We have been here at Blue Lagoon for five days now. What a treat, and many good things going on. We did get the veggies that we mentioned in our last, but with a twist. The farmer has a little gaff rigged sailboat in which he makes deliveries. Our friends on the big Swan Mistress contacted him, and he said that he would deliver for Ten dollars Fijian. So, he sailed into the anchorage with his two kids and a load of fresh wonderful organic veggies. Rob and I in our two dinghies descended upon his boat like the canoes do to us cruising boats. That is how we shop for veggies here in Blue Lagoon. What did he bring us? It is not like you can order. He will bring what he has. We got lots of tomatoes both green and red. We got eggplants, radishes, cucumbers, some greens, and a huge squash the size of a watermelon that we and Rob split. Real food!

There is a nice little resort here called Nanuya. The other day, we met a German couple who were vacationing here. They are working and living in Cambodia, and are from Berlin. They became friends, and we played together while they were here. After kayaking the other day, we were enjoying sitting in the cockpit when a Fijian guy and his family stopped by in a little motor boat. Seems their cook stove would not stay lit for them, and they were wondering if I would come to the village, have a look and maybe fix it. There are yachties out here who fix outboards, generators, electrical things, and it must make quite an impression of the locals. Have a problem? Ask a yachtie. So, I was honored to be asked, and glad that yachties have made such a good impression. I had hoped that I could do it. Jurgen, the German guy is a mechanical engineer and he was keen to visit the village, so together the next morning, we gave it a try. I brought a few tools, and we located the valve that caused the shut off. We bypassed the valve and fixed it so it would work. I had mixed feelings because those cut off systems are a safety feature. On the other hand, who is the poor guy going to call? So, we gave a good safety talk, and we think it will be ok.

It turned out that the guy we helped was the village chief. In Fiji, when outsiders come to a village, it is custom to give the chief a gift of kava (called Sevu Sevu), and in return, you are welcomed into the village. We asked him if this work counted as Sevu Sevu. He laughed, but invited us back that evening to have proper traditional kava ceremony with him, In the old days, this ceremony was done with the Sevu Sevu, but in these modern times, the chiefs see far too many yachties to have the ceremony with them, so now they just say thank you for the gift, welcome you to the village, and send you on your way.

We couldn't refuse, even though the trip to the village would be a long dinghy ride across the lagoon in the dark. Jurgen and Heike didn't want to go, so it was just your two intrepid Argonauts. Earlier in the day, after fixing the oven, we were back at the boat and a local guy, named Manasa, in a kayak stopped by. "Would you like to buy this lobster?" He had a big beautiful lobster which we bought without hesitation. (Dinner was wonderful!) He told us he was from the village and we told him that we were going to have kava with Chief Selema that night. His eyes lit up, and he told us that Chief Selema was a friend of his. When we arrived, we had a little group waiting for us which consisted of Chief Selema, his wife, Manasa, and another young man.

What followed was very special for us. We all sat on the floor on a big woven mat. Selema thanked us for fixing the oven. He said that a number of yachties had tried, but were not successful. They then prepared the kava, and he gave a couple of prayers in Fijian, then gave us some words to repeat. He clapped his hands three times and gave me a half coconut shell full of kava which, in good manners, I drank all down in one drink. Elisabeth was served, Selema and the guys had some. We were then officially welcomed into the village. It was very moving, because as I said, this was having kava with the chief, something that is not so easy to come by anymore. Afterward we were offered lemon leaf tea and roti, sort of a tortilla like bread.

When the visit was over, we had a moon lit ride back across the lagoon that was very beautiful. We went slow because there are reef markers that are not lit.

Last year we became friends with an Australian couple cruising in a catamaran called Lady Nada. We last saw them here in Blue Lagoon, then we lost contact - the emails didn't work. Well, two days ago, we looked up, saw a catamaran arriving, and behold, it was Lady Nada. How cool is that? Elisabeth promptly jumped in the dinghy and raced out to welcome them well before their anchor was down. We have had a lovely reunion, and even had fireworks to celebrate. Well, not exactly. The evening that Lady Nada arrived, we got treated to a big thunder and lightning storm. We had met at the resort for happy hour, and on the way back to the dinghy, (in the dark for extra drama, of course) the wind and rain started. By time we arrived at the boat, we were as wet as if we had gone swimming. So, strip down, towel off, dry clothes, and from under our little dodger, we watched the show. It was the most spectacular lightning we had seen in a long time. And at anchor, it was not so frightening. If we were struck, and lost all electricals, we at least knew where we were!

That passed, and the weather is nice again. This is cruising. I love it. By the way, we were the only boat here for a day. The anchorage is now beginning to fill up. It truly is beautiful here, we have the groceries, it's not too crowded, so we will stay until Monday. Then we will be headed to Vuda Point Marina to haul for a bottom paint fresh up. Peace, and be excellent to each other, Rod and Elisabeth