Sailing in the South Pacific
Good afternoon, we are on our way to Lautoka, Figi, sailing from Samoa past the Islands of Wallis and Futuna. Why mention Wallis and Futuna? Well, besides the water there isn’t much else out here. There are a number of small islands. Wallis and Futuna being one of the larger ones with nearly 55 square miles and 11,500 people.
The seas are not calm but not too rough. Apparently however rough enough to close the pool, but not close the pool area to sunbathers or diners. Weather.com says: Windy with scattered thunderstorms. High 87F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%. This is as of noon today. The interesting thing is that neither the sea bands nor the seasickness medication are out of their respective packaging. Hopefully with means less days in bed while at sea.
Guest Chef Bernard Guillas had a wonderful cooking demonstration this morning. Learned the proper way to cook a tomahawk steak. He had an interesting take on polenta: adding onions, using vegetable broth, marscapone cheese, feta cheese, and Parmesan. The will be served in the Compass Rose tonight, however we have reservations at Prime 7.
This afternoon we will have two of the speaker series. One at 2 with Dr. Ainsile Waldron on Figi. Then immediately follow one the Terry Bishop who will attempt to explain rugby. Both should prove entertaining. There is tonight’s entertainment at 9:30 with Andy Joy a multi-instrument entertainer. Maybe we can stay up. Our excursion tomorrow is at 10. Oh there is a Seven Seas Society Cocktail party at 6, which we’ll probably skip.
Fiji is a country, but it also an archipelago of 300 islands and 540 islets scattered aver about 1,000,000 square miles. About 100 of which are inhabited. We will be visiting the island of Viti Levu also known as Great Fiji. The Mariner will dock at Lautoka on the northwestern side of the island. Lautoka is about 75 miles across the island from Suva the capita which is on the southeast side of the island.
Viti Leuv has an area of about 4,000 square miles and accounts for more than half of Fiji’s land area. A jagged dividing range running from north to south has several peaks above 3,000 feet, including Tomanivi, at 4,344 feet the highest point in Fiji. The main river systems—the Rewa, Navua, Sigatoka (Singatoka), and Ba (Mba)—all have their headwaters in the central mountain area. To the southeast and southwest, as well as to the south where the range divides, the mountains give way to plateaus and then lowlands. The coastal plains in the west, northwest, and southeast account for less than one-fifth of Viti Levu’s area but are the main centers of agriculture and settlement.
Fiji, has the most advanced economy in the region, with a per capital income of SDR 1,200: $1,600 US; $3,500 Fijian Dollars. Its prosperity is based on an efficient sugar industry, a profitable tourist sector, and a broadly based services sector. With good transport and communication links, the country serves as a regional center in a variety of fields. However a number of the ingenious people live off of substance farming. A lot of the island people, in Samoa, Tahiti and others live off the land.
Some time tonight we will pass Leuv Vana. One of the islands used in the John Wayne movie “In Harm’s Way”. It is Fiji’s second largest island about forty miles from where we will dock. Please don’t lisunderstand, the movie is based on a fictional book. Gavabutu and Toulbonne, also in the movie and book, are located in the Soloman Islands about 1,250 miles to the northwest of Leuv Vana. That really dosen’t fit with the movie.
Terry Bishop gave a really good overview of rugby. We even watch parts of some matches. However, while it is fast paced compared to American Football, it has just about as many hard to understand rule. The biggest point is rugby plays wear no protection, not like the sissy’s in the NFL or AFL. A rugby match is two 40 minute halves. A professional televised game last about two hours. American football is 4 fifteen minute quarters, and it takes about 4 hours to play. Rugby better!
Back in the room resting, reading and typing. We put on the fancy duds and headed to the Seven Seas Society Reception in the Constellation Theater. It really is just pretty much a rah-rah meeting for the cruise line. It is nice that they appreciate their clients. They did recognize some people who advance from gold to platinum members, two from platinum to titanium, and even one from titanium to diamond. The last one takes one thousand days of sailing. Over three years! That is quite an achievement.
Dinner followed in Prime 7. Mary had the prime rib and it was the chicken for me. The chicken was chosen because of the flavor filled BBQ sauce. It was a lovely evening. Before turning in it was a cigar in the lounge with Stewart. In bed by 10:30 or was it 9:30? The time changes and the fact the iPad and iPhone don’t follow ships time makes it difficult to know.
Viti Leuv tomorrow. Another country! Buonanotte e ciao, Enrico
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