Our arrival in Fiji this morning brought us into a different world—out of the great triangle of Polynesia and into the first of the large islands of Melanesia. On the beautiful garden island of Taveuni we were welcomed into a traditional village with a kava ceremony presided over by the regional chiefs. It was a serious, solemn ritual, followed by some very lighthearted dance performances from the school children. After a delicious snack of local specialties we had a choice of remaining in the village for music and handicrafts or a short hike to a lovely waterfall and swimming hole.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 23 May 2018
Taveuni Island, Fiji, 5/23/2018, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
David Cothran, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
David has worked for Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic since 1993 on six continents and in over 65 countries. David is interested in many of the natural sciences, particularly ornithology, geology and marine biology; he most enjoys contrasting...
Read MoreRodrigo Moterani, Videographer
Rodrigo Moterani was born in Brazil, where he still lives. After spending his teen years playing with camcorders and VCRs, Rodrigo ended up working in the field of television journalism and video production in his home country. He graduated with a de...
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At Sea
Another day out on the big blue as we transited from the Cook Islands to our final leg of the trip, French Polynesia. As we eagerly awaited some time in the crystal waters of the Society Islands, we had plenty of activities to keep us engaged. Some of us started the day with a stretch class in the gentle early morning sun, while others opted to rest up for the next few days. The day progressed with a series of great talks, tours of the galley, and the occasional seabird drifting by. After dinner we were treated to a National Geographic Orion favorite, our world-renowned crew show - and this was one of the best. A relaxing day at sea turned into a high energy evening with great crew performances and one of the best attended dance parties in ship history. It was a truly memorable end to the day.