Day 25 - Thursday February 8, 2024, Suva Fiji

Arrival 08:00 All Aboard 18:00 Departure 18:30

As Insignia sails into the harbour at 06:30 the pilot is already onboard. I can see a ship on its side just inside the reef. It must have been a huge storm to shipwreck it.

Old rusting out fishing boats dot the harbour as I wonder what it would be like to work on such a boat or what the living conditions would be like.

As we cruise into the port you can see that Fiji is very lush and mountainous. All the Pacific Islands were formed at one time by volcanic action. Annual rainfall on the main islands is between 2000 to 3000 mm (79 to 118 inches) on the coast and low-lying areas and up to 6000 mm (236 inches) in the mountains.

The six-hour ship tour was called Navua River by Longboat. We were picked up at the pier by our guide Freddy and driver Zadine for a one-hour drive to a remote river village known as Kormakawa Village to travel by longboat to a waterfall for a swim.

On our way to the village, you could see how lush the surroundings were due to the vast amounts of rain. As Freddy explained, you could see homes in villages on the highway with their doors and windows opened and only separated from their neighbors by flowers. People here are very trustworthy and if a neighbor were to come into your home and maybe take some food or drink that that would be OK as long as you replace it later.

We are greeted at Kormakawa Village where we change into our swimsuits for the waterfall swim. All the passengers are given large garbage bags to store their towels, camera, and knapsacks. We are then brought down to the river to climb into longboats with lifejackets on and carrying these garbage bags. Luckily, I brought my big dry bag with straps to carry on my back. Our longboat was able to sit six passengers.

The other two couples brought the garbage bags which they placed on the floor of the boat. After five minutes cruising down the river the boat stopped to let us out so we could walk the path parallel to the river while the longboat driver motored against the rapids without passengers.

A passenger from the next boat needed to stay in the longboat for mobility reasons while the longboat maneuvered through the rapids.

We are now back in the longboat and cruising down the river seeing dense tropical rainforests and waterfalls before reaching our destination. Again, we leave the longboat, remove our lifejackets, and walk approximately ten minutes to see the impressive waterfall and jump in for a swim.

It is now time to walk back down the trail which at some points is wet. The description states this tour is not available to wheelchair guests or those with mobility issues. While the tour is limited walking it can be somewhat strenuous. I do not think guests read the tour description carefully before booking as one guest fell backwards on the path with his right leg bent backwards. I might add the path is narrow and each passenger is carrying his or her garbage bag of personal gear. Not a good idea.

I understand that this passenger and his wife have now left the ship with their luggage with their world cruise abruptly ending.

Returning to the village we are welcomed by the chiefs and villagers to a traditional Fijian kava ceremony. On our bus a women volunteered to be the ceremonious chef for the day and partook in the ceremony. Once the ceremony was over, we were treated to a Fijian lunch comprising rice, noodles, chicken, beef, and pumpkin squash. The ship had provided a lunch as well which was bread and cold cuts. Both Janice and I ate the Fijian lunch.

Janice was unable to pass on a massage offered by the ladies of the village.

We were dropped off near the shopping mall at the end of the tour for a look around and then it was back to the ship prior to the rain beginning. Janice had a lovely flower bouquet made by a local lady Sai for our cabin.

With everyone on board we depart early. I think it is due to the forecast which shows lots of rain coming our way. Before we leave a military band performs marches for us in the pouring rain. Three members of the band with saxophones did not participate and chose to stay out of the rain.

As we sail towards the outer reef it is very difficult to see much of the horizon.

It has not been a good time to see sunsets.

It is now on to New Zealand and the Bay of Islands 1,051 nautical miles away.

Facts

· Population of Fiji 936,000 (2023)

· Population Suva - Capital 85,000

· By race:-57% Melanesian, 38% Indo-Fijian, 1% Rotuman and 4% European, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders

· Christianity is the main religion on Fiji

· Fiji obtained full independence from British rule in October 1970

· Fiji is part of the Commonwealth

· Use the metric system

· Drive on the left