Thursday, January 25, 2018, Suva, Fiji, Sights of Suva

Alluring sand beaches, magnificent emerald-clad hills, and stunning coral reefs comprise the 330 islands of the Fijian archipelago.  The nation's relaxed capital of Suva, on the picturesque island of Viti Levu, is the largest city in the South Pacific and a thriving center of culture and history.  The Thurston Gardens are the pride of the islands, lined with palms, water lilies, ginger trees, and other local flora.  Within the gardens, alongside the island"s beloved distinctive clock tower, the Fijian artifacts, including relics dating back up to 3,700 years and the rudder from the HMS Bounty, the British merchant ship whose fate was sealed by a famous mutiny.

Navua Village River Tour

Our excursion today took us on an exhilarating cruise in small long-boats up the beautiful Navua River, past villages, farm lands, pristine tropical rain forests, deep gorges and canyons, meandering rapids, and numerous cascading waterfalls.

 

 Loaded up for one-hour "drive" up river to water falls.

  

 Palm trees, bamboo, and cudzoo.

 Dredging rock base for roads.

Unload point for walking about 100 yards up side of river so guide could drive boat up small, shallow set of rapids (center of photo).

 Water fall along Navua River, along with huge bamboo.

 Walk way along stream on our way to water fall up a small canyon.

Koromakawa Village meeting house (Bure).

 Village greeter (note conch shell horn).

 Inside village meeting house (shoes left outside).

 Kava ceremony.  Kava is a fermented root-based drink that is partially hallucinogenic.

This little pre-schooler had to give a Kava ceremonial demonstration!

After our hour-long bus ride back to port in Suva, we passed by a major bus terminal.  Once again I spotted a Hino vehicle, bringing memories of My Father's House at COR back.

Bus terminal from top of our cruise ship.

 Small portion of shipping terminal in Suva, the largest city in Polynesia.

Small cruise ship in portable dry dock.

We left Fiji around 3 PM; will be two sea days before arriving at first of seven New Zealand ports.