The first rays of sunlight revealed the beautiful big island of Aitutaki. The atoll is famous for its scenic lagoon which we spent the day exploring. The history of Aitutaki is fascinating with many people believing the 2000 people current residence are descended from a great warrior named Ru. Ngaa Kitai Taria, the island’s Director of Cultural Studies, showcased the rich history of Aitutaki on tours of the island throughout the day before joining us aboard National Geographic Orion for an energy-filled special appearance at the evening’s recap.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Beqa Island, Fiji
Today we explored the lovely island of Beqa, which is part of Fiji. The day started with a visit to a small village by the coast and an optional hike to a neighboring village. The hike took us up a hill and provided beautiful views of the ocean and the bays below. Along the way, we looked for birds, visited a kava farm, and learned a bit about local plants. We even visited the village school, which had a small library and playground for the kids. After we finished the hike, we had a delicious lunch on board National Geographic Orion then we took Zodiacs ashore at a new location. When we pulled up on the beach, we were greeted by a chorus of singers from one of the villages. The music was beautiful, and we all enjoyed listening to the group sing and play their instruments. We shared a bowl of kava with our greeting party and then were treated to a special ritual – firewalking! Men from the village showed us their traditional practice of walking over extremely hot rocks that have been heated by a strong fire. It was impressive! It was our last full day on this trip, and we certainly made the most of it.
