Lautoka day 2 started out with temperatures back in the 80's and 65% humidity. The breeze was stronger with 11.6mph with overcast skies, broken clouds, and possible rain showers. All aboard was early at 3:30pm.
Being that we had "done the town" yesterday, we stayed onboard until 11:30am. Yesterday's rain had had certainly cleared the air with one exception. We had noticed that sugar cane fields were being burned, leaving a plume of heavy smoke in the distance. During the late evening hours, the winds had shifted to make the entire town and dock area totally obscured. The smoke was so heavy it was hard to see the dock. And it smelled terrible, wishing I had not opened the veranda door. By morning, the smoke was back in the fields with the plume heading straight into the sky.
This morning, one of us was having a sudden problem with a dry cough. Not bad, just annoying. Within a few hours, I had chest congestion with a bad cough. Now we wondered if that smoke triggered it. Who knows, but there may be a doctor visit for me tomorrow.
Back to Lautoka, we went straight to the Tanoa Hotel & Resort, arriving at noontime. Once again, the staff was setting up the buffet which began at 1pm. This time we ordered a 12 inch BBQ chicken pizza which was really tasty. We had hesitated to order a different one because it said there was capsicum, which we know as hot peppers. Taking a chance, the peppers appeared to be sweet and not hot. They were out of draft beer, so we ordered Fiji Gold bottles, just as good. We had enjoyed the brownie dessert with ice cream, so decided to share another one.
We took our sweet time walking back since all aboard was 3:30pm. We were on the ship by 2:30pm. In most every port where the heat is oppressive like today, there is a sweet bar staffer handing out frozen washcloths. We said yes we need it, and while she was giving them to us, one of the older local vendor ladies approached her and asked for one also. She said sorry, but it is not allowed. We heard later on that there had been some problems with the crew and dock workers last night. Suffice it to say, some of the crew members got into some kind of trouble and may have lost their option of getting off for a while.
The Captain gave his 3:30pm talk prior to leaving the port, adding that it was time too say goodbye to Lautoka. We would have 252 nautical miles to reach Savusavu tomorrow early in the morning. After navigating through the reefs with a pilot, the Zaandam would have to go at a fast speed. The winds were expected to be 20 knots tonight, and tomorrows' weather would bring sprinkles, sun, clouds and warm and humid. The same-same.
Dinner was titled Prost Dinner in the dining room, but we were not sure what that meant. We soon found out it was the German menu. Not feeling 100%, one of us had the watered-down chicken soup, the other had salad and potato latkes, followed by Weiner schnitzel with German potato salad. Quite good we may add. Bee sting cake called Bienenstich was dessert for one of us, while it was pineapple slices for the other.
The entertainer of the night was a soprano singer by the name of Clarissa Spata. She sang award-winning tunes from opera, classical, and theater. One of us was so tired, I do not remember my head hitting the pillow.
Tomorrow we will be in Savusavu.
Bill & Mary Ann
