#KADAVU

(Credit: Siteri Kovetabua)

If you’re given the opportunity to go to Kadavu for the weekend, TAKE IT! You won’t regret it. The plans for this Kadavu trip happened so fast that usually I would feel excited and nervous about a boat ride to a new place. But we were on the boat half way out of the Suva harbor and still there were no signs of nervousness and excitement. I knew it would all settle in once I laid my eyes on the beautiful Island of Kadavu. We woke up early on Saturday morning to the beautiful sun rising in between the mountain tops of Kavala Bay. I saw villages surrounding the harbour with smoke rising from their outdoor kitchen. I immediately thought of my Bubu in Mokani and how she would be the first to wake up before sunrise just to make me ‘lolo bun’ for ‘coi ni ti’ in the morning. I was back at a village setting and it was home. Nothing compares to my island adventures, I'm reminiscing about my Lau adventures. From Kavala Bay we made our way to Vunisea. It was a 3-4 hour boat ride along the coast and the scenery was spectacular. The outside deck was swamped with passengers just taking in the view of the mountains, the white sandy beaches and the aqua blue waters. As soon as we arrived in Vunisea we quickly got our bags and made our way to our vehicle. Dion helped us to the AirBnB which was located right next to his restaurant, and that was home for the next two days for us.

Yes people, AirBnB in Kaudavu, you have no excuse, go and enjoy the hospitality. Biana Bayview is located at the far end of Vunisea right next to the old wharf. We had panoramic views of the harbor from our room and the beach was literally our front yard. It was the kind of view where I would usually make myself a cuppa, snatch my cigarettes from my bag and plot myself on the beach to watch the sun set. If you’re looking for time to meditate, this is the perfect view for it. #MaiChowMyChow officially opened that same night. Owned and managed by Dion Ah-Sing and Interior Designer Lambert Ho, the duo transformed this restaurant into an art gallery and eatery that could easily be mistaken for a place in the city. I wore my favorite 8Mountains Collection cape and made my way to the restaurant next door. There were guests from the nearby villages to even government workers who were based in Vunisea that came to the opening. There was BBQ and Pasta on the menu that night and with just $8 you get a buffet and you could even go for seconds and thirds. What an opening!

We wrapped at around 11pm that night and made our way to the beachfront where Dion had organized a bonfire. This was my first ever bonfire, mind you, and so I was over the moon about it. Cool breeze and clear night skies with a blanket of bright stars covered the Vunisea harbour that night as we sipped on our chilled Fiji Gold Beer, tunes from Uncle Bob playing in the background and a few puffs of Mary-J to complete a great Saturday. The life! You’d think that Saturday night was enough. We woke up at around 10am on Sunday and headed straight to the beach for another chill session with our bottles of red wine. What was meant to go on for a few hours lasted the entire day. It was really a weekend to remember and something I could never do if I was back at home - drink on Sunday.

So as the plane took off that Monday noon I looked out my window and could see the Biana Bayview and the beachfront where most of the weekend was spent and was filled with emotions. People who I met for the first time became close friends over a short time. It was an unforgettable adventure and one that I’d definitely cherish. So to my dear friend Siteri. Thank you for forcing me to go on this trip. I had the best time. To Marie, Rupert and Kameli, thank you for the fun memories. To Lambert Ho, your art speaks volumes and I thank you for being who you are. And finally to the Ah-Sings, Dion and Uncle Joe, thank you for welcoming me with open arms. I’ll be sure to visit again soon. #MaiChowMyChow restaurant opens till 9pm at night and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at a very reasonable price. If you’re ever in Vunisea, don’t forget to check it out. Till my next travel blog. Signing out, David Solomone *cue Rupert*: “Hashtag weekend. Hashtag Cerulean. Hashtag Broken Shackles. Hashtag fell down” 😂😂😂