Arts Village
Trip Start
Nov 15, 2006
1
5
228
Trip End
Jul 15, 2008
Pacific Harbour,
Fiji
Friday, November 24, 2006
Early this morning we traveled by bus from the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbor to spend the day at the Arts Village. This is a good place to see a portrayal of original Fijian culture, although totally make believe. It's like the Greenfield Village of Fiji. A man made lake with a man made island, is the center piece of the complex with restaurants and craft shops around it. A temple and chief's house dominate the island. Performers recreate scenes from indigenous village life before Christian Missionaries arrived, which wasn't all that long ago. They also perform the firewalking. Fijian firewalking is done on white hot stones packed into glowing embers. Traditionally, the only Fijians who firewalk are from the village of Navakaisese on nearby Beqa island. Fijian Hindus also firewalk but on hot ash over glowing embers.
This night we were invited to stay at Stella's place, also know as Hot Stone Villas
Big Bura
. This is a Friars recommended accommodation. We are here as guests of Ratu Tavita Mara the great chief of Lau, which is a group of islands on the eastern edge of the Fiji. He inherited the position from his late father who had also been the president of Fiji until the 2000 coup. He's home is on the chiefly island of Lakeba, the traditional seat of the high chiefs of Lau. As chief he owns the whole district, and is a member of the Great Council of Tribal Chiefs, of which there are 13. Stella is the owner of Hot Stones Villas, and Ratu Tavita is her friend. It's just one of those things that happen when you're traveling. The accommodation is first class to say the least. Stella's place is at S. 180degrees 14.844' latitude and E. 178 degrees 04.086' longitude.
Cut and paste 18 14.844S 178 04.086E into google earth.
Tomorrow we move on to Suva the capital.
