After lunch, we went on our tour which was titled ‘Rewa Village Tour and Kava Ceremony’. We took a short bus trip to this village which is actually a real traditional village (not just for show - people actually live there). The Fijian people are so lovely. When we arrived, we all went into a building and sat on chairs against one side of the building. In the middle of the building were long, wide mats made of leaves which had dried. There were some native boys and men - the boys (young men) were dressed in warrior dress and the men on the floor were drumming and singing.
There was a narrator who told us about the Kava ceremony that they would be performing for us. A small packet containing ground dried plant roots was put in a bowl. Water was then poured into the large bowl using a coconut shell bowl. When it was mixed, two men who were representing the audience (passengers on the tour) drank from the cup and then members of the audience were invited to come up and drink from the cup if they wished. We had researched about the Kava ceremony drink before we had come on the cruise and we knew that it tasted nasty. We still wanted to be a part of it since it was something so unique and so I took a taste first although it was more of just putting the liquid up to my lip. I didn’t get much of a taste but it was kind of chalky. Mike drank what was in the bowl given to him which was about 3 swallows. He said it tasted like water which had a bit of dirt mixed into it.
After the Kava ceremony, we were given a tour around the village. The people are very poor there. The houses are made from either corrugated tin, wood or stone. I asked our guide why they were made from different materials and she said it depended on how much money the family had. It was pouring rain while we were having the tour and our guide kept asking us if we were okay in the rain and we said yes. I told her that I told my students that they wouldn’t melt in the rain and neither would we. :-)
After we finished the village tour, it was back to the building to look at some of the crafts that were made by the villagers that were for sale. There were some nice things for sale but we are not buying souvenirs anymore (other than spoons for me and t-shirts for the grandsons). Next on the program was a mat weaving demonstration by one of the village women and a coconut demonstration by one of the village young men. After that, the village women, men and children performed some singing and dancing for us. We enjoyed listening to them sing - their language is very beautiful. The young men who dance and sang were very warrior-like and I’m sure might have scared young children (tourists) if there had been any there. We loved it.
As we left, the people thanked us for coming and were so gracious to us. They are a lovely people and seem so happy even though they have very little in the way of possessions. They work together as a community and everyone seems to take care of each other. We really loved our time on the tour and would love to return to Fiji one day.
When we arrived back at the ship, there was a police band playing on the pier. There were about 25 people playing in the band. They were playing brass/percussion/woodwind instruments and they were really good! It reminded me a lot of the band my dad used to play in. They were really entertaining, as well. Some of the players were doing leg movements as they played and they also ended up marching while they were playing as well. We got onto the ship thinking they were pretty well done their playing, only to find out they were going to play to us while our ship set sail. So we went up to Deck 7 and watched more of the show from up there. What a nice send-off that was!
As we had watched the band, and had dinner, we went to the show in the Princess Theatre. It was called ‘Ports of Call’ and was probably the best show that the Star Princess singers and dancers have put on thus far. The costumes were amazing - the person(s) who put them together did a fantastic job! The show was basically singing and dancing from various ports of call that Princess ships make. Julie, the assistant cruise director even came out with an Aussie cork hat and a blow up crocodile and sang ‘Once a Jolly Swagman’ - she was so funny.
Boats in the harbour in Suva, Fiji.
Store personnel at Jack's - a souvenir store in Suva.
A police officer on duty at the pier in Suva.
Typical Fijian houses in the countryside near Suva.
Male members of the Sawani village (near Suva) welcoming us.
Children playing in Sawani village.
Male members of Sawani village performing the 'kava ceremony'.
River and landscape in the Sawani village.
Houses in the Sawani village.
'Oven' used to cook food in the Sawani village.
Male members of Sawani village performing a Fijian dance and chant.
Mike dancing with the villagers and other passengers of the ship in Sawani village.
Sue wearing the welcome flower with their guide of Sawani village.
Downtown Suva
Fijian police band playing for the passengers of our ship on the pier in Suva.
Members of the Fijian police band performing a ceremonial dance on the pier in Suva.
View from the ship - downtown Suva.
View of the hillside of Suva.
Princess Singers and Dancers performing in the 'Ports of Call' show.
Two of the lead singers - 'Ports of Call'.
Dancers performing in 'Ports of Call'.
Assistant Cruise Director Julie singing 'Once a Jolly Swagman' with her crocodile in 'Ports of Call.'
Dancers performing in 'Ports of Call'.
Princess Singers and Dancers in 'Ports of Call'. 
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