Jan 17 – arrived in Lautoka…Fiji’s second largest city. We hired a private driver (Carlos) to show us around. First stop was a wood carvings store where we participated in a traditional Fiji welcome ceremony.  This involves preparing and drinking something called Kava.

“Kava, otherwise known as yaqona, or quite simply, grog, is the traditional national drink of Fiji. It is a mildly narcotic and sedative drink made from the crushed root of the yaqona (pronounced yang-GO-na) strained with water. It is served in a large communal bowl as part of the traditional kava ceremony. ”

The Kava welcome ceremony was quite interesting. Kava actually numbs your tongue for about an hour or so. It can also make you “drunk” if you drink too much of it. It’s a very popular drink for Fijians and I’m pretty sure the guy on the left below was feeling no pain.

Nancy, Ted, Marsha and I, as well as our driver Carlos, all drank a bowl of Kava. Our tongues got numb but we didn’t get high

We picked up a couple wood carving souvenirs, went to find lunch. We ended up at a place called the First Landing where had a drink and a great lunch.

Finished up the day with drinks at the Sunset Bar with the bartenders