PORTRAIT OF AN AGING HITCH HIKER

Here is a picture taken during a hitched ride to the waterfall on Taveuni. I'm in the back of a van, sitting on a battery box and having my back, kidneys and knee crunched on every bump. All eleven million of them.

Oh well, hitch hikers can't be choosers.

TAVENUI WATERFALL

After skin-diving this morning I had the bright idea to go see one of Tavenui's beautiful waterfalls.

George and I hitch-hiked and walked a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG way.

We rode with a few Fijian fellows along a kidney bashing, bone jarring road.

Finally, we came to the entry to the trail. There are a series of 3 waterfalls. Unfortunately, my knee decided that it only wanted to go as far as the first waterfall. Fortunately for the reader you may enjoy a fine photo I took.

The ride back was via taxi but was still a rather bumpy ride.

In all, I wouldn't have changed a thing about today.

It might have been arduous but it was worth the effort.

SKIN DIVING

This morning George and I did a little skin diving here in Mataei Bay, Teveuni, Fiji. The diving was very good---I've had better. George spotted a sea snake which made the whole morning worth while.

I did test out my underwater housing for my camera. The pictures did not come out great as this was the first time I've ever taken underwater pictures. The picture is of me holding a couple bright blue starfish.

Last night we found a restaurant and I gave the owner our 2 tuna and 1 Mahimahi. He made up a plate of sashimi for me, a pasta dinner for George and a piece of the Mahimahi for me. All at no charge. I'm sure he got the better end of the deal and I was glad to share and develop a new friend.

FRESH FISH ANYONE ?

George and I caught these fish on the way to Taveuni. We threw a Barracuda back--no more Ciguatera poisoning thank you.

ON TO TAVEUNI

It looks as though I'll finally land in Taveuni. It is 1330 hrs and I', 8 miles off the bay at Matei.

I tried to get there yesterday but ran out of time. I didn't want to try the sometimes dangerous Somosomo passage in the dark so I spent a quiet night at a place called Fawn Harbor.

Fawn harbor is very quiet and I'm surprised it isn't used more as it is a very deep and wide harbor. I guess it is because so few people live on that part of the island.

Skin diving is supposed to be great and I'm looking forward to using the Hookah dive system and taking underwater pictures to show.

George caught two small tuna on the way to Taveuni so we'll try to get a restaurant to whip us up their version of sashimi in exchange for the rest of the fish. Who knows? You don't get what you don't ask for.

Here is a picture George took of me as I was watching the boys butchering the pig the other day.

SAILING TO TAVEUNI---AT LAST

Today we left Savusavu for Taveuni island. I got a late start si I have stopped for the night at a little bay called Fawn Harbor. Try to find that on Google Earth.

Actually, it is quite pretty although there is no reason I can see to launch the dinghy and go ashore. I AM AMAZED that I have internet service here.

Yesterday I watched some boys as they scraped and cleaned a pig they had just killed. Some very hot geothermal springs are in Savusavu but they are not pretty in the least.

Nearby was a school which had an interesting sign. I must say, I couldn't agree more.

HOW IS YOUR GLASS?

Is your glass half empty or half full?
I have observed Fijians enjoying the company of each other while sharing a beer. I do mean literally SHARING a beer. Usually 4-6 Fijians will sit down and have a pleasant conversation. A small portion of beer will then be poured into a small glass, about the size of a small fruit juice glass we are served when we order a SMALL glass of orange juice with our breakfast. About 1/4 to 1/3 of the glass is filled with beer. The glass is then passed by the person responsible for pouring the beer to one of the drinkers who consumes the beer at a leisurely pace. A similar amount of beer is again dispensed and the glass is passed along to the next participant. Eventually, everyone drinks from the same glass and the process is repeated until the bottle is empty.
No one gulps down more than another and the pace of consumption is, as I have said, leisurely. Only one glass is ever used by the participants reggardless of their number. The designated dispenser usually does not drink but makes sure the glass is passed along fairly to each drinker. No one is seen to become beligerent or combative. The soft conversation is punctuated with laughter.
I used to think of my glass as half empty or half full. It seems to me that the Fijians are quite happy to simply see that their glass "Is".