Adventures on Tavenui

In our week at Vanua Balavu we had limited interactions with the local community. Aside from the lovely authentic kava ceremony there just weren't any locals in the Bay of Islands. Our next stop was a fairly exposed mooring on the south end of Tavenui Island. Tavenui is "the garden isle". True to its name the hillsides were lush with greenery and the air fresh and sweet.

Standing with one foot in today and one foot in yesterday.

The mooring was provided 'free' from the Paradise Resort (https://www.paradiseinfiji.com/). When we arrived at 6:30 in the morning we were greeted by a kayaker who helped us secure our lines. The dingy dock was not so much of a dock but more of a rock jetty that with each wave at high tide was submerged with water. That first morning, the swell was quite high and just getting ashore was a dance of waiting for the right wave and launching yourself on to the rock before the dingy dropped 2' from under you with each receding wave. Finding ourselves ashore we were surrounded by beautiful grounds and the most friendly staff. Bula! Bula! We were excited to have breakfast as we'd not had any eggs onboard for the last week. Provisions had been getting a bit light.

The view from Paradise resort

It was clear there were many things to do here on the island and the resort staff, which now had us on a first name basis, was eager to please. It was not a large resort -- and it appeared there were about 15 guests here + the 15 or so of us that had come in from yachts that day. We wandered through the resort grounds, down the winding shoreline road, past the police station that was being built, the large primary and secondary school and found the local butcher. In an unmarked building, the butcher, an older man was made quick work of cutting our steaks. They were very very very fresh. And very very very reasonable compared to steaks we'd seen elsewhere in the South Pacific.

The local women preparing garlands for 'Fiji Night' at the Paradise Resort

We took full advantage of the resort. They had beach massages and a swimming pool. One day we took a van with some of the other yachties and visited the 'site' of the international date line. We went to a local river that had carved a natural rock waterslide into its path. There were many bumps and bruises following that adventure but everyone that tried it said it was fun. We also stopped at the local market and finally got some much needed fresh food. There was much more variety that we'd seen for awhile and there were green things!

The Taveuni Waterslides

Diving the rainbow reef was especially memorable. With miles of beautiful diverse colored coral (thus the name 'rainbow' reef) we all enjoyed taking in the sights underwater. Most spectacular however was the 'cabbage patch'. Unfortunately our underwater camera failed and the other people that had cameras on this dive cracked their go pro by going to deep with out a case....so we have no photos. (you can google photos). The cabbage patch is a single animal that they believe is over 400 years old. It is probably 100' - 200' in diameter, consisting of 3-10' sized golden yellow/orange cabbage shaped flowers. (Also called "yellow scroll coral, with scientific name: Tubinaria reinformis). In between each 'leaf' you could see a fish protecting their 'space'. We floated over it in the current a few times and swam around the edges. It was truly a unique site to see.

Getting ready for our morning dives

Living was easy at the Paradise resort. With plenty of activities, a few of our friends to hang out with and a staff that was prepared to cook us breakfast lunch and dinner it was hard to peel away. We were only going to stay one night and we stayed 3. Our last night we experienced Fiji night. The hotel staff brought in their families, served us a chef prepared traditional meal, explained the kava cermony and the families danced for us. It was a joyful, relaxed, authentic evening.

Getting some fresh meat from the local butcher

The MC for the evening, the assistant manager had told us that he used to work in technology in one of the bigger cities, but decided to study hospitality and move back to his home village. He was so proud of the traditions and clear that he loved to share with us. We reluctantly said our goodbyes, paid our bill (I'm pretty sure that the 'free' moorage worked out well for them) and prepared for the short day sail to Savusavu on Fiji's large northern island of Vanua Levu. Onward.