|
|
|
A friend of Abdul 1
picked us up at Vuda Point Marina in a 4-wheel drive pickup truck.
We headed to Abaca (pronounced Ambatha) where the trails into the
National Park start. At Abaca we see a man on a horse - quite a
common site in rural Fiji. |
|
|
|
We get our belongings
together and start off. |
|
|
|
Along the trail is a
backpacker hostel (with restroom) and sign to the waterfall. The
trail is damp and leafy. |
|
|
|
Sam finds caterpillars
and eventually we get to the falls. The signs are about right in their
estimate of the time. |
|
|
|
We are all quite hot on
arriving at the falls. |
|
|
|
There is a steep path
down to a swimming hole - all go in except John. It is very
refreshing. |
|
|
|
Sam dives in. We
get another view of the falls as we leave and then a view of the sea and
the Mamanucas. |
|
|
|
More views. |
|
|
|
We then get to
meadowlike land. We do not attempt to find an old village without
a guide as all paths, except the main one that we are on, are overgrown. |
|
|
|
More magnificent views. |
|
|
|
We reach the red roofed
viewpoint - a key landmark and Dana writes his name in pebbles. |
|
|
|
Dana, Rachael and friend
find another swimming hole - close to the Abaca hostel. |
|
|
|
After the hole the river
plunges into a deep ravine. More signs encourage us and tell us we
are nearly back. |
|
|
|
Abaca
village is well kept. There is a traditional bure. The truck comes
to pick us up. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is why Abdul I did
not want to drive us - we had to go through a couple of fords. |
|
|
|
The road was dusty and
we met the occasional village truck - we also met a bus. |
|
|
|
Finally we
reach the main road that encircles the island. We see roadside
posters, trucks and buses. Sugar cane fields are on either side of the
road. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
