Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Bula sia!

So, it’s my first day back in the UK after returning from a fantastic 2 weeks in Vorovoro. I look a little out of place with my Fiji tan and marks from all the bites (I won’t miss the sand flies), but the stories I have from my adventure and the pictures are making everyone jealous!

My trip started with a few tears at Nadi airport on discovery that my bag had failed to fly with me from my connection at LAX. I wouldn’t get upset about that normally but having flown for 24 hours with jet lag, smelly clothes and a smelly me, I was a bit worried about the prospect of getting by on Vorovoro with no belongings. Plus, the worry that my bag wouldn’t find me at all. The lady at Nadi airport looked slightly puzzled as I tried to explain my forwarding address (i.e, there not being one!) So I turned up at Labasa with Kurt with only my hand luggage and before long we were approaching Vorovoro and even the sight of that little piece of paradise eased my worries.

The truth is that you soon discover that you can get by on very little on Vorovoro. Sure, I smelt a bit and looked kind of dirty, but so does everyone else. I bought some insect repellent at Labasa and that was the only thing I really needed. Everyone there, from the Fijians to my fellow tribe members were so helpful, offering me clothes and toiletries and anything else I needed. Special thanks to Amoo, Maddie and Lizzie and the countless offers from everyone else.

My first 5 nights were spent in the grand bure on a foam mattress and with an old mossie net. I pushed the thought of giant spiders and rats from my mind and slept like a baby (only to be woken before 6 with the sound of Sky chatting to Va in the kitchen!) I escaped with no bites for a week. Johnny the boat driver said that the mossies felt sorry for me because I had no bag and that as soon as it arrived they’d be after my blood. He was right. But even bites can’t take away from the experience.

I will never forget the visits to Mali and All Saints school. The smiling faces of the kids as they sang for us, did Meke and asked endless questions about England, so eager to learn and share their world with us. Or the trip to Vesi last Sunday to hear Marau’s choir sing in the small church. We were so privileged just to sit and be guests in their village, chatting on the grog mat and being given tea and cake as the sun set; and then taking a moonlight boat ride back to Vorovoro with the phosphoresces dancing beside our boat. Or the simple pleasures of hammock time and lying on the pontoon admiring the fish.

Tuesday’s sevusevu was a special occasion. It marked not only the new arrivals but the handing over of April’s chief Kaz to May’s Linda. Plus we had some special guests over with Tui Mali and Carol’s goodbye too. And so myself and the other lovely ladies dressed up and were allowed to perform the ladies fan meke (complete with Johnny stuffing cake in our mouth as we danced), the boys did their superb meke and our group meke was surely the best in the whole of Fiji!

I could go on forever about the amazing 2 weeks I spent in Vorovoro. I just wish that I could return before the end. Easily the most beautiful place I have ever seen and easily the kindest, most generous people I could ever wish to meet.