Fiji and Perry Mason? Ironsides? Yes... it's true!

Well, I have always conjured up a certain image of Fiji.  Think Hollywood movie type stuff… yup, that’s what I thought.  Fiji is very interesting.  Before you even get off the ship, they read a document from the Fijian government asking us to not bring outside food in, take care of their island, it is a precious resource, yada yada yada.  Okay, here’s the kicker… when you are on the island, the big ‘city’ is not very clean… high rise building look dirty, if that’s possible (high rise only being about 7 stories).  As we entered the harbor, there was a boat mostly sunk… cheaper to leave it there then remove I guess.

Weather was extremely muggy… about 89 degrees.  We walked a few miles (slathered with our sunscreen) and sweat like we were in saunas.  Now… the place may be kinda dirty, but gosh,  the people are so friendly!  Always greeting you with a hearty “Bula!”  Hello!

We had a trip planned to the Garden of the Sleeping Giants, named for the mountain peaks above it that look like a man laying down snoozing.  Now this Garden was developed by Raymond Burr… you now, Perry Mason, Ironside, the like.  He had a hobby of collecting exotic orchids & had a second home on the island.  His orchid collection was not actually at his home, but nestled in the forest there.  It became a place where he could just enjoy his flowers and area.  If I heard correctly, even before he died, he opened it up for people to visit.  When he died, it became an even bigger draw for folks and is till this day.  More to the story, but that’s it from me for now!

Learned a lot of the history from our guide.  When the British set foot and claimed the island, the gentleman they put in charge had come from the Caribbean.  He brought Sugar Cane here (as that what they grew in the Caribbean) and it has done well.  They have received many awards for their RUM, made from the molasses of the sugar.  They had huge storage tanks (looking like oil tanks) storing the molasses.  Also, the other thing this gentleman did, was NOT use the Fijian people to clear the land and plant the cane.  He saw they were quite well organized and well run and didn’t want to change that.  Sooooo, India was part of the British Empire, and he brought Indians over to do that work.  Today, there are Fijian villages and Indian villages… all very interesting.  There is a huge, colorful Hindu Temple we saw in town. We also visited a Fijian village… yes, there is a chief, all determined in each village by lineage.  It works for them!

Oh, and it’s true, Fijians used to practice cannibalism… not going to get into that, but they no longer do that… whew… that was a relief!

We were welcomed in another village with traditional Fijian welcome…. Which includes drinking Kava… Yuk… watched them make it… more yuk… I guess it tasted like dirt and then numbed your throat as it goes down.  NO THANK YOU!  It is an acquired taste I guess!

Lots of dancing… weather was threatening to drizzle so we went into their big meeting building for the ‘show’.  I must say, took away from the ambience of the dance with the sterile walls, etc.  At the end, Jerry was picked to dance with them… fortunately, it was more of a stroll cuz we all know Jerry hates dancing like that!!!

Got back on the boat in time for a very late lunch and regrouping as it’s still quite warm.  The boat was leaving at 4pm so we just stayed on board.  And that's all she wrote!  You can tell when I'm tired of writing...heehee!

In the village, this is the chiefs house... It's always the biggest and closet to the center of the village.

 This is one of his relatives, it's right next to his.  Nepotism is okay in this system!

 Drinking Kava... Poor guys that got chosen for that!!!

We were warned not to sit in the back when you ride the local buses.  Lots of exhaust... notice, no windows, if it rains (which it had earlier in the day) they just drove the plastic down... I can only imagine how hot that bus would be! 

 Ribbet... Ribbet...Ribbet

 Someone has a funny bone... these were 'tree huggers'

 Weddings are performed here now... this area was a respite for Mr Burr

 Red Bananas... used medicinally we were told.

 Can you see the sleeping giant?

 Even on vacay, you see the proverbial party boat! They were making quite the racket... we could hear them while we were reading on our balcony.