This time, I visited an island which is a place for the local people to live in, not likely as such resort islands.
Levuka, which is the largest town in Ovalau Island can be called a goast town now. However, it is a hisotrical place which once used to flourished as a capital of Fiji for 8 years from 1874, mantaining a lot of population.
It is a small island located 20Km East of Natovi, a small port at the east coast of Viti Levu Island which diameter is about 10 to 13Km with 9,000 population.
There is a very small airport on the island, we can visit there easily by light airplanes from Suva, but I found there was a way to go there by car ferry from Natovi which bring me together with my car, and I decided to go there by ferry.
It was the first experience in my life to travel by boat with my car togeter, therefore there was no other choice for me.
I first drive to Natovi making a half turn on VitiLevu island, the main island of Fiji, and then get on a car ferry to Ovalau island.
This is a detailed map of Ovalau island.
There is only one road going around the island except the one very small road going to inland from Bureta where the airport is.
Ferry boat arrives at a port of Buresala which is the west coast of the island, therefore I need to go around a half of the island to get to Levuka.
Here we go!
Drive Queen's Road toward Suva. There are 200Kilometers to Suva. As there is no freeway, It'll take 3 to 4 hours.
Sunglass is necesary for driving in Fiji.
Long time no visit here, Suva. It is a complete ghost town as all the shops are closed on Chirstmas days. I will stay here for one night.
In the next morning, I happilly started Suva, diriving toward a port in Natovi where the ferry comes and goes.
After 2 hours drive, I arrived at Natovi. At the pier. The island on my back is Ovalau Island.
Wow! here comes the ferry. It is on its way from Ｖａｎua Levu Island.
I came here worrying whether if it would be full booked or not, as I could not make reservation in Suva (Closed for Christmas). But it is a big ferry! I may be able to get on...
What a surprising! Signes in Japanese characters! It looks like a used and disposed ferry boat by a ferry company in western Japan.
It is as big as to be able to accept more than 20 big trucks and buses easily. It was not full booked, and I could get on! I was so haapy.
Leaving Port Ｎａｔｏｖｉ. The ferry boat goes toward port Buresala of Ovalau Island.
I was happy with my 1st ferry boat ride!
Lots of signs in Japanese on the ferry boat.
Here is a deck, but as this is a Japanese ferry, there is a big saloon being airconditoned at the downstair.
Ovalau Island is right over there.
Port Buresala of Ovalau Island. it is so small and simple.
After the drive to come to the other side onf the island, I arrived at my destination, a town of Levuka.
The accommodation is a small private hotel. Each room is almost independent, and its interior is just clean and wonderful, something in a western style and not like the one in Fiji.
The landlord came out to see me.
This is the restaurant that the landlord of Levuka homestay recommended. I got there to get dinner.
As the town used to flourishe as a whaling base in the old days, its name is "Whale's Tale" !
We can eat delicious Fijian food here.
After the dinner, I found the full moon was above the horizen, and its light being reflected by the water surface was absolutely fantasitic.
In the next morning, I enjoyed taking a walk in the town of Levuka.
This is the sign board in then old days of the MH super market, which is the largest one in Fiji.
I learned the MH stands for the person's name who may have established this super market.
It is very quiet, and beautiful row of housed and streets. It looks something like a town shows up in the western movies in U.S.A..
There a very few peoples and the hoseus are old enough to tell that this is a ruin of prosperity.
The logo and the color is the same as the current one, but the name is written in a full name not like nowadays.
I have never seen this full named sign of MH super market in the Viti Levu Island.
The building pushing out into the sea used to be a freezing factory, and it used to support the activitiy of whaling base.
Currently, it is used as a power generating station, and a big engine is making a big noise for all 24 hours to supply electlicity to all of the Ovalau Island.
I started to make a round trip (counterclockwise) of the island leaving Levuka.
The largest church and school on this island are here.
School buildings.
As I get enter the east part of the island, the road gets steeper. (The road goes a litte bit inside from the coast.)
Many villages are on the way.
The traditional house of Fiji, Bure.
Very hilly! It is very hard to go with my small vehicle!
I drove a half way already, and reached to the road which I had driven the previous day,
This is a village called Bureta, where the small airport is.
The runway is right over there in front on my right.
This is a runway that can accept only very small airplanes!
Due to the low tide, tidal mud flats are expanded. As this is a volcanic island, it is so sorry to see no coral reefs nor white sand beach like other islands in Fiji.
Fijian women are geting something from the tidal mud flats.
A young man who lives in Natodakalau villalge which is located at right in front of this beach guided me the tidal mud flats.
He took me to where the peoples of Natokalau village are gathered.
He took down a big coconut from the tree right in front.
Fijians proces anything well with only one big knife.
It was so delicous. The coconut juice!
Fijians are so friendly and happy.
Tokou village.
The strange rock on top of a hill at the back of Tokou village was really something to see.
A round trip of Ovalau island has been completed!
I once again went to the north from Levuka to enjoy swimming in a beach.
There was no beautiflu beach as this is the volcanic island, but here is relatively better.
However, it is so regret to see such a rocky beach. It does not look like a beach in Fiji! We can find this kind of beach anywhere in the world! The water is very clean and beautiful, though.
Without a brilliance in a cobalt blue due to the coral sand, it can't be Fiji??
At night, ate the dinner at Whales's Tale again.
I will leave the island on the 5 o'clock ferry boat in the morning tomorrow. I have to get up at 3! Departure time in this island is always at 5 o'clock in early morning. (Arrival is at 5 o'clock in the evening.)
I arrived at Buresala pier before 5 o'clock safely, and wait for the boarding time.
Departed the pier in the dark before the daybreak.
Afer a while day started to break. Ovalau island is gone far away.
Day breaking.
At the same time as the day break, the ferry boat arrived at Natovi port.
Leaving the ferry boat, I started a long drive to my home.
From here to Nadi, there is 300Km. I have to drive for 5 to 6 hours.
Ovalau island has a town with a nice charm, Levuka, and a wonderful accommodation "Levuka Homestay", and a separated living space with many villages.
I will come back again! I pledged to myself, leaving Natovi port.
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