Church, Snorkelling & Volleyball
We actually had to set our alarms this morning as we had Sunday morning church to attend. An elderly gentleman from the village walked us up out of our little resort and over the hill to a very small village called Nalauwaki. As we walked through the few little houses we passed kids all dressed in their Sunday best and said 'bula' to everyone we saw.
We were lead to the biggest building of the village and bought to sit up front behind the children. Once everyone had arrived the congregation started singing and wow can they sing. They all have different harmonies and it felt so amazing to be part of their all encompassing sound. It's the sort of music that make you feel like your soul is soaring even if you're not sure you have a soul. It's really breathtaking.
We had been asked to cover our shoulders and knees for church so we sat there covered, dripping in sweat as the room filled with people and still, warm air. The service was in Fijian so we sat through an hour and a half of service as different members of the congregation stood and spoke not understanding a word. I watched the little kids wander in and our and be carried around by their older siblings, all dressed in beautiful dresses or shirts a sulus (male sarongs).
It was probably worth it for the singing and thankfully the service was a lot more musical than a traditional service in England but the heat was getting a bit unbearable by the end and I was very pleased when we were told it was over. I've never been so keen to run back and jump in a pool. We walked back over the hill, waving at any child that wanted to stare at a tourist.
We then rented snorkels and fins and took a while to get sorted but we finally made it out to the edge of the coral to join our friend Clarke (guy from Arizona, we had met on the transfer over to the island and who has eaten most meals here with us). This is how I like to snorkel, you don't have to get on a boat, be dropped off and worry about hitting the coral from being too shallow. Here we walked out along a channel and got to the edge of the coral.
The water is crazy clear and ridiculously warm and although the coral wasn't as colourful as Great Barrier Reef (brown coral actually means it's healthy and hasn't been bleached by global warming) the fish were stunning. The variety of fish and the colour were incredible and so many of them going about their business. It really was beautiful.
Maybe I was in a better frame of mind but for me this snorkelling was the best we've done. We couldn't stay out too long as Edd had been badly sunburnt yesterday and I know that I can't cope with this sort of heat. It's deceptive in the water because you feel lovely and cool but I know that the sun really hits me quickly and within about 20 minutes I'm turning tomato colour.
We went back to reading and I as I finished my book I realised that Edd had fallen asleep. I crept out to pool side and was invited to join the couple who we had had dinner with to play bananagrams. Clarke joined us and so did the girls so by the time Edd woke up we were quite a little party.
Edd has been desperate for a game of volley ball and the court is all set up but he needed enough people to get a game started. With the help of Clarke and the other guy they soon had a game going and I could not believe how popular it was, within minutes of starting it seemed that every guy in the area had also been desperate to play. They had a big game and it was lovely to watch people from all over the beach and bar suddenly liven up and want to be included. I sat and watched with some of the girls and we chatted in the shade.
Dinner was lovely now that we had a little group of friends, an Aussie couple, two girls, also Australian and Clarke. The food was a la carte and very good with a canapé and pallet cleanser between courses! We sat around afterwards playing cards and I felt that this is what real travelling felt like- very international, playing volleyball and then cards into the evening.
We actually had to set our alarms this morning as we had Sunday morning church to attend. An elderly gentleman from the village walked us up out of our little resort and over the hill to a very small village called Nalauwaki. As we walked through the few little houses we passed kids all dressed in their Sunday best and said 'bula' to everyone we saw.
We were lead to the biggest building of the village and bought to sit up front behind the children. Once everyone had arrived the congregation started singing and wow can they sing. They all have different harmonies and it felt so amazing to be part of their all encompassing sound. It's the sort of music that make you feel like your soul is soaring even if you're not sure you have a soul. It's really breathtaking.
It was probably worth it for the singing and thankfully the service was a lot more musical than a traditional service in England but the heat was getting a bit unbearable by the end and I was very pleased when we were told it was over. I've never been so keen to run back and jump in a pool. We walked back over the hill, waving at any child that wanted to stare at a tourist.
We then rented snorkels and fins and took a while to get sorted but we finally made it out to the edge of the coral to join our friend Clarke (guy from Arizona, we had met on the transfer over to the island and who has eaten most meals here with us). This is how I like to snorkel, you don't have to get on a boat, be dropped off and worry about hitting the coral from being too shallow. Here we walked out along a channel and got to the edge of the coral. 
The water is crazy clear and ridiculously warm and although the coral wasn't as colourful as Great Barrier Reef (brown coral actually means it's healthy and hasn't been bleached by global warming) the fish were stunning. The variety of fish and the colour were incredible and so many of them going about their business. It really was beautiful. 
Maybe I was in a better frame of mind but for me this snorkelling was the best we've done. We couldn't stay out too long as Edd had been badly sunburnt yesterday and I know that I can't cope with this sort of heat. It's deceptive in the water because you feel lovely and cool but I know that the sun really hits me quickly and within about 20 minutes I'm turning tomato colour.
We went back to reading and I as I finished my book I realised that Edd had fallen asleep. I crept out to pool side and was invited to join the couple who we had had dinner with to play bananagrams. Clarke joined us and so did the girls so by the time Edd woke up we were quite a little party.
Edd has been desperate for a game of volley ball and the court is all set up but he needed enough people to get a game started. With the help of Clarke and the other guy they soon had a game going and I could not believe how popular it was, within minutes of starting it seemed that every guy in the area had also been desperate to play. They had a big game and it was lovely to watch people from all over the beach and bar suddenly liven up and want to be included. I sat and watched with some of the girls and we chatted in the shade.
Dinner was lovely now that we had a little group of friends, an Aussie couple, two girls, also Australian and Clarke. The food was a la carte and very good with a canapé and pallet cleanser between courses! We sat around afterwards playing cards and I felt that this is what real travelling felt like- very international, playing volleyball and then cards into the evening.
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