Happy Birthday to Me

I started my day with Josie giving me a great present a basket from the Solomons filled with very important things like brown rice, strawberries, molasses and more. Then she took me for a hot rock massage which was heaven. Then for a surprise lunch with the girls. In fact the whole day was an amazing surprise!!!!!! The next night Stan arranged for a pizza night with family and friends and more cake! It was a great day, two days!!!

My Birthday

A day of face painting

As a fund raiser for Josie's girls school they had a carnival day and I helped with face painting. At some point however the kids decided that they wanted to create art and that I was there canvas this is what happened....

face painting

There are also shots of carmen our lovely house dog, she is very sweet (she is yawning in that picture) and I am so happy she has found herself a North American caregiver.

ED 281

This is the next level of the class that I took last term, the only difference is we actually get to do art!!!!!

art class ed281

The Playhouse art exhibit

I entered my first art exhibit in Fiji, the ANZ playhouse art exhibit that has been running for years. This is what I entered....

playhouse art exibihion

Treasure Island

Final stop the eastern side to Treasure Island and Nadi

treasure island

Naigani

Well, after a world wind adventure in Beqa we were home for a day (sorry no pictures). We were off again........ to Naigani

naigani

Lawaki Guest House

Next we are off to Lawaki Guest house for the weekend! It was my favorite place on the entire trip. I love the peace and quite, the amazing simple healthy food, fresh made bread, fabulous preserves made from local fruit, and great meals. The the owners are great and willing to go out of there way for dietary needs and requests. They are completely eco-friendly and get what a gift they have, a little piece of heaven. In saying that, it is not for the person that wants the high end experience. Rustic is the best way to describe this accommodation. www.lawakibeachhouse.com

lawaki guest house

Pacific Harbour

We are heading to Pacific Harbour for a few days. We will be staying at the Uprising so we can explore the local area. Spend a day at Pacific Harbour Village shopping for war clubs. Then the next day a river raft up the Navua river to the Nakavu village that was established by John Humphrey Danford and then to waterfalls in the Namosi Highlands. www.discoverfijitours.com

heading to Pacific Harbour

Oceanic Art

Here is some of the art that gets created at the Oceanic Art Centre. This is just a few pictures from the last show that happened. This is where I hang out some of the time and create art.

Oceanic Arts Centre

The exploration of Suva

There was no rest for the wicked and my family was up and ready to explore downtown Suva. We barely scratched the surface of what can be explored in what is known as the Pearl of the Pacific. First Stop the University to see where Stan works and I play .

exploring Suva

My famliy has arrived

Its Canada day and my sole goal is to keep them up till at least 8 pm. My friend Robin had a party Canada day party, and they had their first drink of Kava, well Michelle and Erick's second, third, forth...

family has arrived in Fiji

Stan showing us how to climb trees the South pacific way

hanging out

the fashion show and more pottery

Here are some pictures of the fashion show, this was our year end project for my sewing class and some more pictures of the pottery.

fashion show and pottery

day of pottery for art class

pottery firing

pictures

various events that have occurred over the last few months

random pictures

Sosefo arriving in Fiji

sosefo arrives

Time flies!!!

How does it happen, after the last major blog session I promised myself I would never wait that long again to download pictures and guess what... here I am again. But at least I can say that for a month I was busy with my family. Amazingly it has been almost a month since their visit!!! I am back at school taking two art classes and not sure yet if I am enjoying myself. More about me later I am now going to upload photos and it seems to be going relatively fast so here we go.... In no particular order...

Sigatoka sand dunes

The ocean is amazing at the sand dunes. The sand dunes are famous for finding shards of lapita pottery.

sigatoka sand dunes

Various events

Here are some pictures of various events. Music at the Oceanic centre. A cow in our neighborhood, at a Hindu family's house that was morning a death. The baby cow would be given to the priest at the end of the rituals. That cow just added to the 3am yodeling that goes on by the dogs. Some shots of Tonga when I went back in May. Pictures that seem to be of empty lots are empty because of the riots and the buildings were burnt down.

various events

Fund raiser

This was a fund raiser for the Solomon Island Tsunami appeal. Some of these pictures are actually video and I have to figure out how to download them. Enjoy till I get them done as video.

Soloman's fund raising