23-24/09/2009 0003UTC 17 40.828S 177 23.159E Days 834-5 Up at 0630, 25C, Partly Cloudy, Wind Calm.

[The Photo Gallery (Fiji) has been updated with images of old friends, new friends, a police boat, a crashed boat, ripe fruit and immature fruit.

Above, the manmade 'footprint' island at Vuda Point commemorating the first landing in Fiji by South Pacific native colonizers.]

[A new chapter has been added to Family Voyaging - Ak to nZ.

In 'The Friendly Islands,' we... experience life (including school) on a remote South Pacific island, render assistance to sailors in distress, learn how to prepare a native feast, visit Oceana's yachting Mecca, get haircuts from a circus performer, see Rail Rider join the crew, and discover why Captain Cook misnamed this archipelago.

To read our book, and receive voyage planning assistance (VIP Service), go to the Family Voyaging website at www.familyvoyaging.com.]

Often noted in Wind Dancer's blog entries are our activities at First Landing Resort. The name and site are grounded in local oral history. The story goes that the indigenous Fijians of today are descendants of the chief Lutunasobasoba and those who arrived with him in a canoe, the 'Kaunitoni,' first landing at what is now Vuda Point. The settlers later moved inland to the Nakauvadra mountains.

Though this spoken tradition has not been independently substantiated, the Fijian government officially promotes it, and many tribes today claim to be descended from Lutunasobasoba.

Scientific research shows that the Austronesian peoples are believed to have colonized the Fijian islands some 3,500 years ago, with Melanesians following around a thousand years later. Most authorities agree that they originated in Southeast Asia and came via Indonesia. Archeological evidence shows signs of settlement on Moturiki Island from 600BC and possibly as far back as 900BC.

We've learned on our Voyage of Discovery throughout the South Pacific that the genesis and migration patterns of island populations are at best vague. Most scientific theories are based on seafaring people arriving at the islands from either South America (Thor Heyerdahl's 'Kon Tiki' theory) or Melanesia. However, a Maori elder in New Zealand explained to us his belief that Maoris were in fact the people who spread out over the islands, from Hawaii to Fiji, from the Cooks to Tahiti, from Samoa to Tonga.

So, where indeed the Fijian first landing took place, and by whom it was made, remains conjecture. Until empirical data are presented, we'll appreciate our stay here at Vuda Point and argue as well as anyone that we are at the ancient seat of Fijian history and culture.

"Crew Quarters"

1st Mate: I felt like the worst mom yesterday after scaring the daylights out of ourselves. We had gone to the theatre as it is air conditioned and we wanted to cool off. The only movies playing were either an Indian musical or 'Kung Fu Chefs,' but they didn't start till late in the day. So our other choices were 'Wanted,' 'Orphan' or 'Case 39.' The latter was the only picture rated for age 13 and not 18 so we all went for it. I warned the kids to close their eyes, it was going to be scary. We felt like we had been on a roller coaster for two hours. It is a great thriller and makes you jump every other minute. It wasn't a horror-slasher film just spooky, spooky, spooky.

Next we went to the bakery and the market, everyone walking with the jitters. No one was hungry as we'd pigged out on popcorn, ice cream and soda at the movie. We tried to meet up with some other cruisers but we got out of the movie too late so just caught a cab back to the marina. I put the produce away and took a cold shower -- the humidity has been awful. I haven't been able to sleep at night because the boat is stuffy and I feel like I am in a closed box or closet. I tried sleeping outside in the cockpit but without a breeze it is not that much cooler and mosquitoes buzzed my ears. I have taken to lying next to 3rd Mate as her area has a stronger fan.

I received my Cost U Less goods and everything was sent except refried beans, sundried tomatoes and milk. We did get our Bush baked beans but they sent the wrong size so I now have eight double size cans, enough for an army. I will try to trade or sell them to any yachtie who may need them. Otherwise I better find new recipes. We spent most of the day at the pool with many kids from boats. A new boat, s/v Lucey Blue, has a 12 year old boy named Simon and a 10 year old girl named Amanda. They are both from Norway and have joined the pack of kids.

2nd Mate: Wildlife seen yesterday and today: least tern, black surgeonfish, squaretail mullet, crowned urchin, rock crab.

Yesterday, we decided to get out of the muggy harbor with the kids from s/v Coco Kai. While Dad stayed on the boat to do some chores. While Coco's mom and Cathy from s/v Bold Spirit went shopping, Mom, Grace, Coco, and I went to the local theatre to see a movie. The only thing good playing was 'Case 39.' So, we bought our tickets and snacks, and went into the cinema. We saw the movie, which was really good. It was a bit scary, but 'thriller' scary, not blood-and-gore scary. I highly suggest you see it if you like movies where things jump out at you unexpectedly. We stepped out of the theatre and into the humid tropical air (which hits you like a cannonball after sitting for two hours in an air conditioned cinema). We caught a cab back and met up with the others at the marina.

Today, I woke up around 0600. We decided to stay in the marina and hang out with our friends. We ate breakfast and Grace went off to play with Coco. I hung out on the boat until lunch. After we ate, we walked up to the pool with Simon and Amanda from Lucey Blue and swam around. We met an Aussie kid and we played with him also. We played War with the boogie boards in the pool, and Salvage with a toy truck the Aussie had. We played for about four hours before everyone had to go home. We stayed in the pool for a little longer, then we got out and dried off. We went to the restaurant with Mike and Liz and had chicken curry. We came back and watched 'Analyze That' as our family movie.

Today's Fijian word: bhindi = okra.

3rd Mate: The weather today: partly cloudy, light wind, the high was 35C, the barometer is 1011 and rising, the moon is waxing towards first quarter.

We went to town with Coco and saw 'Case 39' because there was nothing else playing. It was scary; Coco was hiding her face in her popcorn box, and I was plugging my ears. Afterwards, we went to the market and bought vegetables. Then we went home and Coco and I watched a different movie to get the other movie out of our minds.

Today, I went swimming for the entire day. I came home and watched 'High School Musical 2,' which I borrowed from Coco Kai.