Native air-conditioning

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 24

Native air-conditioning

We enjoyed our trip to Lautoka by local bus, with its open sides allowing the warm wind to blow through our hair. We delighted in the company of the islanders as they boarded the bus at the various villages along the way. Then, it was down to the wharf at Lautoka where we were warmly welcomed aboard — “Ni sa bula.” — by the

“Larger than large” captain of the Beachcomber

Cruiser. We sailed out into the calm waters of the bay, towards a little green dot surrounded by white against the deep blue of the sea. The hourlong trip to Beachcomber passed very quickly as the “Beachcomber Boys” band struck up their lively music. We all joined in the taralala round the decks. Finally we were inside the reef where we left our

boat to be ferried ashore in the smaller coral-view-

ing vessels. Soon we were being summoned by the "lali” to partake of a lavish feast of pork, fish and other delicacies cooked “lovo style" in an earth oven. Later most of us either lazed on the sand palms or swam in the warm, crystal clear water, under the gently moving Others viewed the wonders of the reef through the glass-bottomed boats or walked around the tiny island before boarding the boat for the homeward journey. Oh. how I love Fiji. —MARGERY HOUSTON, 54 Farm Rd, Ashburton.