The Waterfall Visit

Bula! Monday, while not sunny, was better than the rest of the days we had had in Fiji so far.  It did not pour rain, it was just overcast and drizzling most of the day.  It was also really windy, so our morning planned excursion to see Dolphins was postponed due to rough seas.  Instead we went on the waterfall hike, another one of the few adventure excursions that the resort offers. 

15 or so of us loaded up the resort van and mini van and headed out for a good 40 minute drive to the hiking spot.  Typically this excursion includes a first stop at the small village that the waterfall is near.  A village stop means we need to bring the village chief some ground up cava root, then we must be “accepted” to come into the village.  My guide book also said you cannot wear any headgear (sunglasses or hats) as it is a privilege reserved only for the village chief.  This never came up because we ended up not going to the village first.  We did stop in town to purchase a package of cava root, but when we got to the opening of our road to the village, our excursion leader, Romanu decided it was safter to leave the vans parked at the top of the hill… Due to the amount of rain we had gotten, the steep road was very muddy and the vans may not make it back up.  He asked us if we were all OK to walk to the waterfall hike entrance from there.  We said yes of course, though none of us knew really what that meant.  Romanu explained that the village is beyond the entrance to the waterfall hike and it would be too far for us to walk so we would be skipping that part of our trip.  It turned out that two of the villagers met us down there to act as our guide anyway. 

The hike down and up the road was definitely the most difficult part of the entire “hike.”  We had a family that was hiking with us with two younger daughters and our fearless excursion leaders each picked one up and plopped them on their shoulders and hiked the entire route with them there.  The road was mostly a mix of rocks and red clay, lots of pot holes and puddles.  It probably took us a good 15 to 20 minutes to get down, but the view of the ocean beyond and the jungle of greenery around us was worth it. 

We were able to swim in the small pool at the base of the waterfall.  The water was cool but not cold.  Justin of course followed the guides up the rocks UNDER the waterfall so that they can jump off from inside the waterfall.  It was pretty cool and definitely more of the kind of thing we were expecting to find in Fiji. 

We got back to the resort in time for lunch, wet, muddy and a bit tired from our walk back up the steep hill to the vans.  To our delight the resort finally had the RIGHT room available for us and we moved in to our edgewater villa before lunch.  That just made the day perfect.  The edgewater villa is awesome, the view from the balcony makes the entire crazy trip out here totally worth it.  Our bedroom is on the top floor and faces the wall of glass windows and doors that overlooks the small bay and Bat Island.   That evening the sky cleared and we enjoyed a cocktail out on our balcony.  I was able to take a hot shower, INSIDE and NOT in the rain and it was fabulous.  We even got dressed up for dinner and sat with a few of the honeymooners.  Everyone was in much better spirits since the weather is was looking good.