Monday 23rd June
We wake up at we’re not sure what time as there’s another time shift here but we don’t know which way! It’s early anyway, and it’s a beautiful day in another beautiful bay. There’s a great view (facing out from the bay) of the mountains of south western Vanua Levu. There’s lush greenery and palms on the bank-sides opposite the picturesque little town and we’re anchored cosily inside with about 50 other boats. As we’re cooking breakfast, Tom calls round to introduce himself - he’s from one of the marinas and offers us a mooring which we accept gratefully. Soon we’re all secured near the town side, and Tom tells us he’ll arrange for all the officials to come to the boat – we can’t go ashore until given clearance. That suits us fine as we get all our jobs done while waiting; sail cover on, bimini up, laundry packed, boat cleaned, dinghy and outboard ready to go. Tom calls back with a pile of forms for us to complete which will speed things up when the officials do arrive. We don’t wait long before we’re visited by customs, immigration, then quarantine. All the guys are very friendly and polite, everything is in order and it takes less time than we’d feared. Alex calls over with WMD and confirms she’s going to sail with us from Muscat Cove to Vanuatu - we arrange to meet in Muscat Cove next week. We go ashore with the laundry, then meet Tallulah Ruby in the Copra Shed as arranged where we’re soon joined by Strega, Cleone and Andante. Everyone’s enjoyed a good sail here and we discuss plans for cruising around Fiji before our rendez-vous in Muscat Cove on 2nd July. Annie goes and books a hire car for tomorrow, then we all relax back at the shed. This town has a great feel to it; everyone seems very relaxed and friendly and all say hello and smile. It’s a buzzing little place and culturally very different to the other islands we’ve been to as many of the people (and shops) are Indian. Everyone’s delighted and excited to be here. There’s danger of another post passage session developing… Ian and Annie return to the boat for a rest before going out again tonight – Andy has booked 15 of us into a little Indian café in the village. Just as we get back to the boat, the heavens open and there’s a torrential downpour which lasts a couple of hours. We’re lucky – several boats have left their hatches open and are drenched - the rain came so fast and furious there was no time get to the boats before the damage was done. Meanwhile Stewy and Jens are continuing to explore Fijian life and are chasing round trying to catch one of the large frogs that have come out in the rain! It’s still pouring when Ian and Annie go back ashore to meet the troops – Tallulah Ruby cause great hilarity when Paul and the three tenors arrive in sulas - the traditional men’s wrap-around skirts . We go to the Country Kitchen café that has stayed open especially for us – by the time Stewy arrives he is past the eating stage and just goes straight into the kitchen where he causes more hilarity with the 2 Indian women who are making the curries. The curries are great , but don’t suit everyone – it’s very authentic Indian food with little bowls of dahl, hot chutney and chapatti – Annie in heaven – Andreas goes for another dinner! Afterwards it’s back to the Copra shed for the now unavoidable post passage session. Once we’re back aboard, Stewy again seranades the fleet from the cockpit.