May 1, 2013

We ate breakfast at 8:00 this morning and then prepared to leave for Bouma NH Park.  We have been ordering lunches and dinners at Breakfast.  The resort gives us a choice of two entrees. When we told the waitress that we going to miss lunch as we would be at the park, she brought another menu for take away lunches.  We ordered quiche.

Our cab driver picked us up and drove us on the one and only paved road in Taveuni for an hour.  About 2/3 of the way there the pavement stopped and we were driving on a dirt road.  Our cab driver, Tomasi, has lived his whole life on Taveuni and worked for the resort until five years ago when Ric helped him buy a car so he could be a cab driver.  Whenever the resort needs to transport their guests further than the airport, they call for Tomasi and his cab.  He was a fountain of information and good cheer.  For the entire trip he never quit talking except to honk, wave and greet every person or car we passed.  He laughed at himself and us and informed us that every person on the island was his "good" friend.  It is hard to believe that his wife of over 25 years passed away just six weeks ago.  He, according to Do, is really devastated and is trying to come to terms with losing her.  After he told us that he goes to bed at 8:00 o'clock, I believe her.  He is my new hero.  I want to be just like that if I am left alone.

We arrived at the village of Lavena (lah vee nah), registered and waited for our boat to arrive. There is a small shed that is the office for the guides and the park officials. The resort had called ahead and booked a guide and a boat for us.  All roads end at Lavena so seeing the falls includes a boat ride.  We are talking an outboard motor boat.  The guide does not steer (pilot? captain?) the boat, a person with a certificate in some nautical studies has to captain the boat.

The ride was extremely rough--rough enough that I was nervous.  Following is what we saw.

Our Boat Captain

Our Guide
His entire income comes from guiding
tourists in Buoma Park

Our first waterfall was up a river whose mouth was hidden by undergrowth.  We actually had to duck under tree branches for the first 100 meters on the river.  Then as you can see from the picture on the left the river widened and it was easy riding to the base of the waterfall.  This waterfall was three tiers.  It was so beautiful and I especially loved the fact that I did not have to work hard to see it.

Scott was able to get out of the boat at this falls and
spend some time playing in the water and around the
falls.

Scott at the Falls

At the First Falls

On the Way to More Falls

This is such a great picture of three beautiful waterfalls.

Another Waterfall

Us at the Falls

The picture above is the same falls as the one to the left.

This waterfall is misty in the picture, but it is still a gorgeous waterfall.  Notice how turquoise the ocean water is.  We spent this whole day in awe of the gorgeous world in which we live. Heavenly Father must certainly have an artist's soul.

On the Way to the Falls

We ate lunch after the boat dropped us along with our guide off at the one falls we would have to walk to.  There was enough food for five of us, so we shared with out guide.  We walked about a mile up to the falls and then Scott when swimming.

The Trail to the Falls

    

The Falls

I was told that I would be able to walk up the stream to the falls, but there was a long deep part that prevented me from getting there.  It was about 50 meters from the end of the trail to the base of the waterfall.  Fun to watch Scott and our guide.  

Standing by the Falls

Leaving the Falls

Delicate flowers on the way back.

One of the nice things about having a guide is knowing where to look and at what you are looking.  We would never have noticed these flowers.  He also stopped us along the path with a shush.  We stood for a minute and then he pointed into the bushes.  "See the orange dove?" Scott did.  I did not. Orange doves are rare and to see one is considered a wonderful experience. Taveuni has more birds and small animals than Viti Levu, because there are no mongooses on the island.

Leaving the Waterfall.
Notice the kayak we are taking back
with us.

While we were walking to the falls our boat went back to pick up two kayakers (honeymooners) that had rented kayaks in Lavena to get them to the falls, however the sea was so choppy they were not making any headway.  The boat picked them up and brought them to the falls.  When we were finished at this falls we took the two kayaks back with to Lavena.  The kayakers had to walk back, but they were so glad to have been rescued they did not mind

Sand Crab (the size of a quarter) on the Beach at Lavena
There were thousands of them.

Fishing Off the Beach at Lavena

When we arrive in Lavena the office had pancakes and hot lemon grass tea for us.  It was nice.  Tomasi had sat in the village since we left visiting and waiting for our return.  On the way back to the resort we stopped at Bouma falls which is the most famous of all the falls.  It was a five minute walk on a grass path.  Beautiful.

Buoma Falls

The Rest of Buoma Falls

Enjoyed watching and listening to Tomasi on the way back.  When we arrived at the resort at 4:00 we were ready for a refreshing shower and a rest.  There are two showers in these bungalows; one inside that has warm water and one outside with only cold water.  Scott loves the one outside, and chooses to shower out there instead of inside.

Again the social hour was once wonderfully entertaining.  There were three Fijian men sitting on the floor just a short distance from the bar singing (one guitar) Fijian songs.  These Fijians create the most beautiful harmony.  Some of their songs were even American, but the harmony was certainly more beautiful that the original version.

Watched a movie before going to bed.