By now you're probably saying, "NO more kava ceremonies, please!" So, you're beginning to understand how we felt!! It isn't that we didn't respect local tradition, but our American culture finally seeps through and "wasting time" doing the "same old thing" looses it's thrill after a few dozen times. It just shows how hard it is for us to understand (in our hearts) other cultures. Every place we went it was reiterated how very important the sevu sevu ceremony was to the local people. This is why I begin by showing you Chief Lester from Naqara. When we came back with other guests we were required to do a second sevu sevu even though people knew us. They didn't know our new guests, Stacey and Bill (from DRYC).

We spent so much time in Naqara, a village on the island of Ono on the Great Astrolabe Reef, that I just can't help sharing these beautiful shots with you!

Here's another (right).

I don't know about you, but the genuine openness of the children (and the people as a whole) were enough to endear us to Fiji in general and this village in particular. They told us that they didn't have very many visitors. I think that most people go to the tourist area on the west side of Fiji. That, of course, isn't our interest. We could NEVER do what we do without a boat. For, even the locals have difficulty getting from island to island - and in fact rely on the yachties to travel about.

This little girl is Joanna, one of our favorite people from Nagara. You see how she has cleaned up her area of the village and is ready to burn the pile of rubbish. This will help keep the village clean and free from pests. This is essential in the tropics for cleanliness and survival. Remember medical care is sporadic to unavailable, so good health practices are critical.

I am not kidding you when I say that we couldn't get enough of these kids! And this from a person who does NOT gush over other people's children. Here they're doing a type of sit down dancing while singing a song about the breadfruit that fall from the tree: thump, thump, thump!

Our tour around the village included an invitation into this lady's house (right). So we can see her beautiful weaving of mats and her yarn fringe.

When there's a work project going on people tend to gather around, especially the kids! These folks are making brooms. It takes about a day to make ONE - which sells for about $2.

The kids are showing us how strong they are (right). Believe me, we didn't have to be shown. The whole population is strong from the necessities of daily life.

These are just views around the village. As you see, there are many different styles of building. Whatever is available is what will be used.

Outside the traditional house on the right is the typical kitchen set up where the dishes are drying.

The large green hanging fruit are breadfruit. They are a type of starch and can be prepared by boiling, frying or just put in the fire to cook. If prepared in the latter way the covering is removed and the inside is eaten as we eat baked potatoes wrapped in foil and put on the grill. This fire pit has been used to burn the trash the children have raked up around the village.

We became quite fond of the people in Naqara. The Chief, Lester (right) came out to the boat. Accompanied by his body guard (left).

They took us out to a nearby reef to go snorkeling.

It wasn't great, but we had fun.

During our conversations we were told of a place where the manta rays hang out, so we were anxious to go. It was quite complicated as we had to go to another island village and get permission  (YES, you guessed it - another kava ceremony). I was NOT comfortable with our anchorage, so I stayed on Quest and Scott went ashore. Here are some shots of the mantas:

OK, one more manta shot!

He's swimming away as we close this page!!