This morning we were picked up at our resort and transported to the Sigatoka River Safari base. As we began our journey up the awe inspiring river we heard…
From there we enjoyed a 10 1/2 mile scenic cruise into the Sigatoka valley, discovering the fertile area known as the “salad bowl” of Fiji.
The awe inspiring Sigatoka River is the longest river on the island of Viti Levu, running from the hills of the Navosa Province right down to the sand dunes in…
The river was used as the only means of transport from the coast to the interior right up until the late 1950’s. The travel time for many villagers from Navosa…
Today the river is open to tourists and locals to see first-hand the natural beauty of the river and interior, all from the comfort of the safari jet boat.
A Great Blue Heron sits atop a tree stump along the Sigatoka River.
When we reached our village destination, Toga Village, we were given a warm welcome by the villagers. Sigatoka River Safari is careful to visit a different…
All the ladies in our group were given a sarong to wear to ensure they were covered below the knee.
The children of Toga Village we adorable, curious and plentiful.
Their beautiful smiles would melt anyone's heart.
We received a lei upon entering the village and Ken's was made of these beautiful Needle Flowers.
This is the village of Toga. Some of the happiest people you will ever meet in the world can be found here in some of the poorest conditions you may find.
We were invited to attend a Kava Ceremony in the community hall. During the kava ceremony, the chief will give a speech, and your elected cheif for the day…
Lovo means “a feast cooked in the earth” and that’s exactly what it is! Pork, fish, lamb and vegetables are wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in an…
Lovo is only prepared for special occasions, such as weddings or the New Year, so we were extremely honored to be invited to partake in such a wonderful…
At first being in the village, it can be a bit of a culture shock. People are living off the bare minimum in humble bures they’ve built themselves.
It becomes an uplifting experience where you’re bound to learn a great deal, not to mention reflect on what’s important in your own life.
Here two of the villagers pound yaqona root into a fine powder that is used in the Kava ceremony. By the way, Kava affects the brain and other parts of the…
We were then invited back into the community house for a typical Fijian feast. Make sure to take your shoes off before going indoors to ensure you follow…
As the feast was continuing to be prepared the village elders and the children gathered with us and waited for everything to be done. While we waited a cute…