Bags, and Paradise Found

Great news to report since the last post - the bags got here. All it took was Sharon's expertise with airlines to shepherd them through. And, I am embarassed to say I packed way too much junk. You tend to realize that after not having any of your stuff for a few days. Sheesh, you think I would learn.

Anyway, Sharon and I are currently at Namale Resort and Spa near Savusavu, Fiji and it is fab-boo! You can see the website at http://www.namalefiji.com/. The place is owned by an American self-help guru, Anthony Robbins. There are a few oddities relative to the service, but most of all we have had a great time aand it's completely beautiful. Here are some highlights:

The not so large 12 seater plane we flew from Nadi to Savusavu. Landing strip is approximately the size of a stick of chewling gum and the pilots were consulting paper maps during the trip. Great flight though!

Our first kava ceremony here at Namale. That brown stuff in the giant bowl is kava. What, may you ask, is that? Well, it's a traditional drink here in Fiji and everyone is really into it. These guys even call themselves the Kava Band and they play at the resort every night, except Sunday.

We looked up kava on Wikipedia, hoping for an unbiased account. I also took the above photo of some dried kava for sale at a local market. Here's what Wikipedia says:

"Kava (Piper methysticum) (Piper Latin for "pepper", methysticum Greek for "intoxicating") is an ancient crop of the western Pacific. Other names for kava include ʻawa (Hawaii), 'ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei). The word kava is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage produced from it. Kava is a legal intoxicant in many countries and if consumed before driving can cause a DUI citation. It is a tranquilizer primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. Its active ingredients are called kavalactones. In some parts of the Western World, kava extract is marketed as herbal medicine against stress, insomnia, and anxiety.

Who knew. I like kava, but Sharon is not sure yet. Here she is preparing to try it for the very first time:
The first day, we went on a nature hike with our guide, Paul. There wasn't a lot of hiking going on, it was more like a leisurely 20 minute stroll.

We did learn that poison ivy grows on trees here! YIKES!!!! Sharon was careful not to touch it, and so was I.

Later that day, a lovely picnic was served near the ocean...

It is really hard to describe how beautiful this place is, so I'll let the pictures do the rest.

More soon...Gretchen