Friday 11 October 2019 - Tavan Homestay

Before breakfast this morning we went for a walk along the beach towards Nabua Lodge.  We met Bill's brother, who works at the lodge, on the beach and had a chat.  Apparently, the Lodge, Taven Homestay, Naisisili Homestay (in the village) and Safe Landing Eco Lodge (a few hundred metres to the east of Taven are all owned by members of the village and help support the village with their tourist takings.

For breakfast this morning we had lots of papaya -  it was a bit like our orange paw-paw but much sweeter. There was also instant coffee and powdered milk on the menu but we both agreed that we were too much of coffee snobs to partake.   I’m sure we’ll cope until we get back to the mainland.  There was also white toast and jam’.  Not quite the breakfast we are used to or would have expected.

After breakfast, we walked to the Blue Lagoon Resort on the other side of the island where there is good snorkelling right off the bench. HOWEVER, the 20-minute walk that Dee spoke about turned into a 1-hour 20-minute walk around the beach and across a headland, meaning we could only stay about 20 minutes before heading back for lunch.   

Alex and Aasa went snorkelling (and enjoyable it was) and Jill enjoyed a swim before the return trek – much quicker on the way back and we did make in time for lunch.

After lunch, we had a nap (the hot weather takes it out of you) and then we went for a swim just outside our door as it was high tide.  There were rocks and a rocky ledge to climb over which was a bit of a challenge but the water was very refreshing.

We also went for a wander around to Safe Landing for an afternoon drink.  Tandrai Point is quite an impressive spot to take photographs from.

Dinner included land crabs (the ones that dig holes in the garden and along the path).  They were cooked with coconut milk (and put back into their shell) but the taste was still very strong.

After dinner, we went down to the lookout point near Nabua Lodge to watch the sunset.  Once again spectacular.