The Coral Coast in Fiji offers kokoda, kava, giant clams and so much more

Bula vinaka. Another hot, sunny day in store on the Coral Coast in Fiji. On the south coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. 

You know you're miles from home when front page news in the Fiji Sun is about the Kadavu Provincial Council in Tavuki and the news from all of North America is about six paragraphs.

I've learned much about the life in the villages here and the clans and the chiefs and the kava ritual. Kava is a drink made from a local root. Details to come in future posts. 

I have little time to blog and that's a good thing. I'm busy. Snorkeling over giant clams, for instance.

Saw one giant clam that was a foot-and-a-half long. Big enough to feed a family of four. The giant clams are native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific. The mantles that we saw on the edges of the clam shells, stretched open to provide sunlight to the algae that are part of the habitat the clam offers, come in several beautiful colors. Purple, green, blue.

There's so much more to tell. But not now. Not when Fijian sunshine beckons. On the left are tweets from Fiji. I'll try to tweet and post when I can. Though I have only two days left. Two more days with some of the most incredibly friendly people I have ever met. 

As for kokoda, pronounced koh-KOHN-da (yes, I know there's no "n" in there but you'll hear one) is like ceviche, made with local fish, coconut cream and lime. Delicious!

Vinaka and moce (vee-nak-ah and moh-thay). That means thanks and good-bye. 

Photos: Ellen Perlman

1. Three boys in Navala Village. 2. On the road from Nadi to Navala.

Comments

[Marilyn]

I hear Kava is quite a treat! Hope you can bring some home.

[Ellen]

Hey Marilyn,
"Treat" isn't EXACTLY the description I'd use. The taste took some getting used to and although it numbed my mouth for a short while, I didn't get the relaxing effect I hear about. I think you need to drink several bowls of it.
In any case, there's such ritual and ceremony behind it that I'm not sure drinking at home alone is the thing to do. I'd need to invite friends over, mix the kava in a tanoa, and teach everyone when to clap and when to say "bula" and "vinaka."

[The Fool]

Great post!
Please Note that you cannot buy Kava Kava over the counter in the UK.
But you CAN buy Kava Kava for UK delivery online from Vitasunn Nutritionals: http://www.vitasunn.co.uk
GREAT stuff!!

[MaryM]

Snorkeling with giant clams...sounds like a blast. I don't blame you for being out there exploring instead of in front of the computer writing blog posts.

[Ellen]

I sure wish I'd gotten photos. My underwater camera ran out of film before I got to the clam bed. Darn.