What time is it there?!

On the edge of the Bouma National Heritage Park area, these are another great example of the local village looking after the park area. There is quite a well maintained path, but we decided quite quickly that the park wouldn’t last very long in the US or UK, since they would be knee deep in lawsuits after the first month from careless visitors who had slipped on steps, knocked their heads on low branches (Nikky has first hand experience of this!), or fallen in the river at the point where you have to cross it using just a rope for support. So please, don’t come here and complain about such things, it’s fine as it is you just need to remember back to the days when you were responsible for your own safety!

We mentioned this problem with accident claims to our hotelier, and he explained to us that the Fijian approach to such things would be: “Sh*t Happens”. Maybe some of the more ridiculous personal injury claims should be handled in the same way!

After 40 minutes or so of climbing steps in unsuitable weather (Mad dogs & Englishmen and all that) we were in need of a swim in the pool by the second of three falls. The water here is cooler than we have been used to, but still couldn’t be described as ‘cold’ or even ‘chilly’. We didn’t continue to the third falls as we had been tipped off that there wasn’t much water (and we needed to get back down for the bus). After another quick dip at the lower falls we returned to the village to await the return bus.

Since there aren’t many tourists about we are the highlight of the day for the village kids who join us in the bus stop and are fascinated by the chance to see their picture on our cameras (see earlier ‘Taveuni’ note for picture). Our feeling of experiencing ‘real’ village life is somewhat shattered when we realise that one of the boys is wearing a number 23 Real Madrid shirt, proving that you really can’t get away from David Beckham!