First Day of the Rainy Season in SAVU SAVU

My dearest friends, family and fans (and random people too i guess)

I am still in Savu Savu, i just can't seem to get away. But i LOVE it here, and after havn't only spent a week or so, I know so many names and faces, that I just can't get anywhere without getting into idol conversations about this our that! But whose complaining?!?? It awsome here and I love the people! THe accents are from ALL OVER THE WORLD, england, Austrailia, NZ, Japan, Germany, France, Holland, and even Ireland too!! DId I forget the US? Dammit, no I didn't, but here comes the story of the Americans.

Quite a few Peace Corps (henseforth PC) volunteers are stationed here in fiji, and they all live alone in their villages. (Americans, of course). I was meeting them here and there in SS and saying hello and such. And a few days ago Bret and Garret invited me to share pizza and beer one afternoon at the Copra shed. Turns out Garret grew up in Sandy Springs, and we went to Rival highschools and know many of the same people growing up! What luck! So naturally we had tons and tons to talk about, and boy did he like it when i said "y'all"!!!

Apparently all the PC people on Vanua Levu were meeting in SS to take the ferry to Lautoka the following day. These boys were here a bit early and hadn't much to do but hang out at the watering hole all day. So i met with them after dinner and we closed down the Hotsprings Hotel, and then had to sneak around a bit to find some afterhours black market Fiji Bitter Longnecks. But these boys know the town very well, and speak enough fijiian to get by pretty well. We had such a great time (others joined us to, a very outragious 19 year old Aussie, and two pretty british gals) and we drank our longnecks fiji style (shared one glass among us) and just whiled away the hours.

Around 3 am I excused myself and got in my dingy, but before going back to the boat I took time to enjoy the harbor. All was quiet save for the lapping of my oars in the water, and the bay was as smooth as glass. The ample stars over head reflected in the water so that it seemed I had stars above and below and was floating in a sea of tranquil space. The ghostly quiet dark boats rested like stoney sentinals on the waters surface, and i floated among them silently, just enjoying a very very holy moment.

I was sad when they had to leave the next day. At Happy Hour at the copra shed we drank a few more Fiji Bitters before they left. (only 2.50 F dollars-soooo cheap!) By then, several other PCs had arrived, 6 in all, and yet another one, Pete grew up in Decatur (golly the coinkydinks!!) We all had a few more good laughs and then it was time for dinner so I had to go.

Cathy, Peter and I met up with our dear friends Helmut and Kirstin on Lop-to, and we had yet another outstanding dinner at Bula Re. We also joined tables with our new friend Wolfgang, off the boat Galatia. I dare say Wolfgang fufilled many of the requirements for Sailorman under my reqirements for marriage (looking for sailormen, cheifs, princes, chefs, prominent landowners and millionaires etc etc)...and although Sailormen are lower on the pole than the rest, i must say I'd think I'd really enjoy a life at sea. He was witty to no end and even Lop-to and Leto's crew seemed to say that he'd make a good sailing partner. Alas, he was much MUCH older than me, had a crew aboard that required him sailing out the next day, and anyways, seemed oblivious to my batting eyelashes...hahaha!

but great things. Bret one of the PCs, has a brother travelling in Vietnam--so one might make a connection there possibly, after Taveuni I might head to Nadi and meet up with Garret again (slight possibility there) and Wolfgang will be in the Yasawa's too, which is not a far reach from Nadi...so possibilties people!!!

But to be rather more realistic...I think Cathy and Peter are leaving tommrrow at first light, and i havn't even decided if I'll spent my first night on land or with them. Everything just happens as it happens here! But I'm preparing to embark on my own. I'm quite sure that I'm going to take the next ferry To Taveuni and spend 5 days or so there, and then take a flight to Nadi. From there I'll hit Raki Raki, Nananu-i-Ra, Lautoka, the Nausori Highlands, and then Nadi to be ready to leave by the 21st! (only 21 days away!! eek!)

I'm really excited to be setting off on my own. Though travelling with Leto has been one of the most enriching and wonderful experiences of my life, where every moment was savored like a long awaited last meal before a fast, I am eagar to set of alone. I will enjoy more privacy, which i miss very much, as well as alone time (which, try as i might, is hard to find! even while travelling alone, so far whenever i'm by myself, i seem to find company in less than 5 minutes) All my adventures are only at the beginning and there is much much to come!

So I'll keep you updated. Love to everyone!
rev. croftee