Malolo Lailai

The island of Malolo Lailai is host to the Musket Cove Yacht Club. Membership is limited to those who sailed across an ocean to Fiji in a small yacht. Lifetime fee for the captain is $1.

Musket Cove YC

There are a limited number of berths in the inner basin of Musket Cove where a boat may be stored for the cyclone season.

Chapel

Malolo Lailai island is host to two resorts, plus some private homes. Church services are held each Sunday at 11 am in the picturesque chapel.

Mana Lagoon

Tiny Mana Island is home to three backpacker "resorts" and a more POSH affair and between the two extremes is an unfortunate fence. The eastern end of the island is a bit more tranquil.

"Treasure Island"

The island of Eluvuka was renamed Treasure Island when it became the home of the resort by the same name. It sits 11 miles from the commercial port of Lautoka but seems continents away.

Dolphins Playing

Everywhere we went in Fiji, dolphins would find us. Each different type seemed to have their own personality; bottlenose dolphins would slap us with their tales, hard enough to create an audible thump in the hull.

Waya Lailai Approach

The Waya island group consists of Waya, Kuata and Waya Lailai (little Waya) which doesn't look so little upon approach. The village at the base was officially moved in the 1970s, though it remains the home of some, including a small resort.

Yalobi's Amazing Setting

Vatunareba at 1600+ feet dominates the scene as you approach the lovely village of Yalobi (yah LOAM bee).

Traditional Fijian Home

This home, though of traditional construction, was built in 2007. The leaves on the front lawn are pandanus leaves drying (after cooking) in preparation for dying and weaving mats and fans.

Chief Tom

We first presented ourselves to Tom, the chief of the village. Not having kava, we instead presented tea, sugar and breakfast crackers. Tom graciously blessed our gift and invited us to stay as long as we wanted - "stay a year", he said!

Lati

This young beauty is Latileta Nakadrudru. She showed us around the village (the nursing station serving 1500 islanders is behind her) and then shyly asked us to send letters to her.

Waya Regional Nursing Station

One young nurse serves 1500 people on three islands from this one room clinic. Most villagers have to come to her because her fuel allocation has been cut to 20 liters (5.2 gallons) for three months. She was also low on meds so we scrounged up some antibiotics to donate.

Salina Weaving Pandanus Mats

Salina was weaving a mat of dried pandanus leaves which she would sell primarily to other islanders.

Who Are Those Strangers?

These boys kept peeking at us and giggling every time we walked by. It is not uncommon for children in these rural villages to be afraid of us with our funny pink skin.

It's Fun to Pose

These children were NOT afraid of us and, as children will, yucked it up for a picture.

Mili's House

After returning from a chore of building a bonfire to burn our trash, we returned to Mili's house and were invited inside for lemonade and to view her crafts.

Mili

Mili was hard to say no to...we bought the mangrove bark tapa displayed by her grand-daughter and also some lemons which make FINE lemonade.

After the Rain

The mountain overlooking Yalobi village became a torrent of waterfalls during the passing of a trough. Some waterfalls continued to run even after the sun came out.

Chief's Family

It is customary to visit the chief upon departing a village in order to express thanks. Tom (in back with Philip) and Lolo (seated with orange top) presented Leslie with a lovely pandanus fan and shell necklace...we reciprocated with fish hooks, canned peaches, iced tea mixes, printed photos we'd taken and a visitor's book which we signed.