Local knowledge

When you visit a place like Fiji, where people are so friendly and open, one of the benefits is that you learn things that aren't in the guidebooks. For example, we learned that the Indians (from India) that live here usually burn their dead and let the remaining bones wash into the ocean.

Beautiful fabric-covered graves near Yanuca Village.

The native Fijians bury their dead but as with many people in the South Pacific islands, the graves sit on their property if they live in a town (sometimes even in their front yards). We also found out that this is the first year that Fijians don't have to pay to send their kids to school. Because of the cost (to us nominal but out of reach of many Fijians), not all kids were able to attend school. At several of the islands we visited, the kids take a boat to school.

Rain stone in Vatusogusogu

The wind was intense and the sun made itself scarce for the last week and a half, but we enjoyed hanging out with the Fijians. Every village we have visited has been very friendly and welcoming. We got to spend Fiji Day in Yanuca, where Mark, Conrad and Meghan from Amelie IV participated in games with the other kids. Later that day, we attended a dance performance and got to show off our less-than-impressive dance moves. The Fijians seem to have inherited the same talent for music and dance that we have seen all over the South Pacific.

We were slowly making our way over the north side of Taveuni towards Vanua Levu and back to Savusavu when our mainsail ripped so we are now back in Savusavu. At least the sun is out and we're back to being Goldilocks (too cold, too hot).

Bite the bun, hon.