Divers' Best Friend

Tadd & I have been wanting to get a dog for a long time... but living on a 30 foot sailboat hasn't been exactly conducive to that lifestyle.

So when we got to Mana Island and saw the dogs running around the village I think we were doomed. We didn't want to actually own one of them, as we know we can't take them with us. So we decided to "sponsor" one of the overly-skinny puppies that were around.

So that's how we ended up falling for Sandy (Tadd always joked about naming our kids Rusty and Sandy and bringing them up on a boat!).

She's a little hyper at times... so much so that when she gets really excited she literally jumps around in circles... kind of like a kangaroo or something.

We started giving her some love... and some leftovers.

And the next time we went to the mainland we picked up some flea shampoo. So, the first order of business on our return was a bath. She was little enough then to fit in the tub... and one of the smaller puppies wandered over to see what we were doing... later to be named Ringo.

Sandy whined and shook and generally made a fuss about being bathed... then promptly ran off and rolled around in the sand (not surprisingly). Meanwhile, Ringo came and sat in the tub... so we just bathed him too.

The little fella didn't mind a bit.

He looked so much less fluffy (an earlier name) once wet... but still too cute.

Luckily Sandy forgave us, and loves to hang out in the bushes outside our room.

But as she was growing fast... and litter after litter of puppies appeared from the other female dogs on the island, we had to start forming our plan to somehow get her neutered.

We would have to get her to the mainland to the SPCA, but we weren't allowed to take her on the ferries... not to mention the problem that she freaked out when Tadd tried to leash-train her... and when I tried to see if she would lie down in a box... no chance!!

So one day, one of the staff came up with the idea of making a traditional basket. The next time the activities guys were doing basket weaving, we tested our idea... using Ringo.

He always looked this pathetic!

It seemed like it would work... so Samu (the activities guy) wove us a Sandy-sized basket...

and Tadd, Mari and Sami modified it to keep her in.

Even so, she was not at all happy with the idea. We were almost at a loss, until Tadd came up with the only solution.... Drugs!! A quick call the to the vet, some playing in the dive shop with weights to guess how much Sandy weighed by that stage, and we got some pills sent over.

At this stage Sami had to hold her so she couldn't disappear into the bushes and fall asleep.

Sandy resisted for a long time... but finally succumbed to the drugs... and promptly peed on Sami!

Into the basket she went... still fighting it a little... and then Sami and Mari smuggled her aboard the ferry... can you spot the dog? Nope!

Since then, Sandy has been a happy, unhassled puppy... who gets lots of love from the guests, plenty of leftovers, especially on roast chicken dinner night... and of course, regular baths... which she deals with, if she still doesn't really like them.

And plenty of her favourite... belly rubs!!

Project AWARE Kids - Shark Day | Project AWARE

Project AWARE Kids - Shark Day | Project AWARE

The Yasawas

Tadd & I had some time off after over a month of teaching... so we decided to treat ourselves and head up to the Yasawa islands north of where we live... so off on another catamaran ferry... for 4 and a half hours!

We established ourselves in the air-conditioned passenger lounge, next to the power socket to assure entertainment for the whole trip.

I popped up to the top, sun deck to check out the view... lots of newly arrived, pale foreigners up there.

The Yasawas are generally a lot more mountainous and than the Mamanuca's where Mana Island is situated.

The ferry stops off of almost all the islands to drop off and pick up.

Finally we made it... and did our first open water boat transfer. The long boats from each resort cruise up one by one and they toss your luggage off the big cat, and then the people climb down. Luckily the seas were calm the day we went, and we had no luggage to end up in the drink.

We arrived on Nacula ("Nathoolah") Island, at Safe Landing "resort." The room was nice... but shortly after arriving we sat down for lunch and had the most pitiful idea of a meal we have seen in Fiji. Two tiny pieces of fish the size of a big English chip (fries), a pile of rice and sauce...

When we remembered that there was also no electricity in the rooms at night... and no cold beer at Happy Hour... we decided to explore our options for the rest of our trip. So we started hiking over to the next resorts along.

It was a pleasant walk, and only took us 40 minutes... not the 3-4 hours that one Fijian told us it would take! Typical... ask 3 Fijians a question and get 3 completely different answers.

We had to cut across the jungle... I felt very at home.

And got to see a fair amount of the mountainous island of Nacula.

Sadly there was no room at the other place we wanted to stay... so we headed back for coolish beers and the nice view... while calling other places on the nearby islands.

We hooked ourselves up and enjoyed an improved, if not great, dinner. We also decided to take the tour the next morning to visit the Sawa-i-Lau caves.

We headed out in the typical Fiji "Better Boat" with and English couple, Simone & Mark.

It was a soggy ride... and even more exciting when the engine began to give out... and the driver said, "Oh! That's REALLY Bad!"

The setup was pretty impressive... compared to what we have seen in Central America!

The water is brackish but really nice.

And then they make you swim down under the rock into the caves inside.

It was pretty spooky inside when I was left there all alone... before Tadd came in with the next "transport"

A Swiss lady started singing Amazing Grace, and the sound bounced all around.

Then the guide started swimming off into the darkness.... so we followed.

Along a long tunnel to the end... there he had us all shout "Bula!"... a little too loud for Tadd.

It was pretty amazing!

The next day we transferred to Coral View on the island of Tavewa... much more to our taste... and with plenty of yummy food!

We got in a free dive, though we ended up working for it.

And communed with the local wildlife... while enjoying some cocktails.

And we even found a real sandwich in the shop... big enough for two.

Then it was back to the ferry for another open water transfer... very amusing... and after 8 months in Fiji, this was the first time anyone made us wear life jackets!!