Korotogo -San Diego 28th February.

A very long day, literally. Crossed the international date line today, which meant Tuesday lasted about 42 hours for me.

 Started off with a quiet day around the hotel, before heading off to catch an evening plane. Plane took off just before ten on Tuesday night and arrived in los Angeles twelve midday Tuesday, weird!

I have virtually had two Tuesdays.

 Went through the usual rigmorole of getting through US customs, two hours in a queue!!!!

 Then set off to pick up the hire car I had booked to take me down to San Diego. Never having driven an automatic, yet alone one with the steering wheel on the left and driving on the right had side of the road, led me to be a little anxious. But all fine, quite fun once I got used to it!

 Driving on a Californian freeway, with Californian state number plates and radio a California on the radio, well there's a first!

 Arrived at hostel, went for supplies in the store, ate dinner and now I am well and truly ready for
bed, knackered!

Korotogo -Around and about 27th February.

A little bit bored with all this lying about doing nothing!!!

 Employed Bill, yet again!

Firstly to a village that specialises in making pottery, demonstration in their work(and a push for me to buy something). Bought a tiny pottery turtle(no room in case for anything else).

Then Bill took me to see some rather large sand dunes, where there is a walk you of either 3k or 5k. I suggested the 5k, I don't think he was that happy with that idea, but he went along with my request.

 The sand dunes are so steep in parts the Fiji rugby team use them for training, I must admit they were pretty tough to walk up. Yet another beautiful secluded beach, sad how one can get used to these beautiful views and become a little blasé about them.

After the dune walk,  went for lunch, I sat in a restaurant on my own (very good curry), while Bill and the driver sat outside, weird!!!

Then to the 'most beautiful beach in Fiji'. Yes very beautiful, like all the others! Finally we went to visit a sort of Zoo, beautiful birds, parrots etc, and some rather amusing turtles that I fed Scraps of fish to.

 I have managed a 5k run for three evenings on the trot. Never run outside before, didn't realise it was so much harder than a treadmill, but beautiful oceanview helped the pain!!!

Korotogo -Vatukarasa 26th February.

Today Bill took me to his village of Vatukarasa, about five miles from my hotel. He had suggested that I go to the church service in the village, to hear the singing.

This village are Methodist, but there are also a lot of Catholics in Fiji. The service lasted two hours! It consisted of lots of songs and several very long and intense sermons. The sermons were not in English, but it was relatively easy to get the gist. Which seemed to be something along the lines of "Do the right thing, or your for it!!! " I asked Bill what was being said after the service and although he didn't exactly use my words, I don't think I was far wrong.

I was introduced to Bill's family and invited into the house he has built. His house consisted of three rooms and he told me there were ten family members living in the house. The house was fairly basic. It was obvious that there is not a great deal of money coming into this home or village.   Bill told me that it had taken him seven years to build his house, because he would only able to afford a few materials at a time.

After the church service I was then taken to meet the chief of the village, for the welcome ceremony, where I offer the Kava as a gift and he welcomes me to the village.

After the welcome ceremony a large meal was prepared, in a large straw hut. There must have been twenty or thirty, men women and children, apparently all related, at the meal.

Just before the meal was served the Kava ceremony took place. Kava is a root that is ground up, then put in a bag and drained through water until the water goes a milky colour. There were various chantings that went on while this process took place. Eventually the liquid is given out in a cup made from half a coconut shell and clapping ensues as participants are required to drink the liquid down in one go.

I was third to be offered my cup of Kava, quite  nervously I complied and drank it all down. It tasted little aromatic and not very pleasant. Apparently it has a similar affect as alcohol, I asked how much they might normally drink.  I suspect from their reactions it is generally a lot more than one cup. I stuck to one cup.

 Lunch was served on the floor, there was no table. Children first, women next and men in the final sitting. Lunch consisted on fish and a chicken stew, sweet potato, cassava and another root vegetable called taro. I was a little nervous of the whole process, but the lunch was tasty enough and there have been no ill effects(so far) of the Kava ( or the lunch).

Korotogo 25th February

Post script to yesterdays post. As I sat drinking my beer a local couple (Fijian and Australian)came into the bar for a drink. The manager of the hotel joined them followed by a English couple who live here and a Japanese man, also resident here. They invited me to join them. The manager supplied copious amounts of fizz, what a treat!!

 This morning went on a reef walk with Bill from my hotel,very interesting. He pointed out the blue starfish, Clams, Sea worms and Sea Cucumbers. The blue star fish look like a child's toy. I had seen one before,when snorkelling and thought how strange that a child's toy was on the sea bed!

 Bill also took me on a bicycle tour around the village. Apparently a famous Fijian rugby player (sevens) comes from the village and they have a big billboard up advertising the fact.  His name is Jasa Veremalua.

Bill has invited me to go to his village tomorrow, for a church service and to meet his family. Each village in Fiji has a chief and when a guest comes to the village they should bring a gift of Kava(a root used to make a drink). So off I went to town to get this rather strange looking gift and some sweets for the children of the village, as apparently that will also be expected. I went on the local bus again, this one had no windows or door, I suppose it reduces the need for air con.

While in the market, I bought cooked corn on the cob for my lunch, from a lady called Eleanor, who was selling her wears, accompanied by her small daughter.

Mana-Korotogo 24th February

Travelled from Mana to Korotogo on the main island of Vito Levu today.

 Met a nice couple from Albuquerque in the US, on the boat over, useful chat about driving in the US(as I am going to rent a car from Los Angeles to San Diego), this was helpful.

 More and more picturesque desert islands on the way!! One beautiful view after another!!!

 Checked in to yet another great little spot with a room overlooking the sea.

 Quite pleased to be on the main island, feels a little more involved with every day Fiji.

 Took a local bus into Sigatoka, bit of an experience, buses have no numbers and have to be flagged down in the road.

Sigatoka is a bustling market town, with a lively market, containing a vast array of vegetables, many unrecognisable to me.

 Decided to buy the makings of some supper, which includes one if the largest Avocados I've ever seen.

Back to hotel, where there is a happy hour, lasting an hour and a half! Decided a cold beer would be rather pleasant.