Bula Vinaka

Friday, November 9.


Bula literally translated means 'life'. It has other uses as well. Typically good morning, afternoon, evening. Vinaka means thank you. Together they are a polite way of greeting someone and saying hello. They were words we heard & used together & apart for the duration of the cruise. The crew on board this ship, all Fijian, were incredible. From our cruise director, Alfie to our dining room host (a Fijian cousin of Ross the Intern from Jay Leno) to our barman Mike. Mike looked like he was full of mischief from early on. I found that apparent when he announced lunch on the beach one day. He proceeded to dump me from my hammock as he made the announcement! So welcoming, so warm & personal. Within a few minutes of boarding, we were being greeted by name. The service was impeccable. Not formal but very comfortable & well done. The first night (after a few drinks) we were entertained & taught the Tra La La, apparently a Fijian dance. It was a lot of fun & even the fun couple who (adamantly) do not dance found themselves part of a group of dancers. And there are pictures to prove it!

With a very small group onboard, we acquired 'our' group early on. The honeymooners adopted us as 'their' friends (Mom & Dad on honeymoon?) and were always welcoming & excited to see us. Very cute. Joachim & Ann Marie or Kelly & Dan were usually part of our meals. Joachim & Ann Marie are headed to NZ, south island this week as part of their world trip. Kelly is from Auckland. Great fun talking to them about NZ. What we have found to be the standard Aussie/NZ teasing was apparent between the two countries on this cruise.

After breakfast Friday morning we joined the first tender ashore to the beach - Nacula Island. The water is not Caribbean warm as this water is the Pacific. It was very easy to acclimate to the tepid temperature. The colors in the water are incredible. The blues, greens, ever changing are probably the prettiest I have ever seen. We did some snorkelling on our own, exploring the area a short distance from the beach.






Amazing coral of all colors, bright blue starfish & gorgeous small fish were all fairly close to shore. The coral is tall. The only way out beyond it was literally floating on top of the water for several yards out. All colors & species of coral were apparent. More than I think I have ever seen. All heights, colors, shapes - an under water world waiting to be explored.

Mid morning there was a small boat that took interested snorkellers to a nearby reef. We spent about an hour floating & watching below the surface before heading back for lunch on the ship.


A short time after lunch we were back on the tenders to visit a Fijian village. There are several villages along the cruise route that are self sustaining although certainly not cut off from the world. We gathered in the Methodist Church for some background on the village of about 120. They grow their own food - both meat & vegetables. They collect rain water & use a generator sparingly for electricity. Their children are sent from an early age to boarding schools. There is one for primary school age that picks them up on Sunday, returning them on Friday. For secondary schools they have to go to the mainland (Nadi, which is on the main island...there is no "mainland") much further.


The villagers performed for us - songs & dances followed by all of us (I seemed to get picked each time!) participating in the Tra La La dance.






We participated in a Kava ceremony. Kava is a drink made from the root of a pepper tree. It is non alcoholic but leaves a slight numbing feeling in your mouth. More interesting was the ceremony that went with both the preparation & the serving of the drink. As requested by the cruise director, we elected a Ratu, which means chief (the young honeymooner, Adam was drafted) to be the first one to taste the drink. He was a little nervous but a good sport as he clapped his hands one time before accepting the drink & then saying bula and clapping three more times after the drink, as we were taught.



We wandered out to the village to see a market set up by the village women & encouraged to support the local economy (of course I obliged) before heading back to the ship.






Drinks, followed by dinner & some more talking as we got to know our fellow shipmates a little more.


Today's observation:
I found Wilson!!!!!