Vanua Balavu – 4th to 11th of August

What a beautiful place! So different from other parts of Fiji and very remote. The northern part of the island is called the Bay of  Islands and consists of lots of rocky little limestone islands which can be explored with the paddle board and dinghy.  Around every corner there is a new beautiful site to look at with turquoise water and rocks. 

So we spend our days with snorkelling, exploring, swimming in caves, relaxing, going on a hike, picking coconuts and papayas and making yummy cocktails (very healthy - fresh coconut water blended with fresh pineapple and just a little bit of rum…).

What a beautiful lookout! It definitely was worth the hike.

 My husband the hunter and gatherer

And he is successful!!!

John

On the 8^th we started making our way sailing south  down the island to explore the rest. We stopped at Little Bay, another gorgeous little place, with nobody (only one other boat at anchor). But the next morning got a bit exciting… At low tide we decided to go for a walk along the shore, Pete discovering big oysters and getting all excited. As he is busy trying to pry them loose and I am just wandering around, all of a sudden we hear load and angry dog barking behind us. We turn around and there are four dogs racing towards us, barking madly. I was starting to panic, but thought, don’t run, just walk calmly and find some rocks to pick up. But then we heard a whistle and the owner of the dogs came after them. I still didn’t trust them and went straight for the dinghy, and Pete being again a lovely, caring husband making sure I got there before he stopped and talked to the guy. I have to admit I was shaking. The man turned out the Fijian caretaker of the area and we ended up having a lovely chat to him, he came on our boat, we gave him some rice and took him back to his place in our dinghy, as he wanted to give us some papayas and bananas. But there the excitement kept coming. He had some pigs, as most Fijians and of course his four dogs… As he was cutting some bananas for us, the dogs started barking madly again and we heard a pig squealing horribly. A wild young pig had come in his yard and the four dogs started attacking it. How awful that was!! I couldn’t watch, but Pete was brave and helped Tui to get his dogs off the pig to save it. And thank god, they managed! The pig was ok. But I must say, this certainly was enough excitement for one day for me!

The drama starts...

 Tui's place 

The pig is saved, back to getting some bananas...

And off we were to our next stop at the town of Lomaloma.  The biggest settlement on this island. Here people go shopping for whatever the supply ship brings once or twice a month. 

....Like ice-cream! Pete couldn't say NO

After this short stop we went quasi around the corner to Suisui, a little lovely village where we anchored and did our sevusevu (I don’t know if I have explained before. If you come to a new village, you have to go and see the chief and offer him some kava for sevusevu. He then performs a ceremony, where you will be taken in the village. With this you have the right then to look at everything around the island and move freely in the village. All visitors have to do this, also Fijians going to another village.) Friday afternoon was lovely with exploring, playing games with the kids on the beach 

 Playing Boules with Coconuts

and the next morning Jacob, the village spokesman, took us on a tour around the island. So beautiful.

Donation for the church which got destroyed in Cyclon Winston

 But the best for Pete was, they went and got some oysters. Really big ones!!! He was in seventh heaven!

We would have liked to stay longer, but the winds were right to take us down to Fulaga, which is about 100nm south. For a lot of sailors this island is the most favourite place, and we wanted to see for ourselves. We did an overnight easy uneventful sail down south and as a bonus caught a Mahimahi on the way!