Dravuni Island, Fiji

i

On Monday, February 13^th we arrived inside the Great Astrolabe Reef which surrounds the islands in the Kadavu Group which are part of Fiji.  The area has some of the most beautiful water in the world.  As we dropped anchor, we could see Dravuni Island, one of the Pacific’s most unspoiled destinations.  It has one of the smallest populations in the Fijian islands, less than 200 people live there.  Crystal clear waters and a breathtaking secluded beach make Dravuni Island as close to a deserted island as you may every get.

We tendered from the ship to shore in some rather rough water.  It had been so rough the previous evening, that the floating pier at the island had been broken.  The Captain sent an engineering party ashore ahead of us to repair the pier.  To our surprise we were greeted ashore by some of the local tribesmen.  Just a few hundred feet from the shore was the Meeting House for the village council.  It is an open sided thatched roof structure with a woven matt covering the floor.  There we met the Chief and some of his Council.  These structures are found throughout the South Pacific in each and every village.

As we walked through the very small village we were greeted with Bula Bula (Welcome) from the local villagers.   All of these people were friendly and each wanted to know where we were from.  We spent considerable time talking with many of them.  One happened to be the local minister.  He explained that they ate bread fruit, coconut, mango, taro roof, fish, and some chicken and pork.  As we continued walking the village we had the opportunity to look inside many of the homes.  Most don’t have screened windows.  All of the homes collect rain water in large tanks for drinking. 

During our walk along the beach area, several passengers reported being stung by jelly fish.  None of them was seriously injured since the jelly fish were very small.

We departed Dravuni Island at 6:00pm traveling west to avoid Cyclone Jasmine that was headed to our original destination, Tonga.  Due to the cyclone, this port call we canceled.  Next stop is Bay of Islands, New Zealand on Friday, February 17^th.

Pago Pago, American Samoa

On Friday, February 10^th we made our approach to the harbor at Pago Pago, American Samoa.  The Samoan Island chain lies in the center of the South Pacific about 2300 miles southwest of Honolulu.  The island is the only American Territory in the Southern Hemisphere.  The harbor is surrounded by lush volcanic mountains and is a processing center for Starkist Tuna

.

Once we were secured alongside the pier at Pago Pago, we made our way into the small town of Fagatogo.  On our list was to check out the open air market; find some Internet access, and just see how much the town had changed since our last visit which was one week after the 2009 Tsunami.  As we walked into town, we saw plenty of the local buses lined up to take passenger around the island.  They always decorate the buses with plenty of palms and flowers.  The buses are not air conditioned and only have padded bench type seating.

 

We weren’t the only passengers seeking Internet access.  The local Internet Café was full of passengers attempting to get online.  It was extremely slow using this café because too many people were attempting to use one connection.  After about 30 minutes we gave up and proceeded down the road to the market.  The market was full of vendors selling coconuts, fruits, roots, and local fruit beverages.  Also in the market were clothing and souvenir vendors.  We did stop by one of the small restaurants in the market where the cook was deep frying some great smelling chicken. 

Our next stop was the local general store.  We always go to this store because of it being so unique.  It has virtually anything you might need.  Everything from rubber boots to laptop cases and all the food traveling bus passenger might need.  The bus station is just outside its main door.  They have a full stock of school clothing for each of the local schools.  Basically the school boys wear the traditional bright knee-length wraparound skirts called Lava Lava.  The girls were white blouses and skirts with their school color.

In American Samoa, the beaches are not open to public access, rather each is privately held and some charge a small fee to use them. 

We departed Pago Pago at around around 5:00pm for our next stop Dravuni Island, Fiji.

Tropical Cyclone Jasmine

The Captain just sent everyone a letter officially announcing the change in itinerary.  We will now be at sea on Feb 14, 15, and 16.  Will arrive at Bay of Islands, New Zealand on the 17th and and arrive in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb 18th at 8:00am.

Diverting

This morning we arrived at the beautiful Dravuni Island, Fiji.  Only a couple hundred people on the island.  We went ashore and walked the beautiful beaches.  Will post photos when we get time to go through all of them.

The ship's Captain has advised us that we will not be going to Nuku' Alofa, Tonga because of a tropical cyclone which in in our path.  Instead we will divert to some location in New Zealand.  When we leave here at 5:30pm we will be at sea for the next 3 days.

Hopefully, during these upcoming sea days, we can catch up on writing and posting photos.