Around Savusavu, Fiji Islands

[fiji jim]

this is on request of Dave ( the drive-by master), Don and Bo.

First pic is leaving home down what wee call our ridge driveway as apposed to the one along the creek side.

[fiji jim]

We are about 5 klm west of the town down a peninsular but this road's usual condition keeps speed down to only 30kph and is often covered in palm fronds and coconuts or washed away after a cyclone.

[fiji jim]

Savusavu town main street

[fiji jim]

Outside the post office

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Outside the town markets

[fiji jim]

Reef fish for sale

[fiji jim]

Fish is a large part of the diet here but I prefer pelagic species

[fiji jim]

Some market vendors.

this town population is about 3,000 but it services an wide area as people bus into town from villages as far as 45klm away.

[fiji jim]

Yagona or kava root for sale.

the local legal narcotic

[fiji jim]

Also some palm, cycad and ground orchids for sale

[fiji jim]

more kava with honey in foreground

[fiji jim]

Buses do not have glass in side windows and have tarps to roll down in the rain. Some village people sit in these for 7 to 8 hours a day to visit town and return home

[fiji jim]

Another pic in town showing the yacht anchorage in the back ground. Popular with cruising yachties as here is known as a safe anchorage in all weather. I sat out a few cyclones here myself when I had a yacht.

[fiji jim]

this used to be the old wharf for sailing copra to the mill on the mainland (Viti Levu) before there was a mill here.

Now it houses some restaurants, yacht club bar, real-estate agency and the like

[fiji jim]

African tulip tree behind the Provincial council offices

[fiji jim]

School's out

[fiji jim]

Some really old Cycas circinalis I think

[fiji jim]

Yaroi, the closest village to town

[fiji jim]

No boat haul-out here so if need be this is how to anti-foul paint the yacht bottom between tides

[fiji jim]

Locals call this the Ashok tree.

It is from India I believe. They grow to about four times this height and do not get much wider

[DoomsDave]

Jim!

More more more!

Are those drive-by pictures?

[fiji jim]

Yeah most are Dave.

Here I can lean out the window most of the time and get better shots as not much traffic or speed. Some are through the windscreen also. Some to follow will be on foot and from a boat but still on the move. Of course I did not drive through the market place either.

Now I am heading east from the town and stopping at some places where we did some landscaping jobs some years back.

First is a nice Latan.

[fiji jim]

It's flowers

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Wavi Island development started with a panic but like many things in Fiji went to sleep before completion  but we got some work out of it.

Here's the entrance to the display villa with some Licuala grandis.

[fiji jim]

Further up the drive are some fishtail and ivory cane palms

[fiji jim]

A chinese fan on the round-about

[fiji jim]

Then we come to Koro Sun Villas which are a subdivision of some freehold land behind a resort.

Some new up-market houses, resort style with outdoor showers and all.

Here's my gang starting a job with a hedge of golden cane palm.

[fiji jim]

The entrance to Namale Resort.

this place is owned by Tony Robbins.

We did this before the last big cyclone and they have replaced some plants with other stuff and it's not as nice as before but at least the Adonidia are still there.

Problem with resorts is that management is always changing and it can be good or not for the contractors and most management are just glorified gofers who won't spend real money.

[bgl]

Jim,

Great pictures! Makes me feel as if it were just yesterday I was there...well, almost!  And the bus in post #12 reminded me of a very memorable busride from Suva to Nadi. MANY years ago - before they paved the road. After 6 hours we arrived late at night at Nadi for a night flight to Auckland, but after 6 hours on a bus with no glass in the windows and on a dirt road we were absolutely filthy. And no place to shower at the airport...!

Looking forward to more of your pictures!

Bo-Göran

[fiji jim]

Now we are about 20klm east of Savusavu and the road is deteriorating somewhat.

[fiji jim]

this is the road to Buca Bay where Bo Goran landed many years back on his boat trip from Taveuni Island (Fiji's 3rd largest island).

It is called the Hibiscus Highway.

Bit of a joke but many take it seriously.

this part is close to sea level and mostly sand which is much better than closer to the other end that is clay and rock.

Now we are about half way down this highway.

[fiji jim]

Yes Bo some things have improved as there are even tar-sealed roads from Suva to Nadi now (potholes too)and air-conditioned express buses but here we are years behind that.

Now let me try for the pic of the entrance to Namale again. It seemed to have disappeared. Obviously I did not do one of Tony's Life Mastery courses.    :laugh:

[fiji jim]

And some more

[fiji jim]

This is the Salt Lake River.

It is at a narrow point between the south coast and the giant Natewa Bay.

[fiji jim]

A local means of transport called a bilibili which is a bamboo raft. People go a long way on these sometimes.

Not bad as they are virtually unsinkable but you travel with a wet ass.

[fiji jim]

Some old houses. I was told that the bamboo on these walls was more than 70 years old since harvest and curing in the tide.

[fiji jim]

Another house in Bagasau Village with a different style of platted bamboo panel walls.

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Of course every village has a church or 2.

[Don Little]

Great pic Jim, thanks for posting.  Reminds me of when my wife and I were in Tahiti on Moorea.  I would love to make it to Fiji someday in the near future.

[amazondk]

Thanks a lot Jim.  As I mentioned on another post I was in Fiji a long time ago, 1972.  And, unfortunately never made it back.  I am sure it has changed somewhat since then.  Maybe some day I will get back that way.  Keep posting pictures, especially of daily life.

dk