At Sea & Fiji February 16 - 17

We skipped February 15 and spent February 16 at sea on our way to Fiji and Port Denarau.
The ship slipped by the 180 parallel of latitude placing us in the Eastern Hemisphere.  The weather continues to be warm and sunny as the ship sails through calm waters. 

Our day at sea is our usual routine.  Exercise, lecture and music.  The lecture was all about piracy and filled with stories.  Really good – argh!  There was also a movie –   “March of the Penguins.”  Luc Jacquet introduced the film and answered questions afterwards.  The evening music was Alwyn Wright.  Alwyn is a quite famous violinist from the USA who plays in a very contemporary style.  She has played back-up on albums and in tour with Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart to name a few.  And she did a nice rendition of the Charlie Daniels hit – Fire on the Mountain.  Alwyn’s husband David Daniels, an accomplished and recorded pianist, served as her accompanist. 

Early this morning we sailed into Port Denarau on Fiji’s West Coast – Latitude 17 45 South, Longitude 177 22 East.  Denarau Island is a man-made island off the west coast of Viti Levu, Fiji in Koro Sea.  This island created about 15-20 years ago and turned into a South Pacific tourist Mecca, complete with five resorts, a golf course, a large tourist-oriented shopping and dining area, and large condominiums and homes owned by people like Mel Gibson and, until recently, Brittany Spears.  Who said they weren’t making land anymore?

Preparing the Fire

We take the ship’s tender to this day’s tour, the highlight of which is a traditional Fijian firewalking demonstration and folkloric show at one of the island resorts.  The firewalking is performed by men from the only tribe on Fiji that is said to have mastered this art form.  After a brief ceremony to brush away the burning logs and prepare the resultant large, hot stones, five or so svelte men in traditional garb take turns slowly walking across the stones and hamming it up for the cameras.  It is truly amazing to see these people burn their feet.  The folkloric show, presented by ten-or-so men and women was fun and entertaining.  The men performed what appeared to be war chants, alternating with the women who performed more traditional undulating Polynesian-style dances.  The music for the dancing was alternatively provided by the dancers, men for women and women for men. The final number, a Fijian farewell song, was beautifully harmonized by all the singer/dancers.

Walking on the hot fire

Woman Dancers

After the show, we load up on the bus for a brief tour of the town of Nadi and a thirty-minute curio stop, after which we are returned to the beginning point near the tender dock.  What do we find there?  You guessed it - more shopping.  The big surprise though wasn’t the curio and resort-clothing shops, but a Bone Fish Restaurant, very similar to those found in the US.  At least we are now represented outside the US by something other than McDonalds, Hard Rock Café and KFC!

Hindu Temple

We could describe all kinds of history about Fiji -- we will spare those reading this blog.  Here’s some words that apply to Fiji from which you can build some stories:  Melanesia, cannibals, missionaries, Abel Tasman, Captain Cook, Captain Bligh, kava drink, Fiji water, tapioca, sugar cane, volcanoes, tropical beaches, “Castaway” with Tom Hanks, Vijay Singh, honeymooners, Raintree Trees, village chiefs, men in skirts and military government.

Fiji

After the hot day on-shore we rejoin the Queen for air conditioning and dinner.  The sail away is at 5:45 pm and then we are at sea for two days.  The ship will be making its way to the next port, Auckland, New Zealand.

And Fiji water does come from Fiji - I bought a bottle.