Talofe,
That's the greeting in Pago Pago... the islanders are very happy people!!!
First, we'll take you back to Superbowl Sunday...Yeah Saints!!! What a great game...they had it playing in the "Golden Lion Pub" for the Americans with an American menu...sliders, hooter wings and hot dogs...(it's usually fish and chips, mash and bangers and shepherds pie) with good ole Bud beer!!! I took a tour of Pago Pago and Ken did his own tour. He walked all over town and attended a church service, communion and all. Sundays are very religious holidays in Pago Pago and they take it very seriously. The children are not even allowed to play on Sunday. Everyone dresses in white and it is sunbleached white...they lay out their clothes and the sun bleaches them. I always wondered how they got their clothes so clean!! They prefer washing their clothes by hand as they don't trust the Laundromats to get them clean.
My tour was great. We left in buses that were quite primitive...since they are old have no a/c in them they decorate them inside and out with flowers etc. We took a drive with our guide, Ariel to her village where they had great demos of how the people eat, wash clothes, cook and what was so surprising is all they get out of coconut trees. They are very resourceful people and let nothing go to waste. Ariel explained that the average age to get married is 21 and when they do get married the man moves in with the woman's family...ouch!!! Their main sport is cricket and the school system is quite similar to the US. Their alphabet contains 5 vowels but only 12 constants. Their main industry is tuna cannery, although they really depend on tourism. The tsunami that happened last Sept. devastated part of the island. Our part of the tour didn't take us by that area but Ken did see some of it on his walk and said the initial wave was over 30 feet and 39 people died.
On Monday we crossed the international date line so we lost that day...weird ...I can't even explain that one, but I think I'm a day younger...or would it be older? Oh well, so we went from Sunday to Tuesday!!!
Wednesday was a "bula bula" day for me! That means "everything is wonderful" in Fijian!!! I had the best day yet on a awesome tour (Ken opted out and so sorry he did). We woke up to a marching police band greeting us from the dock on a hot and sunny day. Again, I went on the bus but this time is was a very modern one and comfy. Our guide explained the pine is a very popular industry as is sugar cane. They export alot of timber to the US, China, and New Zealand. We drove past a school and asked if we could stop. The bus driver obliged and we were even able to go into the classroom and see the students as they were doing their work. It was very neat as they all were so friendly dressed in uniform...they all wear uniforms. Education is very important and it is mandatory for the students to all learn English along with their own language, Fijian. There are two universities on Fiji.
We then drove to a village and partook in a Cava ceremony. Cava is made from a peppermint tree that takes 6 years to grow. It is a very sacred ceremony they have when the high chiefs visit. So, I guess they felt we were high chiefs??? anyway, we entered into a hut....no shoes or hats and silence, there was a prayer and then the men were served first ...the process was to clap once, say "Bula bula" with a smile and drink the whole bowl (just about 1/2 cup) of Cava juice and then clap 3 more times. If you didn't finish it and tried passing it on to someone you'd have to drink 7 more bowls. They said the Cava makes you happy and very relaxed....kind of sleepy. It was said that you don't need tablets to go to sleep if you had the cava!!! Once the ceremony ended we took a 2 mile walk up through the rainforest over creeks among all kind of neat plants to a waterfall! It was the coolest thing and by this time we were pretty hot so we swam under the waterfall...that was unlike anything I've ever done...it was out in the middle of nowhere...just like you see in the movies!! Back down the mountain to our last adventure where the bus took us to a mud bath!!! Oh boy, I can't even believe I did that, but I have photos to prove it!!! As the bus arrived at our destination..."MUDBATHVILLE" there were the village people with their guitars, leis and singing to greet us. The few of us that wanted the experience were led to a big dug out hole that was filled with water and mud. We got in and were covered with mud....the glad game is one spends big bucks at the spa for the service and this didn't cost anything extra!!! After being covered with the mud we stood in the sun to let the mud dry off and then swam in another spring pond. From there we went to a natural hot spring that felt like a hot tub. It was so unbelievable to see the joy in the village people sharing their customs with us and of course just watching all the little children as they joined their parents in singing to us as we boarded the buses saying our good-byes. One little boy and I kept throwing kisses back and forth from the bus window...he would mimic my actions...too cute!! I know I've gone on and on with this experience but it was ...as my good friend Donna says...a number 10 day by 3pm!!!
We're on our way to Auckland, New Zealand after two days at sea...I love our sea days and not bored a bit. We're trying to use the internet ashore and I'll work on putting pics on..there are so many it will be difficult to pick but I do want to share.
On a sad note, my father-in-law, the most patient man I know went to the heavenly skies...God Bless him. I am sure his son, Tom will be there waiting for him with open arms. Since we came on the trip we have had both sun and rain but not a rainbow....yesterday there was a full rainbow, partly double. I know that was a sign from above that he is finally at peace. In his honor we threw the lei from Fiji overboard. My prayers are with Shirley and family. I am so sorry I am not there to be with them yet very proud of Jenny for filling in for me.
One last note...we want to thank everyone for the letters that you have written. We are opening them one by one every few days....and then I'm posting them on the wall. We really are decorating the room!! As they say in Fijian....ViNaKa!!!!
Also, thanx for the e-mails you are sending to the ship...we love walking back to our room and having them waiting for us....
More from down under later...hopefully, this will go out from Auckland tomorrow...whatever day that is???
Bula...bula,
janet and Ken
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