Fijian Kava ceremony

After that excursion and a forgettable lunch, I decided to relax the rest of the day. I had done the hike and wasn't participating in the village visit with some of the other guests. But even relaxation was denied me. While getting on a hammock too quickly, it flipped over and I landed on my left shoulder in the sand. I felt around and nothing was broken, but it hurt like hell. For the rest of the trip, getting in and out of shirts was an ordeal with a sore left shoulder.

A Kava ceremony was that night's entertainment after a more elaborate than usual dinner featuring pit roasted chicken and pork. The deck space was cleared for this.

The protocol was explained to us. The hosts had a leader and a spokesperson. A leader and spokesperson for the visitors, i.e. us, were appointed. When handed the bowl of kava, the recipient had to bow to the hosts, shout Bula!, drink it down, then clap three times. This was repeated with every participant.

In case you are wondering, the kava tasted of a medicinal root solution. Some people report that kava stimulates them, some that it makes them drowsy. What I had did nothing for me. But I suspect they had brewed a weak version for us tourists.

Many photos were taken that evening.

After the ceremony we moved to the grassy space outside main building where the staff and villagers performed Fijian songs and dances for us.

Another song, with rhythm sticks.

Ladies performing a fan dance.

The men have a turn.

I would guess a war dance from the fierce looks, gestures and weapons.

Finally to end the evening, the audience participated in the snake dance where the head of the snake repeats a gesture and the followers imitate. At the call of "over!" the tail becomes the head and the snakes goes the other direction. From time to time people were taken out of the line to become the tail so that they would eventually lead the snake.