I've been on a trip with friends to Udu in the north. Don't know where that is? well actually I didn't know where that was either! Even as I was travelling there. But I did know we were firstly flying to Labasa, on the other big island in Fiji: Vanua Levu. Pretty much everything I know about Vanua Levu is from here of course...
Well Labasa was a surprise! It's really neat, clean, prosperous, sort of like the little hick country town in the back blocks with a big income from the surrounding districts. I really liked it, and of course I have LOTS of photos to get round to sharing.
But for today just two from the airport. I have a new camera (thanks P&V for the help, and Miriam of course), and a new instruction book to read as well. So I tried out shooting black and white in camera. The good thing about a black and white jpeg is that you just reduce the size and it's ready to blog, yay (not that I'm claiming they're perfect of course). So here we are: Labasa in black and white...
I liked the contrast between the two cultures here (and of course the obvious relationship between the people in the moment). The girl from England is free to travel alone, wear a sleeveless top (though she's certainly not really wearing anything skimpy or tight) and talk unchaperoned to the guy from Vorovoro where she's just been staying... a note: she made a point of telling me how great it is there too, so it must have been another great experience from the friendly north, just like those I will share... in later posts... And if I write vina a va a levu it's not because the "k" has jammed on my keyboard... more to come...
nb: I also had a lovely photo of 2 kids peeping out the window waiting for the plane... but it occurred to me it's no longer cool to post pics of kids without permission eh?
Yaaay I'm from Udu! :P Udu represent XD
Posted by: Wilson | July 13, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Oh I'm looking forward to seeing these. It's over thirty years since I was last there and the airport was a tiny two-roomed wooden building then. It seems a shame that you feel that you can't post great pics if they include children.
Posted by: Julie Oakley | July 13, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Stunning! Vanua Levu is like another country when compared to Viti Levu.
Posted by: Michele | July 14, 2009 at 02:05 AM
I've always dreamt of seeing Fiji, and only through you can I do that! That aerial landscape is aweseome.
As far as your people shots...you always manage to capture such a depth of humanity and emotion. How do you do it??
Posted by: Rebecca | July 15, 2009 at 01:11 PM
The photos are lovely. To get a glimpse of it even in photos makes one feel they are back in the country. Fiji will always be close to our hearts.
Posted by: Zubeda | July 15, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Bula sia! A tripa to Labasa and Udu eh - well Labasa town area is built upon a swamp so sometimes it does get flooded - but the people are mostly generous and smiling. I like the photo of the two women standing around a post at the airport. I'm looking forward to seeing more photos.
w.
Posted by: Wendy | July 23, 2009 at 07:50 PM
Bula I'm from Labasa and looking at these photos make me home sick. Thank you for awesome photographic.
Posted by: Luse Vula | September 14, 2009 at 01:39 PM
I actually know the standing to the right in your photo! We stayed on Vorovoro 10 weeks this past year, and are returning in a couple months to lead the project next year. Great photos!!
Posted by: Jenny Cahill | September 14, 2009 at 04:16 PM