Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Sunday here on the island is for the most part a day of leisure and called “Naked Sunday”. We call it that as all of team Fiji (the locals working on Vorovoro) have the day off so we don’t have to hide our shoulders and legs. As I look down at my legs and see all the mossie and sand flie bites – I’m actually finding myself very greatful for the length of the Sulu! I’ve taken a picture and will upload it once I’m home and can resize them to show you just how tasty I have been to the local island critters.

Since team Fiji is off – we are on our own to do our own cooking and cleaning (though we do wash our own dishes after every meal – every day). When we do our own the favorite is eggy bread (french toast) with fresh cut bananas – yummy!

After breakfast Lisa and I get off to the eco-tricity hut so we can download the Meke lesson videos – since we were at it and I had an 8GB memory stick with me – I also downloaded all of her 411 pictures as well. I was also able to get the pictures Lynn took while at the Mali School visit.

By the time we finished I was HOT – the eco-tricity hut is small and can get quite warm inside. I was ready for a swim and as I headed back to the vale I saw Ann and remembered that she and her boys wanted to try snorkling – so off to get my gear.

None of them had ever been and were all quite brave! Katie came with so there were five of us in all. Davey was a natural while Ann and Robbie were a bit more cautious. So we set Ann and Robbie up with some practise things they could do in the very shallow water – like hanging onto the bottom and practice floating and getting used to the breathing. Since Davey caught on and was more adventurous – Katie and I took him out further – having him swim in between us both. The tide had not come all the way in and we didn’t go out as far as I’ve gone before – mostly as there would soon not be enough room to stop and tread water without the danger of kicking and possibly damaging some live coral. The water was also a bit murkier than I’ve seen it on previous days – but in my opinion – there is no such thing as a bad day to snorkle on Vorovoro.

After snorkling and changing – we heard it was very close to lunch time – my how fast things go when you’re having fun in the sun as they say. The lunch crew had made home made bread and as soon as it was done we would be eating.

Usually Sunday aftrnoons are egg salad and tuna salad sanwiches – but recently there was a ban put on bringing food in tins to the island – so eggs and what ever veggies were picked and / shopped for in Labasa the day before was on the menu. We had a few vegitarians so cheese was provided for those who could not eat eggs. There was a bit of a fuss over the diced tomatoes running out – there were not enough for everyone so those at the end of the line did not get any. so hard to remember that tomatoes are very hard to grow here (especially in the dry season) and are considered a bit of a treat.

With lunch time came the passing around of my passport book – so sad to think that I will be leaving tomorrow :( I’ve been trying to think of a way to stay on longer – but with no extra vacation time at work and three flights to change without a phone – really impossible to work out.

Post lunch meant one last round with the camera to make sure I didn’t miss any pictures of the people, places and things I’ve grown so fond of in such a short time.

After pictures Lynn and I had a nice sea bath and chat and then we played a game (toppers or something like that) until dark and just about supper time.

Tonight’s menu – pasta with a red sauce (again a real treat due to lack of tomatoes and no tins being allowed). It was great. Again with dinner came the passing of the passport again to make sure I had a note and email address for all the lovely people i’ve met.

After dinner was drinking and chatting the night away until we all slipped off to sleep. There were six of us going the next day and we all wanted to make sure we made the best of the last night. The last night of hammock games and silly chats – I really hated to think of my Sunday as a day full of “lasts” – so hopefully it will be a day of lasts until I come back to do it all again. Off to bed I went after a nice bit of Johnny Walker Black from Hassan. I wanted to stay up as late as possible – but it’s amazing how tired you can get after a day in the heat and sun of Vorovoro – even on a lazy Sunday.

Ciao for now,

Marie