February 18 - Lautoka, Fiji
I forgot to post a picture from our dinner last night.
We arrived here around 5:00 am and the health inspectors boarded. Jan and Tom had to report for a health inspection. Apparently everyone who got on in Papeete was required to report. They looked in their throats and listened to their lungs, but no temperature reading. It seems they were satisfied with everyone's results because we were actually cleared to leave the ship around 9:30 am instead of the expected 1:00 pm.
We met with our friends, Rob and Lory, Americans who have lived here for about the last 8 years. We met them on a cruise around New Zealand in February 2018 and have kept in touch ever since. It was great to see them again. They took us on a tour of a community housing project which is the work of one philanthropist who has built a few hundred simple homes for those who are living in poverty. They pay a minimum rent, but have to keep up the small house, go to school or do work of some kind, and grow a garden for their own use (but are encouraged to sell excess to neighbors). It was so interesting to see how this idea has been put to use so successfully. Rob is on the board and is rightfully proud of all the good they are doing. Lory (and Rob) works wih Shriner's Hospital to get local children in need of orthopedic treatments to the hospital in Hawaii. The doctors come to evaluate referred children and those that can be helped are sent to Hawaii and treated at no cost to their families. Lory coordinates all the administrative requirements like travel, visas and other logistics. Another wonderful program of which they should be very proud.
After a bit more touring, we went to the Boatshed restaurant for a delightful lunch. It's right on the yacht harbor so the views were great. Fortunately the weather was relatively cool for Fiji so sitting outside was comfortable. We left just before about 4 buses from the ship were arriving for a late lunch buffet. Then we went to Rob and Lory's house to see how they live. They have a very nice house in a nice area on a hill with great views of the harbor. It was quite a dichotomy - they are pretty well wired up with electronics, but there are challenges with the water system pressure. When I went to use the bathroom, Lory told Alexa to turn on the water pump.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped at the new shopping mall in town. It was quite nice, but again a little quirky. Rob says they are getting more and more western foods (expensive of course), but supply is quite hit or miss, so you really need to buy it when you see it, since you may not see it again for quite a while.
It was so good to see them again. Hope we can host them if they get back to the States and are in the Virginia area.
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| Michael, me, Ed, Karen, Maureen, Tim, Jan and Tom |
We arrived here around 5:00 am and the health inspectors boarded. Jan and Tom had to report for a health inspection. Apparently everyone who got on in Papeete was required to report. They looked in their throats and listened to their lungs, but no temperature reading. It seems they were satisfied with everyone's results because we were actually cleared to leave the ship around 9:30 am instead of the expected 1:00 pm.
We met with our friends, Rob and Lory, Americans who have lived here for about the last 8 years. We met them on a cruise around New Zealand in February 2018 and have kept in touch ever since. It was great to see them again. They took us on a tour of a community housing project which is the work of one philanthropist who has built a few hundred simple homes for those who are living in poverty. They pay a minimum rent, but have to keep up the small house, go to school or do work of some kind, and grow a garden for their own use (but are encouraged to sell excess to neighbors). It was so interesting to see how this idea has been put to use so successfully. Rob is on the board and is rightfully proud of all the good they are doing. Lory (and Rob) works wih Shriner's Hospital to get local children in need of orthopedic treatments to the hospital in Hawaii. The doctors come to evaluate referred children and those that can be helped are sent to Hawaii and treated at no cost to their families. Lory coordinates all the administrative requirements like travel, visas and other logistics. Another wonderful program of which they should be very proud.
After a bit more touring, we went to the Boatshed restaurant for a delightful lunch. It's right on the yacht harbor so the views were great. Fortunately the weather was relatively cool for Fiji so sitting outside was comfortable. We left just before about 4 buses from the ship were arriving for a late lunch buffet. Then we went to Rob and Lory's house to see how they live. They have a very nice house in a nice area on a hill with great views of the harbor. It was quite a dichotomy - they are pretty well wired up with electronics, but there are challenges with the water system pressure. When I went to use the bathroom, Lory told Alexa to turn on the water pump.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped at the new shopping mall in town. It was quite nice, but again a little quirky. Rob says they are getting more and more western foods (expensive of course), but supply is quite hit or miss, so you really need to buy it when you see it, since you may not see it again for quite a while.
It was so good to see them again. Hope we can host them if they get back to the States and are in the Virginia area.
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| Lunch at the Boatshed |
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| Talking with a local policeman outside the mall |
Back on the ship we showered before meeting Jan, Tom, Carol and Phil for dinner at Sette Mari. Didn't make the show again. I'm going to put on this segment's comment card that having the shows start 30 minutes earlier, at least occasionally, would be a great help.
It was so good to see you both here in our world. It's a crazy world but I think your's is definitely crazier than ours. Thanks for blessing us with lunch. So great to sit and spend so much time sith you!
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