Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Vorovoro Day
Take 2!

May 1st 2008 saw the return of the much loved Vorovoro Day. For the uninitiated, this day involves the consumption and use of food, drink and products found, grown, or generated only upon the island. ‘Piece of cake’ I hear you cry…oh no, literally not a piece in sight! For this day sugar, coffee milk and jam became a dirty word, the build up to the week saw many a tribe member desperately attempt to introduce and implement the growth of sugar cane and coffee beans upon the island, more hens were pleaded for the eggs, and if we got desperate the rest of the bird would have got it too. Goats were suggested for the milk, cows were negotiated, and pig feeder Lizzie had a 24 hour lookout post appointed by the pig pen to ward of any apprehensive members. As the day grew nearer some members swore they had discovered a diet coke plant on the far side of the island, this has yet to be disproved. The parameters were eventually set. Any fruit and vegetable growing on the island was fair game, the chickens, belonging to the village were off the menu as were the pigs as the babies are too young and still suckle their mother, who for this reason was also a lucky escapee. In a fortunate twist of fate the day before bought 3 very accomplished spear fishermen from Hawaii to the island. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so hard after all, unless you don’t eat fish I guess. Although one desperate member decided a bit more protein was in order, as you will find out.

As some of you may know or even experienced the first attempt last year, you will recall the chaos that descended upon the island, with many a tribe member coinciding overdue ‘visits’ to see Frances and Poasa for a chat and a sneaky cup of tea/coffee. Not this time however, as the thought of another Vorovoro day sent Frances and Poasa off to Suva to escape hungry members raiding their cupboards. Many other members of Team Fiji also decided to use this day to sort out any off island business! Luckily for us the amazing kitchen staff Va, Paula, Kesa and Cheli stood up to the challenge and really led from the front. Also, in an attempt to stop the pillaging of the village last year, the task would run from the time we awoke on May 1st to 12am May 2nd, this target was then reduced to 9pm, and eventually shattered by 7pm, however, credit must be given to everybody involved, as although not all members resisted the little piece of chocolate in their Bure screaming to be eaten, all members took the task very seriously and helped out as much as they could, with the feeling of the day being very much us against the island, this was very fortunate! Justin, one of the new fishermen did decide however to add fruit bat to the menu. From his feedback of boiling it so it looked exactly the same dead as it did alive and eating its head, I think this one safe from the next Vorovoro day menu!
Learning the lesson of the previous year, preparations started a day in advance with the harvesting of many coconuts, old ones were scavenged from the floor, some fresh ones were plucked from the tree, with thanks to Tale and his younger brother. Many vegetables were picked when the morning came, you really can’t argue with that kind of freshness. Despite some of the reservations about the day, I think most people were surprised at the versatility of many of the items grown on the island, and the capability of the island itself. A list is found at the bottom of this blog.

So, here it is – The Menu:
Breakfast – cassava cake, lemon tea, papaya (remember, no sugar etc)
Morning Tea – coconut flesh, fresh and roasted, (tasting very similar to popcorn) and lemon tea.
Lunch – Papaya and fish, cooked in coconut cream with Vudi, like a big bland banana, although some of the members decided this was the best thing they had eaten since they got here. Vegetarians and non fish eaters had the same minus the meat.
Afternoon tea – 1 whole Green (off the tree) coconut each, milk and all!
Dinner – BBQ Fish (coral trout speared by Josh and Justin) with Vudi and vegetable salad – cucumber and cabbage. For the vegetarians – beans, chilli and capsicum stir fried.

For most of the members, the food was more than enough, in terms of quantity and taste and certainly in terms of quality, and to be honest, if I had arrived that day and been ignorant to the whole task I would have been quite content with the days feed. However, when I heard of the cake being served up at 9pm I did nip in and have a couple of slices, and a few spoonfuls of sugar!

Well done to all, and despite the island not quite ready to support a hungry tribe in this way everyday, the success of the day has led to the first Thursday of each month becoming Tubu Teitei Tubu Day (Grow Garden Grow Day).

The Food:
0.5 kg Long Green Beans
0.5 Kg Butter Beans
0.25kg Capsicum
0.01 kg Chilli
1kg Cabbage
2kg Horse Radish
34kg Cassava
17kg Papaya
Along with numerous coconuts, papaya, Vudi, Lemon leaves