Blog for March 15 -
I packed all my gear into my airline bags
and my knapsack. I reluctantly paid Jim
for 9 of the 19 days I was on his boat.
Five of those days were away from the dock with three overnights and it could
be argued that 4 additional days could be expected of crew for preparing and
cleaning up. No pay for me for the work
I had done as I had signed on as ‘unpaid crew’.
I was just glad to be away from the boat. For Lynda, who had taken the night off, I
left Jim a written list of the things that would need to be done to make Lynda
safer while she stayed at the dock with the boat during April. I could not just walk away without putting it
in writing. Apparently foreign boats are
not subject to inspection so it was all I could do. No help to get my bags off the boat or to
carry them to the road where I hailed a taxi.
Jim was focussed on his computer screen; he forgets who carried that
screen from America in his flight bag.
Left bags in the care of the Yacht Club who
are always so obliging. Checked out the
Hot Springs Hotel which is close to town and am happy with the $55 room with
ceiling fan and a view of Savusavu harbour.
Grabbed an early lunch as no breakfast was offered on the boat and then
had a great time touring the town.
Converted $300 American returned by Jim to $512 Fijian. Bought bus and ferry ticket to Taveuni for
tomorrow morning and arranged a taxi to get me to the bus station. Departs at 7 a.m.
Did some shopping for souvenirs but hard to
find Fijian goods. Mostly Chinese on
Indian imports that could be purchased anywhere. Perhaps somewhere else.
I did find the Goundar Shipping office, a
little hole in the wall with a painting of the Queen of Prince Rupert aka Lomaivitti
Princess. The agent, Kong, a delightful
Chinese fellow, filled in some of the details of the boat. He said George has fixed the first class air
conditioning and I would be most comfortable if I would spring for an overnight
cabin. So I’ll pamper myself. It’s gotta beat sleeping on the deck or the
carpet. That trip will be from Savusavu
on March 27 to Suva March 28. That
should give me three days in Nadi before I fly out.
Meanwhile, I will go to Taveuni and stay
there a couple of nights as the ferry (Grace Shipping) returns Sunday. I have put together a calendar appendix in my
diary so I can plan to see as much as possible without messing up any bookings
or missing any boats. The Savusavu Hot
Springs Hotel will be my home base. They
will store my big bag when I am not here and provide me a room when I am. Next week I will take a bus to Labasa where
the Palmlea Lodge was highly recommended by Vin and Annetta. www.palmleafarms.com
and could be worth a short stay.
One of my shopping expeditions was for LED
lights for Pegasus. My boating friends
may want to check the on-line catalogue for Bebi Electronics. I bought their cockpit light and two Cabin
lights. The cockpit light just hangs on
the boom and provides night light in the cockpit as well as being a very
effective anchor light. See www.bebi-electronics.com
I can buy an hour of internet time here so
I have done my typing ahead of time.
Tough life though, the only place to access the internet is to sit in
the bar gazing over the swimming pool and the view of the harbour. I’ll give that a try now, and then go for
dinner.
Connection would not work in the
lobby. Walked down the hill and came
upon a Chinese food place at the corner.
While it did not look busy, I saw two figures waving me in and so joined
Vin and Annette for what became a three course dinner with wine. Good conversation about Taveuni and even
more when Peace Corp volunteer Kristin dropped in and gave me names of people
to see.
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