You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2008.
Or at least, The Peak:
The Peak is the highest mountain directly behind Levuka town. It took us an hour and a half of very steep hill walking to get up (although to be honest it more resembled rock climbing for most of it – my friends and I concurred that while our legs felt fine the next day it was our arms that ached) and half an hour of sliding down a mud chute to get back, but it was totally worth it for the view at the top. We could see practically every island in the Lomaiviti group, plus all the reefs, and right up the coast to Waitovu village. Lovely.
So I’m still in Levuka. My original plan would have had me leave a few days ago to start making my way to Nadi via various tourist hotspots and resorts and parties and whatnot, but I can’t bear to leave, and so my plans have been whittled down to the absolute minimum so I can stay here as long as possible. I’ll be leaving Levuka on Thursday or Friday to Leleuvia island, a tiny coral island with a wee budget resort, for the birthday party of one of my friends. From there I’ll head to Suva on Sunday for two nights and spent Tuesday travelling to Nadi for my 10pm flight. Sob.
A visitor might not understand why I feel sick at the thought of leaving Levuka. Tourists have mentioned the apparent lack of things to do a fair few times to me over these months. But you know what? Even though I’m kept busy visiting friends, tying up loose ends, doing all the things I never quite got round to doing before, etc etc, I’d be perfectly happy just chilling out wandering around town. I have so many memories that I can’t help but replay them.
So there you have it. See you all in a week and a half.
Last night it was so cold that I wore socks for the first time in seven months.
Brr.
I have hunners of photos that I haven’t put up yet, so here’s some of my favourites:
There have been three attempts to get all 16 GAP volunteers to meet up at a resort. The first time, at the Beachhouse in February was fairly successful with 15 showing up. The second and third times have been less so with only 8 showing up, but ho hum. This photo is from the second time we met up, in March, at Volivoli Beach Resort in Rakiraki, which is in the north of Viti Levu, the mainland. On our last night we took a Sunset Cruise, and it was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me. L-R: David, Jenny, Helen, Emma, Kate P, Kate H, Viv, and Jack in front.
(I’m still trying to get a fish blood stain out of my skirt from that night…)
This photo is from Caqalai (pronounced THANG-a-lie), a tiny tiny coral island in the Lomaiviti group (that’s where I am, folks). It’s by far my favourite resort in Fiji, and super cheap to boot. Also from there:
Sunrise over Moturiki. Not as impressive as the Lavena sunrise, but still nice!
This is a picture of Lovoni village, where I was originally supposed to have been placed.
and here’s me in the Lovoni swimming hole.
This is a sunset I enjoyed on the way to Arovudi village in the north of Ovalau.
Tokou village swimming hole, where I spent a very nice day before being taken out on a bilibili (bamboo raft).
This is Waitovu swimming hole. I love how I accidentally caught that guy in mid air.
Levuka town. The funny tree in front is one of the Baka trees. I love to sit there and look out over the sea, or enjoy a nice cold drink.
This was taken in the Koro Makawa club. Johnny and Viv were a bit drunk. Oh dear.
This is in the Ovalau Club, the only other club in town and probably my favourite one. There’s usually a grog session once the bar closes, and sometimes we join in. This photo is from a long time ago because both Helen and Ben (sitting either side of me) have gone home now 
Me and my new best friend Jason at Tommy’s place.
Me and Esther who I used to live with. Nice girl 
This is a photo from a typical grog session. This one is from Clare’s birthday back in May, in the hut beside her house. I gave my camera to this girl I know and she went mental taking millions of pictures. This one shows Edmund and Tewawa with my guitar in the foreground, and Clare with some Aussie friends in the back.
Me with Dorcas and Samisoni, the kids I used to live with. They’re cute Samisoni once said in Fijian to his mother, “Miss Jenny has beautiful eyes, she’s my Cinderella”. How could I not love him for that?
I spend way too much time in the clubs.
Baby Ba, who I lived with before Esther and Dorcas and Samisoni. He is the most adorable creature. He used to wave me off to school every morning shouting “byeee” and blowing kisses until I was out of sight.
We had a ceremony to bless the new school sign at St James a couple of weeks ago, and here’s the students and school board. Colourful, no?
And finally, here’s me in my lovely sulu and jaba with some of the kids. Apparently all the Fiji Times photographers keep getting hassle when they photograph kids doing the “up yours” sign as opposed to the “peace” sign, so I’ve been trying to teach them the difference, but I don’t think I’m getting anywhere…
Anyway, that’s all for now. Many many more photos can be found on my photobucket, the link of which is on the left somewhere, and there’s even a nifty wee slideshow feature you can use, so knock yourself out. Ciao for now.
IMPORTANT!
There’s only two more weeks of school. That means I have only two more weeks with an address. Thusly if you’re planning on posting me anything, do as soon as you can, and remind me when it should arrive. I don’t want to leave Levuka with stuff waiting for me at the Post Office like so many other volunteers seem to have done.
And now:
Maybe there’s something in the water here, but people in this country are awfully straightforward. A fair number of conversations with complete strangers has proceeded as follows:
“Bula!”
“Bula.”
“Are you married?”
I’ve never really thought too much about my weight, but I haven’t had much of a choice since coming here, thanks to the very frank opinions of my acquaintances:
“Boy, Miss Jenny, you’re sure getting fat!”
“When I first met you, you were… *stretches hands as far apart as possible*”
“Eighteen??? But you’re so big!”
“Aww, Miss Jenny, you’re so fa… er… healthy!”
And, my favourite, this one from a tiny 4 year old Indian boy,
“Baby come?”
(For the record, although my weight has yo-yo’d a fair bit, overall I’m definitely a little less than I was at the start…)
An old man that I’ve met only once or twice for a few minutes amazed me a little with his perceptiveness. We were holding a ceremony at school to bless the new school sign, and I was in a good mood. I had my camera out, trying to capture a suitable moment to send to the Anglican newsletter. This old man came up to me and said;
“You’re feeling homesick, aren’t you?”
And you know what? I think it’s finally starting to hit me. It’s taken over 6 months, but I’m starting to really look forward to coming home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still having the time of my life out here, but still I keep finding myself daydreaming about all the things I’m going to do when I’m back in Linlithgow.
Speaking of which, my flights are all sorted. I am leaving Fiji on September 9th, arriving in Scotland September 10th. See you then!
