Friday, August 6th, 2010
Well today started out pretty much the same as yesterday. The roosters woke us up early and then the breakfast horn and then I got back on the boat and went back out to the reef to swim with some sharks. Actually this time it wasn’t about the sharks but just more about the reef. There were a lot of other interesting things to see out there too. I even managed to spy a sea turtle. Unfortunately he was moving very fast having absolutely no interest in being around the group of snorkelers that just chased him from his quiet spot on the reef but I caught a glimpse and that is what is important. The sharks were much less friendly and my camera battery died shortly into the trip but that didn’t stop me from chasing some other little fish around and checking out the coral. I took more than enough pictures and video yesterday.
One of the pictures I managed to take before my battery died.
Once back on dry land I took a nap in a hammock, ate some lunch and then changed because one again I was making a village visit. This time it was to a different village and the tour was much different.
My friend Sammy. He called me his Little Fijian Girl pretty much the whole time I was there. He was happy because on this village trip he was going to get to see a couple of his youngest children (he has 7 in total).
We didn’t get to see much of the village and the only thing that was going on in the school was sports. Actually that is why I was going. On this Friday they were having a giant rugby gathering with kids from 2 local schools and everyone from about 7 local villages.
We were not the only ones heading over to see some rugby. This boat looked a little full as it made it's way from a nearby island.
One of the houses in the village. I still have no idea how they keep the linens so white.
A very differently looking house in that same village.
To us it's paradise.....to them it's home.
People were coming from all over the place and the school yard was full. Even the very smallest of school children play rugby. The girls however play netball and we got to watch some of that as well.
I don't know much about Netball but it is very similar to basketball except when it comes to how the ball is moved.
Sports for girls is important only until about Year 8 of school. After that the focus is turned towards household duties. Once girls finish school it is very unlikely that they would continue to participate in sport because as I was told they are too busy taking care of things like homes and kitchens and children.
One of the reasons for this rugby though was to choose the team of kids that would be going to the big tournament on the mainland. This was just for the older kids (13 and 14 year old). The teams from the 2 schools were to play each other, the best boys would be chosen and then that team would play at the Coca-Cola tournament in Nadi (pronounced Nandi by Fijians). I unfortunately had to leave before those boys played (I had a boat to catch) but it was very exciting to see all the villages and the kids and everyone so excited about the games.
Some of the younger boys playing rugby.
They learn the game at a very young age.......the full game. I assure you the younger guys do not learn a watered down version of the game.
I was leaving Kuata today……with some reluctance. I really enjoyed it there. But I had to move on. My next home would be Beachcomber Island (also known as Party Island)……..just for one night. Now not sure if it is just the reputation of the island or that people expect a party when they get there but I assure you......that is exactly what we got.
Now let me tell you, it did not take very long upon arrival for me realize that I had left the friendly confines of Kuata when I arrived. There was very little communication, the staff was not nearly as friendly, the dorm had over 100 beds in it and the house guests……well they got markedly younger. In fact there was a rugby team there from Manchester England……all aged 16-18. They were certainly not well behaved but it really surprised me when the adults who were chaperoning them…….were even worse behaved.
One of those little ruby players. Apparently he had a broken rib.........we were also told that he is just a baby and complains a lot. Eventually he was just annoying and we tried to get him to go to bed. He did for a bit but kept coming back.
Anyway, I think by this point in the trip we were all ready for a few drinks, a little dancing and prepared for a late night. I think we should have just stayed up about one more hour…..because then we could have watched the sunrise.
The gang....Christian (from England), Me, Franzi (from Germany), Scott (Aka Butters, Aka Tex......because he's from Texas) and Christina (from Germany).
See......Canadians and Texans can be friends.
Stephan (from England) with Franzi. Now I have to tell you about 2 hours before this Stephan and Franzi were not on friendly terms. Stephan can be a little obnoxious and Franzi may have shown her dislike for it by spraying him in the face with some bug spray. I can't lie....I laughed....it was funny. But a few hours later everyone was friends again.
This is Simon (in the hat) and Simon's friend (I never did get his name). Both from England.....they were travelling with Stephan and Christina was apparently not too impressed with what they had to say.
Simon does some modelling for companies like The Gap and Abercrombie back in England. Yeah, Christina and I had to try.
The hat got around. Tex wears it well.
A little bit later in the evening.....Tex got a hold of my camera. And no I did not post this picture upside down.........Tex took it this way.
That's Christian, Christina, Simon and I at about 3am (Tex took this picture). About an hour after this Christian decided he needed to explain rugby to me. As you can imagine, I retained nothing. Oh and one of those little rugby players who decided to stick around is also in this picture (I'll give you a hint....he's the one with no shirt on). Apparently he liked me because I could not get him to leave me alone. He was a little drunk but totally harmless. When he finally got up to go to bed, he promptly got up and walked to the beach......the exact opposite direction of the dorm. Never did see him again.
And for a final exclamation mark on how the night went, when I went to bed at 5am, there sitting in a chair.......about 3 feet from my bed......in the girls dorm was one of those rugby players.......sleeping.......completely naked. Good times, good times.
Julie
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