Download PDF - Oyster News 66 - Oyster Yachts

“Forget the National
Geographic - this is real life
Fijian culture, bought to you
by Oyster and the team on
board Kealoha 8.
”
One Amazing Day
By Nick O’Donnell, Oyster 72, Kealoha 8
‹When you are sailing around the world
in an Oyster 72 on the World ARC,
amazing days can seem two-a-penny,
but some stand out more then others
and this day was no exception.
We were invited to the local village of
Nacula in the Yasawra group of islands,
north of Fiji, for an annual fundraising event,
and we really had no idea what to expect.
We set off in blistering sunshine with
our excellent local guide, George, at
around 09.30 to weave our way through
the reefs in our trusty dinghy (which is a
good enough reason to make sure you
have a big one!) On shore the locals
greeted us. “Bula Bula” the local greeting
was said by everyone we met and we
returned the welcome.
At George’s house, we changed into local
Fijian dress that he loaned to us for the
occasion and watched as the local ladies
in their brilliantly coloured outfits, prepared
for their special day, as they walked past
his house. For this was the day that every
woman in the village presented to the
Chief of the Island their fund raising
efforts towards the building of the village
hall. Every woman was expected to have
raised or saved Fijian $100 (£30) over
the past year.
Now we knew we were special, but what
we didn’t realise was that the three of
us from Kealoha 8, owner David Holliday
with crew Rosie and myself, were the only
guests at this event with 250 locals. After
opening prayers, the men sat with the
men, and Rosie with the local women,
under the shade of a temporary cover,
men and women divided by the enormous
Kava Bowl.
Clan by clan, the ladies went forward to
meet the Chief, generally each clan in
matching dresses. Rosie got to join our
host’s wife, Zulu. A compère announced
the donations in a style not too dissimilar
to Terry Wogan in his role for Children in
Need! All the while the younger men
of the village served tea, juice, cakes,
and Kava to the elders (and us) as we
looked on and applauded in the traditional
Fijian way.
Our gift of Kava root was gratefully
received and sealed our fate as welcome
guests. Kava is made from Kava roots or
stems, which are carefully mashed into the
Kava bowl to which water is added. It is
drunk out of shaped coconut shells, small,
medium, and large. In a surreal way the
chief chose the music to accompany the
ceremony and much was conducted to the
sounds of Johnny Cash! >
OWNER REPORT
www.oystermarine.com 43