We are afraid it will be a dreary day in Lautoka, since the skies are heavily overcast, and it rained for a lot of the day. During breakfast, we heard Ian announce the warning about taking food and beverages, etc. off of the ship (water excepted) or there could be stiff fines. Then he said the ship had been cleared after 8am, and rain was expected by noontime. We had to laugh since looking out the window from the Pinnacle Grill, we could see the rain falling. Some of the staff was outside directing the tour folks to their buses, and even they were using umbrellas. Actually, as it turned out, the rain fell lightly until noon, then it let up somewhat. We never did see the sun.
There were some excursions here today which included an eco park and wildlife tour with a stop at an aquarium and included a light lunch for $120. The caves and zipline was $165, but was more for the adventurous younger crowd, such as Remco, the Pinnacle Grill manager who did go there and loved it. Homestead and history tour was $130, while traditions and beauty with a kava ceremony with shopping was $145. A ride to nearby Nadi for shopping was $70, but with so many shops and cafes closed, why go there? A mud pool experience with a kava ceremony was $150. Did we ever explain the kava ceremony? If we did, it is worth repeating briefly. Kava is made from the roots of the peppermint tree or bush. These roots are soaked and squeezed into what appears to be a muddy water. It is placed into a large bowl, and shared with the group, all drinking from that same bowl. To refuse is rude we understand. And to be totally truthful, the first ceremony we attended, we pretended to drink the concoction, which numbed our lips. It is like drinking alcohol we think. The stronger it is, the most intoxicating it can be.
After most of the tours groups went off, we left the ship after 10am. There was a complimentary shuttle service to downtown Lautoka, and it ran every 60 minutes. When we were here three years ago, we did not take the shuttle, but walked to town. That's what we did today using the umbrellas to stay dry. The rain was more like a steady drizzle, but it was still close to 80 degrees and humid. We had been told that the town would be closed down for the last day of Diwali, but we found that to be only partially true. We knew that Jack's, the local department store, would be opened, because they are the ones that provide the shuttle. The bus stop is right on the same corner of the store.
We walked deeper into town and came across the marketplace, that was basically shut down. At least the meat and fish areas were closed up, but the outdoor produce market was in full swing. All of the fruit and veggies were laid out on tarps on the sidewalk. They were even selling the roots of the taro plants, as well as peppers, onions, ginger, tomatoes, corn, okra, and long beans. Most of the fruit included very large pineapples, bananas, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and other varieties we did not recognize.
The largest and most popular place for the folks and families to go is the City Sugar Mall. But that was totally closed today. Walking the side streets revealed that most all of the Indian shops were opened. We made a pass through Jack's, but it was so crowded with cruise ship passengers we went right back outside. Many of them were not wearing masks. It was not required in town, but why take chances? The line for the shuttle was very long, and we never intended to use it anyway. We ran into friends Sandy and Jack, who usually do the same thing we do as far as hiking goes. We have operated on such a different schedule, this is the first time we have seen them since they boarded in Vancouver. Where has the time gone???
We saw a few young Hindu ladies drawing intricate designs on the sidewalk with colored chalk. They did this in front of the shops and even the barbershop. One lady even had the small candles called diyas lit in the middle of the designs. It was all tied to the Festival of Lights.
Passing by one Indian shop by the name of Jaipur , one of us spotted a nice pareo with favorite colors. The friendly vendor invited us inside to show us her variety of patterns and colors. I ended up buying two for a mere $10. Best buy of the day, and we were not even shopping. There was no chance for lunch, since the only restaurant that came close to recognizable was McDonald's. They have a fairly modern one here. And besides, the eateries were closed. As we were walking through town, kids were lighting fireworks in the park across the main street. They really sounded loud, and were unnerving. Sounds too much like gun shots. The local pigeons sure did not like it.
Making or way down to the water, we walked the seawall path which is lined with a strip of park with benches. Normally, this is full of locals enjoying the sun during lunchtime. Today it was practically empty. Better for us since it gave us the chance to use some of the benches. This was a shortcut to the ship, which was only a few blocks away. We got back after 1pm and spent a lazy afternoon working on the photos and watching the bay.
Lunch was room service, and dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill. Sometimes mistakes are made with our shipboard credit. Checking to see what the refunded port charges were for missing Dravuni, we found that $18.79 had been credited for each of us. However, we spotted charges for the Pinnacle Grill dinner two nights ago. These meals were complimentary. So we called the front desk and reported it and were told it would be taken care of. So at dinner tonight, our waiter said they had taken the charges off of our account, and apologized for the mistake. It happens sometimes, so it is important to check the account often. Our meals were excellent tonight. Our mains were hot as could be making the halibut and filet mignon taste even better, if that is possible. We thanked them for going the extra mile tonight.
The clocks went forward tonight, losing one hour of sleep more than likely. But with tomorrow being a sea day, it won't matter a whole lot.
Bill & Mary Ann
