We passed close by this island somewhere in the Pacific between leaving Fiji and spying the east coast of Australia.
In Fiji time everything slows down and it seems easy to live more fully in the present moment. A gift of a week. Vinaka – thanks.
Category / Adventure!
Veseisei village
This village is believed to be the landing site of the first Fijians to the island.
The current chief of the district uses the thatched Bure to transact the community affairs. This open space is used for community gatherings and is respected by all including the children who play elsewhere.
Bounty Island
A fast boat to walk, snorkel and fish off this beautiful island.
The tropical fish we saw were absolutely astounding; an array of colour, shape and size . . . including a shark!
In Paradisium!
Second flag
The flag was due to change on 10 October 2015. Most Fijians we talk to don’t want a new flag. As far as we know the change has not taken place.
Bula!
We have arrived in Fiji. We spent the first day here slowing down to Fiji time, walking the beach, reading, watching the bird and fish life and enjoying a different rhythm of being.
The Fijians are kindly, friendly folk. Their greeting of ‘bula’ goes beyond the simple ‘hello’ and incorporates a spirit which literally means ‘life!’
Panama Hotel
We stayed in the Panama Hotel in Seattle’s International District which was built in 1910. The hotel contains the last remaining Japanese bathhouse (sento), in its original site, in the United States. The image above is of the hotel’s cafe situated directly over the bath house.
We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island from where the first Japanese in the USA were interned in 1942.
Seahawks 13 – 10
The Yorkshire in me would not allow the purchase of $300 + tickets. So we watched the game in a Sports Bar in downtown Seattle instead.
Crater Lake again?
This time the name of a fabulous blue hot air balloon.
We went up early this morning with five other balloons and flew silently over the Willamette River nearly touching down in a winding creek before lifting over the towering pines.
Tasting the world
One of the great things about travel is tasting new food and drink. We love the smell and taste of Huckleberry jam. Just smelling the jar this morning took me back to Beckie’s, a rustic restaurant in Union Creek where we ate their famous Huckleberry pie.
Fire
Fold your wings, my soul,
those wings you had spread wide
to soar to the terrestrial peaks
where the light is most ardent:
it is for you simply to wait
the descent of the Fire – supposing it to be willing
to take possession of you.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
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