View of the moon behind some fluffy clouds over the ocean, as we drank kava to gentle music into the night.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
This video is really a bit too dark to see anything, but thought I'd give you a taste of the gentle music we were treated to while drinking kava on the patio by the ocean. Sadly, some English tourists were talking a bit too loudly.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Here is a view of the kava bowl, and the current kava server lighting up a smoke. The dimly-lit gently swaying trees in the background added to the atmosphere.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After the performance, the villagers and performers gathered in the patio to drink kava, and many of the tourists joined. It was a great atmosphere, by the ocean under the stars (the rain had passed). We all chatted together, with other tourists and the villagers.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The last songs before the speech were slower and sombre-sounding, and was rather choir-like.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After the performance, the old man made a speech bidding us farewell and good night. The speech had the aura of the announcer at the end of a classic Christmas film.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Near the end of the performance, there were a few songs that the entire group sang together.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
This dance was also pretty enjoyable, it looked like they were fighting or training or something.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The performers worked hard, and the room filled with the stale smell of sweat and body odour. This was not ordinary body odour, but that sickly sweet coconut-like smell that is is indicative of many of the Pacific Islands. I had developed that smell a few times during the trip myself. I had thought it was caused by eating too much coconut, but I was told that eating a lot of cassava causes your body to give off a distinctive strong and pungent aroma - maybe that's what is.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
This dance was pretty cool, it looked like they were hunting or something.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
There were some weird props used, such as these wrench-looking things. I wonder what that is.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A dance by the ladies. Seems like many places in the Pacific use fans an dancing props.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A dance by the ladies. This hall in the usual dining hall and activity centre at night. The window in the back is the bar!
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
I thought this beat, used in many of the songs, was very catchy, and liked their bamboo instruments.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
As usual, there are sitting songs as well.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The performance starts off with some upbeat songs that I imagine to be songs of welcome.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The performance starts. I always look forward to song and dance. This is a performance troupe formed by the inhabitants of the island of Wayasewa whose villagers run the resort of Kuata.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The meal. Outdoors and exposed to the mosquitoes. There was my favourite, palusami, but theirs was the spinach version and not the superior taro leaf version. The timing of the dinner was good, as a light rain started falling just after everyone was finished.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Picture of the spread. They've been working all day with shovels and other tools on their smoky lovo, the underground oven the food was cooked in. I love food cooked in underground ovens for that distinct smoky flavour.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
They held a kava welcome ceremony (I assume for demo purposes). Here's a picture of me after the ceremony with the person representing the tribe/village. There weren't many Asians around, so I felt like I had some special recognition as the people working at the resort just called me "China."
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
View of the patio area at dusk. I had some meals and drank kava in this area during my stay on Kuata.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Setup for their weekly special dinner, followed by dance performances. Fi and Api, my Couchsurfing host/travel agent, made sure to book me in for the special days at the resorts whenever possible.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Looking back at the resort.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Finally, the sky starts to darken after the sun is below the horizon, and the glowing warmth in done for the day. As the tide comes in, the tiny road becomes covered by an urgent rush of water with each incoming wave.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
The glowing clouds offer the last glimmer of sunlight for the day.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Another view of the velvety water slithering and wrapping around the sharp and jagged rocks. Maybe one day the rocks will be as smooth as the water from erosion.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
I liked watching the neat lines of calm waves slowly rolling through the cove to the west.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A nice view of the waves breaking on the jagged volcanic rocks in front of the setting sun.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
It was very calming in the warm glow of the setting sun. The rhythmic ringing sound is from the large metallic mortar and pestle being used to pound kava.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Looking back towards the resort.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
There was a small "road" at the norther end of the island, so I decided to follow it out to the end. The road disappeared and re-emerged in and out of the water as it wound its way around the rough volcanic rocks.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A view towards the west. The person in the left of the photo is pounding kava. It looks quite strenuous, and they seemed to work in shifts.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Near sunset, I decided to take a walk just north of the resort where there's a good view of the west.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A zoomed in view of the volcanic-plug-looking thing across the water an the other island, along with the stream of smoke that rises out of that area every day. I really wonder what they are burning there. The view from up there must be great.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
View of the scrum of boats from the various resorts meeting up with the ship. It's a mad scramble at each stop to keep the ship on time.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Relaxing in the hammock, I enjoy watching the twice-daily departure and arrival of of guests, accompanied by song.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After the nap, I took a short walk up north from the beach. There were some pretty things here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary for a tropical island. The compacted-looking volcanic rocks made things a bit more interesting, imagining what must have happened here for these formations to exist.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
They provided some nice music to listen to at lunch.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Lunch in their outdoor patio was nice. It's good that they keep things varied and keep things interesting and entertaining for guests even with their very basic facilities. Afterwards, a relaxing nap and some writing in a hammock by the ocean!
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
A view back towards the resort are from the large rocky protrusion. The first buildings of the resort are just off to the left.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
On a clear day, it's possible to see the hills of Viti Levu, the main Fijian island, in the distance.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After spending more time snorkelling at the main beach and deciding I preferred not wearing fins, I walked down the beach to take a look at the closest mound of what appears to be volcanic remains. The rough texture was mildly interesting, and looked like a solidly-packed collection of rocks and ash.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Farther out, the water cleared up, revealing massive coral towers about 10 meters tall, each covered in a few schools of stubborn fish. I enjoyed doing flips in the depths while watching the coral tower over me. The swim back was very intimidating, as the clear and murky waters were clearly delineated, and I had to swim back into a dark swirling nefarious-looking cloud slowly extending its fingers around the bases of the coral towers, hiding them from view.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
Setting my stuff out of reach of the waves, I put on the fins and waded into the water. The waves coming in to this cove were quite large, churning the water into the colour and transparency of thin milk tea. Combined with some sudden currents and jagged rocks of both sides of the shore, it was quite an intimidating swim out.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After a short walk through a dense jungle and past what seemed to be a shack containing the generator, I arrived at a secluded cove. I didn't see anyone else around for my entire time there.
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
After a shark snorkelling tour was cancelled due to lack of participants, I was offered fins for snorkelling, and decided to try another beach someone recommended me to snorkel at. A trail led me past some houses and fields where people were cooking and working. Do the villagers take turns living here when working at the resort, or do people actually live here permanently?
Rough notes:
http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/2011-nz-to-sf-day-39.html
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