IF you have not travelled to the Southern Lau islands on one of the franchised vessels, you are missing out on some very serious and exciting adventures. Forget about rafting down white waters or tracking through some forest parks. Compare a white water river to a white water sea and you will know what I’m talking about.
I was most fortunate, even though my colleagues totally disagree with me, to have taken a trip to Southern Lau on a vessel that belongs to the South Island Shipping Services. One look at the vessel and anyone would have had great misgivings on getting on it to take a five-day return sea trip, especially to the faraway islands in the Southern Lau. I was trying very hard to convince myself that it would be a good experience for me travelling on such a boat for the first time. I am used to the larger ferries such as the SOFE and Lomaiviti Princess.
After one night of travelling, the trip had a brief stopover at the beautiful island of Kabara before continuing on to the more beautiful and breathtaking island of Fulaga.
Taking one look at the tanoa of Kabara being loaded for Suva and I had an overwhelming sense of pride for its people and their creation. It was a thing of beauty which only the people from this part of Fiji should be allowed to benefit from.
From the moment the boat entered the passage into the lagoon at Fulaga Island, I was totally mesmerised. I was witnessing one of the most breathtaking sights that I have ever come across. There were small mushroom shaped islets scattered all over the crystal blue waters of the lagoon with some slightly larger islets surrounded by white sandy beaches.
Here is one well-kept secret of the islands in the south of Lau.
The trip continued on to Ogea that evening which was unfortunate because I did not get to see the island. But I had a slight idea of what was in store for a visitor to that island from the sea delicacies that were being brought in to be taken back to Suva. From lobsters to mussels and vivili and not forgetting all the favourite types of fish that we usually crave for on Sundays and other important occasions, nothing was lacking.
The next stopover which was six hours away was the beautiful island of Vatoa and the story was the same as Ogea.
I was most surprised to see a Catholic church in this part as this is a stronghold of the Methodist Church. And there were more fishes to be consumed.
From Vatoa, the real adventure began as there was a shift in the wind direction and the boat started to roll from side to side and literally, on to its side on its way to Ono-i-Lau.
It would be a terrifying experience for newcomers with the huge waves hammering the boat from all sides and anything not attached to the wall deciding to take a slide across the floor, and that included the passengers.
At this point, my colleagues swore they would never take another boat trip to Southern Lau. But members of the crew were all relaxed and that gave me confidence in the capability of the boat and its crew.
And then there was Ono-i-Lau after seven hours or so of rock and roll. That, however, is going to be another story.
* Iowani Baba is a contributor to this newspaper.
