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 by grets
The sun is high in the heavens
Go uproot the yaqona and bring it...
Prepare the root and proclaim it!
The acclamation rose skywards,
Reaching distant lands!
Kava (or yaqona), Fiji's national drink, has an important place in all Fijian ceremonies and is used widely as a token of goodwill and respect amongst the South Pacific people.
The beverage is prepared by straining poweder made from pounded dried roots of the kava - a plant in the pepper family - and adding water. From the tanoa - the wooden bowl - protrudes a thick rope of coconut fibre which is decorated with cowrie shells. This is pointed towards the guests of honour (in this case = us). During the ceremony nobody must cross that line. When the kava is ready, the guest of honour (David was chosen to represent us) is presented with the first bowl. It should be drained in a single draught, followed by the clapping of hands.
Kava has a slight narcotic effect on the face and lips and causes lightheadedness and a feeling of euphoria.
It is certainly an acquired taste, many people did not enjoy it. The piquid is murky, with some pulp left in it. Some people likened it to drinking mud! Personally I found it very enjoyable, and would partake at every possible opportunity! Leave a Comment
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 Opening the lovo oven by grets
We returned to the beach later in the evening after having been back to the ship to freshen up. Torches were lit on shore and there was a little oil lamp on the shuttle boat. Very romantic.
Tui, the chef, made the opening of the earth oven into a great ceremony, which was lovely. We all stood round while he scraped off the sand with a shovel and removed the cloth covering to reveal the meat which had been wrapped in palm leaves. Then he did a quick fire walking ceremony (only messing about).
The food was delicious, so incredibly tender. Leave a Comment
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 by gretsLeave a Comment
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 by grets
Isa, Isa, you are my only treasure
Must you leave me, so lonely and foresaken
As the roses will miss the sun at downing
Every moment my heart for you is yearning
Isa Lei, the purple shadows fall
Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow
Oh! Forget not, when you are far away
Precious moments beside Nanuya Bay
Isa, Isa, my heart was filled with pleasure
From the moment I heard your tender greeting
Mid the sunshine, we spent hours together
Now so swiftly those happy hours are fleeting
O'er the ocean your island home is calling
Happy country where roses bloom in splendor
Oh! If I could but journey there beside you
Then forever my heart would sing in rapture Leave a Comment
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 by Dodo22Leave a Comment
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 kava roots by bjmd22
The drink is said to be slightly narcotic, but I drank a lot and only got a numb tongue. It doesnt taste bad, but isnt great tasting either. I describe it as"you dont want to spit it out, but you dont want another bowl" Leave a Comment
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 Men in Sulu's by geanster
They make really great gift's to take home as well and you can find them in many different designs and fabrics and prices. Leave a Comment
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 Preparing Kava by geanster
Kava looks like dirty water and is made by grounding up the root into a powder and seiving it into a bowl with water. It has a mild narcotic effect.
It seemed to me to be more of a masculine passtime and even when we'd walk through handicraft stores in Nadi, you'd find a group of men around a huge bowl of it sitting in the back of nearly every store.
Kava can also be used as a tool of forgiveness. I met one housegirl who had left her husband's home to spend some time with her parents, however, after a few weeks, he never came to retrieve her, and as is there custom, she cannot go back to his house under those circumstances. The next step was for him to approach her father with an offering of kava to ask to have her back. Leave a Comment
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 by geanster
The firewalking skill is possessed by the Sawau tribesmen living in the four villages on the windward, or Southern side of the island of Beqa. In special cases, however, members of the other tribes who have been adopted by the Sawau tribe, have successfully performed the ceremony. the main village is know as Dakuibeqa where the chief of the tribe known as Tui Sawau lives.
When the ceremony is to be performed several representatives are chosen from each village, the total number being usually from the immediate family of the Bete. For two weeks before the event, the participants segregate themselves from all females and have no contact with them whatsoever, also they must not eat any coconut. Failure to observe the tabu renders the culprit liable to severe burns during the ceremony.
This is a more accurate description from http://www.bulafiji.com/about/history/legends/fire_w.shtml Leave a Comment
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 by geansterLeave a Comment
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