Just as we wondered when we would ever see the sun again it dawns bright sunny and calm like nothing happened. These photos taken today (friday) lunchtime... Today sadly some of the guests out here are trying to stay longer, but due to the disruptions in flights over the last week they can't change their air tickets...
Photos are coming in (from various sources) of the floods and they are just terrible. We still haven't been to town, actually we haven't been since the 29th of December- last year (!) -but of course we have have been lucky enough to be safe and sound and secure out here at the island while the storm wreaked havoc on the mainland.
The one notable fact when you look at the photos of the floods are the resilience of the Fijians. Through the photos and clips you notice them still smiling and waving, just as they smiled and sang welcome songs out here in the pouring rain. Here's Wendy's very clever cartoon inspired by the description of the staff singing in the rain...
isn't it great? you can see the whole post here at Babasiga...I think her drawing describes the welcome in the storm far more effectively than my lame photo...
You can see that resilience again here in this short film of the floods on youtube, people still giving cheery smiles. In this one they are driving from just out of Denerau to just past the turnoff to Nadi by South Seas Treasures and the mosque. The last part they went through became impassably deep in the next few days after that, right up to the roof in fact of a van parked in the yard there...
As I said we didn't go out to town, and probably just as well... we have a four wheel drive, but not a very big one, and then with boats cancelled every second day we probably would've been stuck in town to boot. But no doubt the biggest problem of all would've been me and my camera as I took off in a single minded mission to try and capture the devastation. Instead I'll be thankful we are untouched out here, and share these ones Robert took last weekend... (apologies for any degradation in quality caused by uploading to web)
resilience...
and these are also Roberts, from Sunday by town. The flood waters have dropped by more than 6' to allow them to come in and take these...
So Fiji is sitting in a fine day and in the midst of a huge clean-up... :( If you have the opportunity to give or help please do! Crops, roads and buildings are ruined. If you want to give and don't know how: the Fiji Times and ANZ flood appeal, all proceeds will be given to the Fiji Red Cross, ANZ Fiji account # 10087832 (your ANZ bank will be able to confirm that that is genuine for NZ and Aussies). But don't forget to visit, as all the pictures show the Fijians' friendly spirit remains! And the sun's out again for the moment...touch wood!
I'm glad you can warm your face in the sun again! Thank goodness you're all safe. Here's hoping the clean-up goes smoothly.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 17, 2009 at 01:42 AM
Thanks Beccah. Your new photoblog looks good btw!
Posted by: Meg Campbell-Back | January 17, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Great photos and story. Fiji news doesn't give the stuff I really want. Can I copy one of the pics (the busted road)? The local Donation in Kind guys want to see pics as they are going to fund-raise for Fiji and probably send containers. We just printed out bits from our blog to give them so far. It has been very hot today - over 40 degrees C but we went to the DIK depot and started sorting books to take our minds off the heat!
w.
Posted by: wendy | January 20, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Oh gosh Meg, it looks just so sad! Sorry I didnt' hear from you before you headed back home, I know you were busy and I bet the time rushed by. Looking forward to catching up when you have more time on your hands, and hoping everything went okay?
Posted by: Mands | February 08, 2009 at 08:31 AM
I cant believe this! great pictures! craziness!
Posted by: Kellie | February 13, 2009 at 02:40 PM
It suck whenever catastrophe happens in a beautiful reserved place.
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