21 June 2010
It David's Scottishness! He just cannot help himself. Arriving in Suva on a Sunday we would be faced with customs overtime charges. So in order to avoid that we reduced all sail down to the size of a pocket hankie and drifted along, our entry through the pass timed precisely for 5pm. "You will not be able to clear customs until tomorrow at 9am" the Suva port control told us. Ah, too bad. We settled to a sundowner, tucked into a hearty meal of fish pie and turned in early to await the arrival of the officials first thing in the morning.... Nine o'clock came and went. Ten o'clock came and went. Dick called them up at 11am. They would come now. But their interpretation of now was not ours. David called up at twelve. They will come at 2pm he was told. They finally arrived at three and the quarantine man nearly fell in the water as he stepped aboard. Oh, there were very many forms to fill in but we remembered this from the last time. Before we had left Tonga David had emailed an advance notification of arrival form, giving all our personal and the yachts details. Now they wanted it all over again and seven copies of everything seemed to be the going rate. And that was only the first stage. Tomorrow we have to go ashore first to pay for the health certificate, then on for the cruising permit and then back to customs to check out. They do not make it easy......
The Royal Suva Yacht Club.
At long last we were able to enter the auspices of the Royal Suva Yacht Club. Straight from the colonial era it seemed to have changed very little from the photographs that adorned its entrance hall. It wasn't plush but any standards but it had a very pleasant relaxed ambience to it. The fish and chips were fabulous and great value for money at just 7 Fijian dollars per head! (Divide by three for GBP.) We became members for the short time that we were going to be there and added our name to the visitors' book.
"Soggy Suva"
This is the nickname given to the capital city here on Viti Levu. The island lies in the path of the prevailing trade winds, which results in heavy rainfall over the windward slopes. I would guess that it rains at least about once every hour which is great because not having a working generator I cannot use my washing machine. So I am reduced to horrible hand washing, allowing the elements to rinse out the soap suds.
Susan Mackay