Sunday, November 3, 2013

Enjoying Vuda Point

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Moondance in her cyclone slip
As always, we have settled right into the cruising life at the Vuda Point Marina!

We are now in our permanent slip where Moondance will spend the cyclone season.
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View of the Sunset Bar - at sunset

The marina staff, plus our new neighbors Karen and Cheryl on s/v Interlude, did an excellent job of getting into this tight spot.

Backing up is not easy in a sailboat.

We have been working (very slowly) prepping Moondance for the cyclone season.
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Enjoying the pool
The rest of the time, we have been exploring and enjoying all of the activities at the marina, plus the pool at the First Landing Resort - what a treat!
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Great Reggae Band

The marina has something going on almost every night.

Friday night they have a great Reggae Band at the Sunset Bar.  Sunday from 2 – 7pm a 5-piece band plays classic rock – wonderful voices.
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Trick or Treat!
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday are movie nights on the lawn.

And Thursday is Happy Hour from 5:30 – 6:30.  $2 beers and $3 wine – a great value. 
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Mike and Jennifer (s/v Mahili)

There is also a daily Happy Hour at the resort next door 6-7pm. 

$4.50 a beer, so not such a great deal, but they do have the pool…

We have been hanging out with Mike and Jennifer (s/v Mahili) who we met in Apia, Samoa.  Wonderful people!
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Busing to Lautoka

We all hopped the bus and headed to Lautoka. 
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The market - it is a big one!

It is about 45 minutes away by bus, but the closest place for provisioning. 

The bus is cheap – $1.60 each way.  A taxi costs about $16 each way, but they go much faster – sometimes too fast!
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Need a sari?
Lautoka is the 2nd largest city in Fiji and they have a great fruit and veggie market, plus lots of supermarkets, hardware stores, restaurants, etc..

It is a busy place, but we enjoyed wandering around!
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What a view

So, we have definitely enjoyed our first week here in Vuda Point Marina, but Savusavu is still our favorite. 

In Savusavu, we had provisioning and great cheap eats all in walking distance (plus our friends Michael and Cheryl). 

Here in Vuda Point, we have the marina and resort restaurant and stores, but everything else is a trip into Lautoka or Nadi.
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Evergreen sailing for New Zealand...

But, we are surrounded by our cruising buddies and meeting more everyday.  We will be just fine here.

Lots of boats left his week for New Zealand and Australia – even our boat buddies on Evergreen. 

We were very sad to see them go.  Hopefully, we will see them again somewhere…
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Red-headed parrot finch

So, all is well aboard Moondance.

We have lots of prep work to get her cyclone ready, but 2 weeks to finish it all up. 

Plus, we are getting lots of great advice from other cruisers who have been through all of this before.  Very helpful.

Things are going so well, we are renting a car and taking a road trip to Suva. 

Our friends, Michael and Cheryl, are ferrying over from Savusavu, so we are going to see them and check out some more of Viti Levu.  Why not?

PS:  The Diwali Festival (Hindu festival of lights) is tonight, so we have lots of fireworks everywhere.  Love fireworks! 

1 comment:

Jackie @ travelnwrite said...

We completed our 19-day cruise last week, aboard a 122,000 ton ship. After being buffeted by 'moderate' winds that could knock you off your feet many days as we crossed that vast Pacific, we would comment about you two: our hats off to you on this journey! We were tired after 'cushy cruising'. Hugs, J and J