THERE is nothing as terrific as experiencing a 19-day boat trip for the first time.
As you start to sail into the waters, you feel that your life is at stake.
The best thing though, is that after persevering through the dread, you come out with a story to tell and it is one of enjoyment.
This is exactly what happened when I was assigned to be part of a government officials’ 19-day trip to the Lau group.
It was April 12 when the MV Iloilovatu set sail to the Lau Group at around 3pm on a dull Sunday afternoon.
Coming from arguably the biggest Bay in Fiji – Natewa Bay — the sound of “boat trip” did not excite me much as I have been out of Viti Levu via boat frequently since setting foot in Suva, but the “number of days” out at sea created a mixture of joy and fear for me.
The day did not start well for me as it was also the first time to leave my families behind and the only people I knew were media colleagues also on the journey.
My first night on the boat was unexpected. I had to share a room with a dietician, Unaisi Khan, who later became a woman I could depend on.
Food on board — roast chicken and other mouth watering menus — were delicious.
Despite my lack of appetite from seasickness that struck me on the first night at sea, I tried not to disappoint the cooks.
My first job was to know my way around the boat, which would be my home for the next 19 days.
Being the youngest of the 100-plus people on board, the experiences and challenges I went through were unforgettable.
On board, the passengers had to share four bathrooms. There was no special treatment — whether you’re Commander’s daughter or the youngest of the trip, you had to stand in line.
And if you missed breakfast from 6 -7am, too bad, you won’t see any more food on the table. And if you are lucky enough, you can munch on snacks until lunch is provided.
We were a team of journalists from different media organisations. Most of them had never travelled by sea before, so the fear was palpable among us.
Having to take my own pictures, write my own stories and submitting before deadlines was something I had difficulty in doing for the first two days, but as the days went by, and passengers became friends, my work got a lot more easier.
I left Suva, with mixed feelings and a lingering question — “how am I going to survive”?
Listening to my colleagues’ theories made me giggle. People always have some of the most interesting perceptions of things. So many metaphors, misconceptions and superstitions in their cultures.
We started off as strangers and later became good friends.
At the back of my mind, I knew I had to fulfil my role as a reporter to the best of my ability, to generate stories of interest for our readers.
I knew the expectations of me back in the Suva office was high and my performance would depend on keeping my superiors updated on what was happening around me.
It was not an easy task, especially when you try to meet deadlines with the limited resources at hand on a remote island where electricity and technology are scarce.
It took just over 10 hours from the government jetty to our first stopover at Tuvuca Village on Vanuabalavu. The next day, everything was new. The dark morning was slowly replaced by bright sunshine.
Mostly undeveloped, life on Tuvuca is simple and somewhat wild. There are no restaurants or hotels, and only two islands have guest houses.
If you’re prepared to venture off the beaten track you’ll get to experience Lau’s unique culture.
If you want to see a place that’s utterly unspoiled, while still offering the traditional Fijian hospitality, then visiting the Lau Group is an ideal start.
The Lau Group, made up of a few small islands in Fiji’s far East, offer a glimpse of Fiji often not seen by tourists.
The only means of transport to get there is by boat from Suva or any other neighbouring islands.
My journey got more exciting when I met a group of iTaukei men consisting of a well known media colleague, Apisalome Rabo, and iTaukei Affairs Ministry representatives who were like fathers to me. Through the homesickness, lack of sleep and tiring journey, this group of men made everyone comfortable and happy with their jokes and laughter.
I was grateful for their companionship and the friendliness and hospitality accorded during the journey.
Living on a boat is not as easy as it sounds, but the lively people on board made it easier with non-stop kava sessions and unending stories and jokes. The crew worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe. These were the unsung heroes of the trip and I must commend them for their hard word.
The life jackets and swim rings, in addition to the clinic supplies, were visible so that people would know where to find them in case of a disaster.
The surface glistened silver in the morning, while the water bounced with low tides.
The first-timers were intrigued by things they had never seen before, like little beautiful islands that seemed to have broken away from the greater lands and the small fiberglass boats along the coastal areas.
The sandy beaches, natural tropical forests, smiling faces of people travelling from all sides, all made our trip worthwhile.
The trip to Lau was unforgettable.