Surprisingly, cell phone coverage is better here in Fiji than in the San
Juan’s. Today, we are in the smaller, outer Yasawa Islands north of the
main island of Viti Levu, where we flew in and spent the first few days
provisioning. There are villages at the head of the bays, but no roads,
buildings or infrastructure visible inland other than a cell phone tower
on the top of the mountain.

All travel to and from the villages appears to be via boat, generally a
long “panga” with an outboard motor. At Vaya, we watched several pangas
leave at the start of the day, each taking about 8 children, presumably
off to school. Some information we found says the children board at the
location of the school during the school week.

The villages appear to be a line of structures, brightly painted in
pink, yellow or blue colors strung along in a row, just up from the
beach. No vehicles are visible, other than boats. Hopefully weather will
allow a visit to shore at some point to get a better feel. In these
smaller outlying islands, there is a welcoming ceremony called
sevu-sevu. Eric has participated in the ceremony in other islands,
though we haven’t yet been able.

Yesterday, we were anchored near the Manta Ray Island Resort. The guests
came in via a large ferry. The ferry stopped out in deeper water, and
pangas from the resort went out to meet the ferry and bring the guests
to shore, as well as several boat loads of supplies. We went to the
resort for dinner, and saw the electrical generator that apparently
supplied the resorts power.

So, even with the good cell phone coverage, life in these island
villages appears to be very different from what we know.

Today we motored about 8nm up the side of Naviti Island to our anchorage
in Somo Somo Bay. We chose this bay because it was well sheltered from
the gusty wind expected this afternoon. On the way up, a large school of
dolphins played off the bow of the boat for quite a while. It was very
fun to stand on the pulpit and watch them cavorting along with us.

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