Lautoka 4 January

Breakfast a 7am and we are in Lautoka which is the second largest city of Fiji. It is nicknamed the Sugar City due to its expansive sugarcane plantations producing the island's most important crop. We are booked for the 9am Fijian Homestead and History tour.

Our first stop is the traditional Sabeto village where we are greeted with a kava ceremony (no, I didn't try it) andthen followed by a lovely cultural performance. The singing was lovely.

At one stage I was asked up to dance as were others on the tour. I didnt fall over or trip anyone up, so that's a success in my book.

The children were delightful and so well behaved.

The singing of the national farewell song was lovely. We had a little time to look at the tables of items some of the women were selling.There is a women's co-op where they make jewellery and monies raised goes back into the community. VJR scored something which was made by one of the ladies.

Then we were back on the coach to the South Sea Orchid Garden where we had morning tea and the history of the place explained. They are up to about their 6th generation of a family who emigrated from Scotland during colonial times. Unfortunately most of the orchids had recently been cut, but there were still some beautiful flowers.

About 30 years ago, with finance from Aus Aid, the family started teaching local women how to grow orchids and provided them with everything to get started. When the orchids are in bloom, the flowers are cut and bought back by the Orchid garden where they are onsold. They are currently assisting about 130 women in this way, for the women to earn some income. It is proving successful, so they will soon be supporting women in Tonga in the same way. The grandson will be going there to set it up and teach the women.

The same grandson showed us around the main house which has a lot of antiques, photographs and memorabilia dating back to the family emigration from Scotland

One corner of the room had a table with photos of Raymond Burr (remember Ironside and Perry Mason.) Apparently he was a good friend of the family and bought his own orchid farm on the island.

Back on the coach and into Nadi for some quick shopping. I bought a key ring as there wasn't anything else that took my fancy. We can't bring wood or shells back into the country anyway.

Back on the coach and back to the ship where we grab a late lunch from the cafe. We are berthed at a working port so it is very busy. thankfully our cabin is starboard so we have the better view.

Julie heads for her jigsaw puzzle again and I intended sitting out on our balcony to read, but it's way too hot in the sun so instead catch up on the blog and watch the movie 'Blink Twice' which although I liked looking at Channing Tatum, the movie was weird. As we sail away, there is a lone canoe in the distance with a fellow calling out Bula and Happy New Year to us as he is waving the paddle. Lots of waving back.

Time for canapes and pre dinner drinks and then dinner. The yabbie bisque was bland but the chicken cordon bleu was lovely.

Our dinner companions were Houda and Frank. She was a rocket! Got so animated with her story telling and just as well I didnt have much to add as there was no sharing conversation with her. The one time poor Frank (who is 83) wanted to say something, she told him to shush. Anyway there were plenty of laughs and Houda has now insisted that we share a table at dinner again tonight. We werent able to book then and there which is a dumb way to manage bookings. We have to call a number in the morning, between 8 and 5.... duh.... However we bid then goodnight and head to the theatre for the show which was 3 women singing songs traditionally sung by men. They were very good. Now time for bed.