Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Thank goodness Dan’s wristwatch alarm has been going off at 5:45am every day – as the 6am Lali drums did not beat today.

Very quietly I tip-toed about and packed my bags for departure. Very sad to see my bed stripped down… As I was going to put the cover on my backpack the BIGGEST spider ever came crawling out!!!! Guess he/she didn’t want to leave either. Breakfast was different as Va (one of our kitchen ladies and other mother) had the day off – so that made the day even sadder. Gosh – even as I’m typing this a day later my eyes are welling up.

Everyone was a bit more somber than ususal as we ate and did one more pass around with our passport books. Thank goodness for Paulo and Rich to keep us giggling a bit over silly things like Val’s bean toes (a story that deserves it’s own blog!).

Soon enough our bags were in the boat and we were standing at the head of the line for Isa Lei – all morning I had been fighting off weeping like a fool.

As predicted I did not get through it without several weepy moments. Before I knew it Api thru me over his shoulder and carried me out to the boat (to spare my feet on the coral as the tide was a bit low that morning.

As the boat took off (slowly at first so we could wave and shout Moce to each other in unison) – we soon got our Mexican waves. I was really touched to get a special “Jazz Hands” wave – no doubt thanks to Katie. (thank you lovely!).

Dan, Hassan and Ann came into Labasa with us as they were going to do a bit of shopping. Since our cab was coming at 11am they stayed and we all had one last beer together.

Giles was a star – he downloaded not only a movie of him doing the Nitro Meke – but a bunch of good Fijian music to boot! I can’t wait to get home and get it on my iPod.

As it turned out the Stags (Liz, Val, Jasmine, and Hurricane Flo) all went on the same cab as well as the same plane to Nadi – so I didn’t really feel “detatched” until I arrived at my hotel in Nadi. A cold beer and off to my room – only then did I read my passport and got all weepy again. Dinner and early to bed – not sure what’s on the agenda for tomorrow as my plane does not leave until 10pm.

FYI – After 10 days of sea baths on Vorovoro the shower was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao for now,

Marie