We left Savusavu bound for Koro, wind on the nose again so we bore off for Makongai. Population 50, a former leper colony. Turned out to be an exelent choise. The reef pass was a little traumatic as, as usual the marker beacon was missing and the chart was off.

However the island now farms giant clams. The snorkeling right off the village was exelent. The Island used to be a leper colony run by french nuns. Up untill the late 60's when lepresy was cured. It produced some amazing sights, in the middle of some jungle is a cinema. Seating for aproximatly 100 I would of guessed. IE, twice the population of the Island. No wonder its closed.

Projection box end of the Cinema

As well as a disused cinema the leper colony had a prison. Those of you of a computer game pursuation may understand when I say how much this island reminds me of "Far Cry". Reefs, little islands glimsed through gaps in the trees. Etc. Disused cinemas and prisons just add to the effect.

Kava Drinking

We by shear luck we went ashore about 10 minutes before the dive boat full of American tourists. The boat had aranged with the Village that they were comming so we got to join in the traditional Kava ceremony. See the tradional dress and dancing. We also stayed after theyed left and drank more Kava. Seems to have even less effect than last time I was here. Hardly makes my mouth go numb anymore. Still tastes like muddy water.

We took a walk ashore the following day and snorkeled around the Giant Clams and played with the chrismastree worms. They are suposed to look like Chrismas trees sticking out of hte coral, if Chrismas trees where bright red yellow white and blue. "Bog Brush" would be a more apropriate description. If you wave your hand at them the draft of water casuses them to instantly fold up and duck into the tubes in the coral. After a few moments they slowly pop back out again. Great fun.

I got back from a snorkel to join the rest of the crew and the village girls playing rugby. Long time since I handled a rugby ball forgoton how hard it is.

I'm now in Suva, its a public holiday so we're here till monday so we can check in/out and shake it all about. Chris wants to go diving on Astrolable Reef, unfortunalty thats a 50 mile beat. So we're trying to find a dive boat to send him out on instead.

Went to the Cinema last night, saw Indian Jones and the Retirment home of Doom. Which wasn't good. The originals had great stunts well done. This had silly stunts badly done. It was quite fun though. Ironically the last movie I saw in Suva was "the Mummy" and action adventure with archeologists. Much better than Indain Jones 4, and almost certainly Indiana Jones inspired. Irony, I think so.

rugby practice

Loads more pictures are up in the Fiji Gallery.