Taveuni, Part 3 - West Side

We spent our third and last day in Taveuni exploring the west side of the island before catching the 2:00 ferry back to Savusavu. Once again we employed the services of our friendly taxi driver Dip (pronounced “deep”; I’m hoping his last name is Purple). Dip is a good driver and also a good impromptu tour guide. He makes an effort to identify points of interest as we head toward our destination, and even manages to spot jumping tuna from hundreds of yards away or a small purple crab at the side of the road, all while negotiating the extremely uneven terrain of Taveuni’s storm-ravaged dirt roads. Actually, because the west side of the island was more protected during the cyclone, the damage to the unpaved roads was not as severe, so this day featured somewhat less rattling of our bones.

Dip drove us by things like the hospital, the prison, the Catholic Mission, a couple of fancy resorts, the island's largest town, a few villages, coconut plantations, and a blow hole where the sea meets a formation of volcanic rocks. The three of us stopped for lunch at one of the resorts where the staff inexplicably thought Deborah ordered two sandwiches. We ate them anyway. Afterward it was back to the ferry for the four-hour-plus crossing. We arrived in Savusavu after dark and Deborah reluctantly but bravely agreed to walk up the hill back to the house. (She didn’t agree not to complain about it though).

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The island's prison. Only fifteen cells, but what a view.

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The Wairiki Catholic Mission

Inside the mission. Leave your shoes at the door and don't expect any pews. This is Fiji so you'll sit on the floor like everyone else.


Shoreline view

One of the fancy resorts we can't afford

The blow hole in the volcanic rocks

Blake and Deborah

(photo by Dip)

Dip the taxi driver

Fishing near the ferry dock. No boat or fishing pole required.