Purse Seiner Tour!

The Yacht Club arranged a tour of the fishing ship for us. We learned that it takes 10 min. to run 1.5 km of net around the fish and the net can hold up to 400 000lbs! We had a nice chat over oolong tea in the officer's mess. Our translator asked the fishing master our questions. We learned that the Fishing Master has a higher status than the captain. With $13 million dollar ship best bring in the fish and pay for all that fuel too! Mya loved the tour but decided to have a little nap over tea and while the others went to look at the engine room. Perhaps I'll get a chance to give more details later.

Handicrafts

These are some of the most intricate crafts we've seen so far.

Navigation Sticks

These navigation sticks were used to teach the skills to each generation. The shells represent different atolls. All the information was memorized and was used in conjunction with reading the waves to find land. There aren't too many people left who can teach us about this but we sure would love to meet the true navigator! Hundreds of years ago people could set out in the outrigger canoes and find new place way out in the biggest body of water on planet earth. We'll stick to our charts and GPS. (but would still love to know how to do it otherwise!)

Mother's Day!

Vanessa sails by with some Mother's Day cheer and Cory makes whipped cream for a fancy treat for Mom.

Handing off the Jobs

Mya wants to be in charge of the flag so Cory shows her how. Cory is now in charge of tying up Dude.

Last Harvest

Bye bye spinach. Fiji customs won't let you come with us. Perhaps you can find your own island.

Play with Kathryn

Bob Festival

"Bob" is the fruit from the bob or pandanus tree. Sucking on the fibrous part brings out a sweet juice. At the festival you could purchase Bob juice, icy Bob, icy Bob with alcohol and Bob shakes. Can you say too much sugar? There are about 165 different kinds of pandanus tress here. They provide food, fibre for ropes, materials for weaving as well as shade.

Collecting Palm Branches for the Fire

what to do before you fall out of a tree...

Easter

Dyed eggs for breakfast.
Then go ashore to join Lovesong for an egg hunt.
Have the kids who live there give you strange looks when you ask them to go find eggs in the papaya trees. but they caught on in a hurry...

Fish Processing

First you get a permit to buy the fish. Then you go to the plant and hand the permit to security. Make your way through while looking at the giant fish being offloaded the ships. Big tuna loins and a lot of time with the pressure cooker make for some nice canned and pickled fish to eat enroute!

Provisioning

We were doing about the same thing at this time last year only a few of the jobs have changed. Last year Mya carted hundreds of cardboard boxes and plastic to the garbage. This year she packs the bags while practising counting to 8. Hexagon the cat helped too.