Year Two
Date: 29/7/2009 17:00
Weather: Perfect
Location: Savusavu (16 46.63' S, 179 20.05' E)
Author: Peter.

Our first sight of the eastern side of Fiji is somewhat different in aspect to Tonga. The islands in the section of Lao group that we are making our way through are much taller in height and are much more rugged in appearance. Unlike Tonga which is mainly low and flat, here we see mountain peaks and many there of. Also in these eastern islands there is a lack of palm trees, which seem to be so abundant on the islands of Tonga.

Our sail across from Tonga was a simple quick affair with good steady winds and relatively flat seas. We chose to leave just after a low trough waiting for the breeze to swing south. We had planned to get away at midnight but as the breeze was still from the west this was not possible. In the end we got away at 04:00 and made great progress under grey skies for the next two days as the wind slowly rotated to the south east. After 56 hours of sailing we moored up in Savusavu on a clearing morning followed by a beautiful blue sky day.

We were kindly assisted in doing Customs and the like by the friendly staff at the Bosun's Chair which made life so much easier and hassle free. They even arranged our cruising permits for us which included the Lao Group (formally, this was a difficult region to get permission to see).

Savusavu is a pretty little town with a fairly equal looking mix of indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians in the population. It is clean and unlike our past experiences in Nadi the locals are all friendly, helpful and in no way pushy. As soon as you leave town everything is uphill. From these hills flow some natural springs, the water from which is extremely hot. Steam rises from the drains that exit the town into the waters of the bay. Some of the locals use the hot water to cook corn that they then sell off on a street corner. The markets here are great with much more variety than we had in Tonga, however without the local market gardens, some of the quality is not as good. The supermarkets also have much much more, with a major influence from the Indian population at affordable prices. Pity they still don't seem to stock the kind of lollies that Kylie loves.

On a side note it is a weird but beautiful world we live in. I was only thinking this morning when I was having a shave how different things can be. Normally guys would have a shave in their bathroom at home looking at themselves in a mirror. Every second day (how lucky am I) when I have a shave I sit in the back of the cockpit and take in the surroundings about me. My scenic bathroom takes in so wonderful a view that unlike the mirror I used to use, changes and varies with each new anchorage. Oh what bliss. We all need to see more of our wonderful planet.

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