national drink. Kava is made from the dried and powdered roots of the yaqona plant. It is mixed in water and served from a communal bowl.
    The next 2 pictures are on the green that is the center of the village. 2 tribes of the same clan live here, one on each side of the green.
    The 4th picture is the village's log drum or lali. It is pounded by the village chief to gather the village and to alert all to emergencies, such as fire.
    The 5th and 6th pictures are in the community hall where we were welcomed with the kava ceremony. The far wall, detailed in the 6th picture is a display of weapons with various uses and purposes from their days as a cannibalistic society.
    This could be a lousy transition or juxtaposition, but we were also treated to a wonderful lunch of traditional Fijian food, but I was too busy tucking in to think of taking a picture.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Robinson Crusoe Island

    March 8, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Robinson Crusoe Island, aka Likuri Island, is a small islet off Fiji's Coral Coast. The entire island is the resort. The focus here is the laid back atmosphere where they do an amazing job of demonstrating local culture plus lots of other island activities.
    The 1st picture is a distance shot that catches the palms, the sandy beach and some of the resort buildings in the trees to the left. Arrivals are met with the resort staff singing a traditional welcome (the 1st picture), followed by a welcoming kava ceremony (the 2nd picture).
    The next 3 pictures are at the lovo or the Fijian method of cooking in the earth. The fire is built around rocks that, when heated to red hot, are used to cook the feast (4th picture). The food is placed on the rocks and buried. When done, the food is uncovered as in the 5th picture. That was our dinner, and it was excellent. After the food is removed, several of the men on staff demonstrated fire walking, barefoot on the hot rocks that had cooked dinner (the 6th picture).
    The rest of the pictures are a few of what I took of their culture show. There were many dances, including sword, travel, fire, Polynesian and specifically Fijian dance. There was just so much that was stunning that I can't post it all. However, I am posting a video of their finale fire dance (see another post). This will give a sense of what was done.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Beachcomber Island

    March 12, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Beachcomber Island is a resort in the Mamanuca Islands off the coast of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. It is located in a marine sanctuary. The water is crystal clear; the tropical fish are numerous; and the coral is in pretty good shape.
    The 1st picture looks back across the main beach towards the complex of common area buildings. The 2nd picture is the opposite side of the island where the shore is rocky.
    The 3rd and 4th pictures are of the small memorial church within the resort. There was a service, but I didn't get to it.
    The 5th picture is their weather station, and the 6th picture is a small pool where they keep 3 sea turtles.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Kuata Island

    March 15, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Farther north from Viti Levu past the Mamanuca Islands (see Beachcomber post) are the Yasawa Islands. Kuata is one of them.
    The Barefoot Kuata resort is a spectacular place here. They are deeply involved in conservation, having set up a Marine Protected Area around the resort. This is in cooperation with the local community. There is a staff of marine biologists on site full time, some of whom area doing research for their PhDs.
    Much of what happens here is in the water, or I should say under the water. So I don't have pictures. I can say that I participated in harvesting broken coral and replanting it in an area where coral is being restored.
    I also snorkeled with sharks. Both black tip and white tip sharks put on a good show. Add lots of tropical fish and healthy coral, and it was a good morning. And a night snorkel for the 1st time.
    There is also an opportunity to dive with bull sharks, but I chose not to. This is related to the PhD research I mentioned.
    There are land based activities here, too, but with only 2 nights there just wasn't time.
    The 1st picture is the common area of the resort. The 2nd and 3rd pictures are along the beach.
    I almost never post pictures of accommodations, but this is like nothing I've seen. The 4th picture is where I stayed. The outdoor shower, toilet and sink are behind the doors beyond the bed and are screened. This picture is taken from the porch. Turn 180°, and you have the view in the 5th picture, private hammock and all.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelFiji

    Manta Island

    March 17, 2023 in Fiji ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Farther northeast from Kuata Island (see another post) in the Yasawa Island chain is Manta Island. This island is known for a natural channel where manta rays feed during certain months. Unfortunately not in March. Maybe in April, but not now. I can say that the coral here is in excellent condition and beautiful.
    The 1st 2 pictures are of the channel where the manta rays will come, one looking across and the other along the channel. The 3rd picture is one of several beaches here, all of which have abundant coral just off shore. Sadly, I still don't have an underwater camera.
    The 4th picture looks at the marine science center where the marine biologists work. Like at Kuata, there is research ongoing here, looking at coral, rays, and local fish species. And, like at Kuata, this is another marine protected area.
    The 5th picture is a walking trail that heads inland along the peninsula where this resort is located, and the 6th picture is is of a small stream that crosses the path.
    In the last picture, I get to introduce Bula, the resort parrot. She just walked up on my shoulder and tried to steal my glasses.    Read more

    Trip end
    March 20, 2023
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