After clearing Customs on board ahead of our first stop in Fiji, National Geographic Orion guests were treated to a very special afternoon at the rarely visited village of Waitabu on the island of Taveuni. This is the third largest island in Fiji, and it is known as the garden island thanks to its lush and extensive forestation. Villagers conducted a ritual kava ceremony for us, and we were told that the schoolchildren practiced for three months ahead of their exuberant performances today. There was time to stretch our legs on the walk to a photogenic waterfall in Bouma National Heritage Park for a refreshing swim in the river.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Beqa Island, Fiji
Today we explored the lovely island of Beqa, which is part of Fiji. The day started with a visit to a small village by the coast and an optional hike to a neighboring village. The hike took us up a hill and provided beautiful views of the ocean and the bays below. Along the way, we looked for birds, visited a kava farm, and learned a bit about local plants. We even visited the village school, which had a small library and playground for the kids. After we finished the hike, we had a delicious lunch on board National Geographic Orion then we took Zodiacs ashore at a new location. When we pulled up on the beach, we were greeted by a chorus of singers from one of the villages. The music was beautiful, and we all enjoyed listening to the group sing and play their instruments. We shared a bowl of kava with our greeting party and then were treated to a special ritual – firewalking! Men from the village showed us their traditional practice of walking over extremely hot rocks that have been heated by a strong fire. It was impressive! It was our last full day on this trip, and we certainly made the most of it.
