Today we visited the township of Waitabu on Taveuni Island. This island is known as “The Garden Island of Fiji” because of the abundant pant life found here. It certainly lived up to its name, being such a beautiful place to visit with unbelievably welcoming locals. The island is also famous for its successfully self-managed marine park which will hopefully inspire others to do similar things. The community spirit is alive and well on the island and we were fortunate enough to be welcomed by the local people with a kava ceremony.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 29 May 2018
Taveuni Island, Fiji, 5/29/2018, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
Chris Cook, Undersea Specialist
A self confessed “animal nerd,” Chris falls under many titles: marine biologist, marine interpreter, dive master, science communicator, and naturalist. Chris was lucky enough to grow up on the East Coast of Australia, where there are no shortage of d...
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At Sea
Another day out on the big blue as we transited from the Cook Islands to our final leg of the trip, French Polynesia. As we eagerly awaited some time in the crystal waters of the Society Islands, we had plenty of activities to keep us engaged. Some of us started the day with a stretch class in the gentle early morning sun, while others opted to rest up for the next few days. The day progressed with a series of great talks, tours of the galley, and the occasional seabird drifting by. After dinner we were treated to a National Geographic Orion favorite, our world-renowned crew show - and this was one of the best. A relaxing day at sea turned into a high energy evening with great crew performances and one of the best attended dance parties in ship history. It was a truly memorable end to the day.