Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Well i’m back now. I’ve no idea really what to say. I’ve just completed the Journey from Vorovoro to deepest darkest Kent in one long run with no real sleep, but I guess I really just should say what Vorovoro was to me and the experience I had.

Where to begin? This is so tricky. It’s so hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been, and different to anyone who has been. I guess that’s the main point of vorovoro. It’s fluid. Transient. It changes from person to person and week to week. The first thing I was told when I arrived was “Vorovoro is what you make of it”. Well actually the first thing I was told was “take your shoes off and don’t put them on again until you leave” and that’s exactly what I did.

For all the ideas and philosophy behind the island, to me, it was about the people. The people made the place. Team Fiji are the most genuine, lovely, warm, welcoming people you’ll ever have the fortune to meet. I don’t really need to tell you who they are, but if you don’t sit down with them, you’re really missing the point of being there. It’s sharing culture and friendship. Just drinking grog, singing songs, helping out or mucking around with them, you’ll learn so much. Get stuck in is my advice. Oh and bother them all for stories, you’ll enjoy it.
More than the team though, you’re sure to meet people who you’ll treasure forever in one way or another no matter who you are.

What did I do? Too much for me to remember right now, and not alot at the same time. There’s a lot of room to relax on the island, but there’s always something to keep you busy.
Here’s a few highlights:
Being woken up by Te’s choir at 4am to go get ready for mothers day, and then the whole ceremony from there. (I know there’s a good mothers day blog floating around). Grating coconuts at 4:15am with Poupou telling you you’re doing it wrong is disorientating but brilliant.
So many grog sessions. Just get on the mat and have a laugh with the guys, and listen to their songs. It’s the best way to spend an evening, even if your legs do get sore. Get Te and Leavi singing and just shout Tu Tale at them. You’ll be in for a treat.
Getting beaten at just about every game by Savi. Challenge him to connect 4! He only learnt the game a week ago.
Watching the sunrise on your first morning there. If you can get up in time and it’s not raining, you will have started your day the right way.
Spending rainy days in in the Grand Bure with the ‘Meke Pro’s’. (You know who you are).
Falling asleep on the pontoon by accident at midday and wishing I hadn’t.
Splashing around in the water with the phosphorescence late on a clear evening. Seeing the stars above me and the glowing at my feet.

Where to stop? Too many good memories. All I know is I’ve never felt calmer or happier, and had a permanent smile on my face the whole time. My only advice to anyone going for the first time is it truly is what you make of it, so get stuck in and make the most of it. It’s not everyday you’ll be in paradise.

Anyway, I should have probably waited till after I’ve slept to write this. Sorry for the terrible writing.

Hope to see you in paradise again soon.