Matacawalevu Village Visit

Thursday one of the staff members here, Joji, took us across the channel to Matacawalevu Island and his village, Matacawalevu. (He also does tours of the local school, fishing and other minor excursions). We walked most of the village, 30-40 houses, met some people, looked in at the church and elsewhere, and had an introduction and visit with The Chief (not pictured because I forgot to ask), a well-spoken and well-traveled Fijian (he'd been to NYC and DC) about our our age. Apparently the chief is elected by and from the elite families. All the resort staff are from one or another of the four nearby villages, and we wanted to have some experience of the native culture here; and do a little to directly support the local people.

Looking toward the village, across the channel, from Joji's boat

On the beach; Matacawalevu translates to "long beach"

Houses facing a village green

Some of the houses, nearer the beach, did not fare well in last year's cyclone

The church (Methodist)

Interior

Village ceremonial drum

Cooking is done in a shed away from one's house

Piglet herd

Joji shows us a local tuber, kava

Bread fruit: think Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian

And papaya, one of my least favorite tropical fruits

Boating back to Nanuya...the Blue Lagoon beach again