Lecture about Suva and the rest of the stops in Fiji

Don’t drink the water they are telling us.…30% of US bottled water comes from Fiji……but 53% of the population in 2011 didn’t have access to clean drinking water. Deep acqifered water is supplied from under volcanoes,creating perfect filtration system.  Fiji is the number 1 source in US, for bottled water. The Californians Lisnick family bought the rights  to the water in 1996.  Now the income from water is $43 million. It is the number 1 income…is  24% of all exports.   So many of the Fijians still don’t have a clean supply of drinking water though.

An Italian firm is developing something to clean the water using seagrass….to clean up coastal water.  It is being looked at to solve the problem.

Fiji used to be known as cannibalism isles.  It had a rumoured reputation so not many were keen to stop here.

Many came though as ”beachcombers” from shipwrecks. In 1874 it became British crown colony. They made it illegal for non Fijians to own land. Brits brought South Asians in as indentured labourers to work the sugarcane. And so they remained.  I think I heard that they are 40% of the population. In 1970, Fiji gained independence from Britain.

#1 & 2 stop-Suva, apparently became known as the NY of Pacific.  There are not so many good beaches beaches

Sigatoka sand dunes I’d like to see….also Suva national park

#3 stop-Lautoka…..sugar exporting port, botanical garden., sugar mill, beach 

#4-Dravuni island…beaches island is only 1.5 miles long… great snorkeling.  There are no tours. Bathroom are not available

#5-Sauvasauva……snorkelling….marine park…amazing corals, turtles,

250 varieties of palms, hot springs….maybe can try that.

Biggest income is from tourism brought about by the export of Fijian water that so few locals still have access to.  Something is wrong with that picture in my mind 

Oct22 (here)….Suva

As we sail into the Suva harbour, I notice that there are so so many “dead” ships.  It looks as if the “bay” is wide open but then you notice that the reefs are all around, just below the surface making for a narrow accessible passage in. (It reminded me of another place ….in India, that the beaches were littered with rusted-out hulk of ships.  I think it was in Mangalore).  Looking beyond, the mountains are really quite rugged.  One mountain “Joske’s Thumb” is a volcanic plug, looks as though there should be a statue atop it.

Before getting our excursion, Keith and I walked to the “Apple” repair store.  It was way further than we had anticipated.  And we had quite an experience getting across a round-about when they are all driving on the “wrong”….lol, side of the road……..it was a little 😨scary!  Unfortunately, all they could do there was dry it out and that was no guarantee.  If it needed parts, it would take 2 weeks to get them …..from Australia ……and would probably cost the same as a new phone.  I guess I am just SOL! 😩. 

Tour to Col I Suva park and waterfall

“Bula” is hello in Fijian, vinaka(sp) is thank you

330,000 in area….90,000 population in city.  Suva is distribution centre for many of the other countries in the South Pacific.. 

Main source of income used to be sugarcane now but is tourism (and water).  From here on in I could hear so little, mostly cuz the diesel bus we were riding in had the door open as the driver accelerated up the hills to the Colo I Suva Forest Park/Reserve, it was extremely noisy. And so I put my iPad away.

After arriving at the park entrance we walk down a gravel road where a guide pointed out different jungle vegetation.  The description of the tour had mentioned birds.  We never say a one.  I was very disappointed!  Only heard cicadas but did see some butterflies.  At the end of the road we trekked down a somewhat treacherous trail to a string of waterfalls.  It was very hot and humid so I decided along with a good number of others, I would go for a swim.  Oh my…..it was mighty cold getting in but then……it was sooooo nice…..not bad at all.  Unfortunately, what goes down must go back up.

Some of my observations of the areas that we drove through getting there…..some quite lovely homes in the area near embassies/consulates but oh my, talk about tin shacks and I am not talking just the roofs.  Pretty poor! We also saw banner flags on hydro poles like we see advertising coming events/festivals.  They were advertising about AIDS and HIV……”it only takes once”, a picture of a guy say that he’s been living with AIDS for 10 years, “get vaccinated”, etc.  I don’t think I have ever seen that wherever I have been before.