Monday 11 July Somosomo bay, Naviti island

Cruise ship Jackster moved on again this morning, south to Somosomo bay on the north tip of Naviti island. The main attraction was to walk across the island to the eastern bay where the guide book suggested we'd find a WW2 aircraft wreck in 4m of water.

Somosomo bay

We dropped our anchor behind one reef and dropped back with another reef 500m to our stern. Settled in and it was off to do sevusevu with the chief in the village. It was the three amigos, Tahina, Stray Kits and us, once more buzzing across the bay clutching our homage pack of kava. The chief welcomed us in Fijian and gave us permission to anchor, swim, snorkel in his bay and to walk around the village. As before the ladies had over priced sea shells to sell us which we passed on. A reasonable sized village with 100 people and the ubiquitous school with rugby field. We strolled and talked to the people, found giants yams drying on a rack while the children raced using up their energy.

Chris 'let's do it' Stray Kitty persuaded us we needed to go back to the boats and gear up for a walk and snorkel on the plane wreck. First find the path. Difficult, very difficult and in the end impossible. We explored three possible looking paths leading through he trees which became dead ends and Frank persuaded us to try a dry creek at the end of the beach and then walk through the grass on the hill above. What he didn't mention was the grass was over head height and one made one's own path. Getting too late to push on further we returned to the beach and while the rest of us dived into the water and swam Chris and David tried one more path through the trees. They were gone so long the rest of us went back to the boats leaving our dinghy for them.

Stray kits, Tahina & Jackster + guests

 Finally they came back and with the news they'd found the path and an old couple living near the beach who remembered the plane going down and directions to find it tomorrow.

Elephant grass walking



Andrea and David Wii dancing

Karen and Frank invited us all to Tahina for pot luck supper and to let Andrea, Ryan and Cari play their Wii game. The supper was superb and then we played a Wii game. The children had the dance game on – on screen a figure dances to a well known song and you have to mimic the figures dance movements with the electronic sensor in your right hand. The computer box measures how close your movements are following the figure on screen and points accumulate. The children issued a challenge and David took it up – check out his moves. What a hoot and more exercise to boot. Karen was the champ but Andrew won for enthusiasm and sheer exertion. He was the Duracell bunny.