Na Vale ni Veitaba

As always when we've been away in NZ I'm behind the 8-ball. One of the reasons for that is that often I will either go somewhere with no internet, or I drop the macbook in for some sort of tweak or work for a week while I'm over (as I did this time). Then I always get back here and chase my tail for a few weeks and the first thing to go is the blogging.

I am absolutely loving the photos from Udu and will share a few soon. As I was saying we were heading for a destination I wasn't familiar with, I just went with it and enjoyed the view. One of the things that surprised me was my improvement in understanding Fijian. Lets not overstate this, really it's just the progression from only understanding "Bula" and "Vinaka" to having maybe 10 words more I can understand (even if not pronounce); but in Labasa (which I loved; big, busy and clean) I spotted this shop (photo above) while I was waiting for Eileen and I could actually translate the sign: the house of photography! I knew this because one time Isoa greeted me "Bula Dauveitaba!" (Hi Photographer! well I hope that's what it is...) and I of course replied respectfully ;) "Bula mBosso"... 

Anyway the trip took us across Vanua Levu, and out to the east coast where we caught a boat at Wainigadru (I can't pronouce this one either, it's as bad for a Kaivalagi as trying to say Nagado...: g is a "ng" sound and there's an n tucked in before the d that you can't see...)... here's a sneak peek...

Aunty Lena and I went and had a look at the village pool while Eileen organised us some goods and transport, then we boarded and went on our way.... (that's the Wainigadru shop above, and some copra is on the roof above the sign on the other building)... to be continued...

So I'll have to stop now and get back to actual photography work... I will show more soon, infact I'm toying with a comparison of the Dunedin farmers market (in New Zealand) with the Labasa market (where we stopped briefly on the way home). But for the rest of the afternoon it's head down over computer, and the valeniveitaba? today for me that's right here at the computer and printer ...in my lounge!

Comments

[Wilson]

Daaaammmnnn....you make me want to visit my village in Udu now :(

/sigh

Just noticed the site upgrade - nice! ^_^ Would have been nice if you replaced your site banner with one of the many awesome pics you've taken ;)

[meg]

Thanks Wilson! I'm working on that banner.....

[dan]

love it meg!

[wendy]

Hoorah for Labasa and Udu! Peceli is currently in Labasa for two weeks but he left 'my' camera back in Suva! You say Labasa is clean - well, that's nice to hear as the cane-rucks rumble past the shops. I laughed at a news-story that $70,000 will be spent on street paving in Labasa which will attract the tourists! I think smiles would be better than more cement!
w.

[Sudoku Print Puzzles]

I love the picture of the man in the boat. Nice !

[Karen Johnson]

Awesome work Meg :-)

[Shox Running Shoes]

If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth