Suva spin
Monday, 14 July 2008
I have been looking forward to coming to Suva, especially because it’s Clement’s home town. After our late evening arrival, when we would normally collapse in our beds with exhaustion, Clement was buzzing. It was infectious, just like the tummy bug he passed on to me.
The lights of Suva called us, I followed my friend my out into the night and could have danced until dawn if only Clem didn’t have to work in the morning. It was just a taste of a sophisticated and savvy pocket of the Pacific.
Our spare time finally synched up this Sunday afternoon, as the sun was setting. We called a taxi and went for a quick spin with the delightful Nazia, Clem’s beautiful friend who lives here.
I love the way that the city has preserved many of its charming old buildings, I love the gentle, elegant nature of the Fijian people and I absolutely loved being shown around by Clement and Nazia.
I saw the house Clement grew up, the drain he caught guppies in, the sea wall he fished from and his old primary school – the classroom with a million dollar view – one that would cause even the most focussed child to gaze out and daydream.
But the highlight was definitely seeing him rush up to the tree he planted when he was a student here and reach out and touch its sturdy trunk, stand under its comforting shade and gaze up at its open outstretched branches – a living symbol of him and his connection to this place.
Your Comments
Michael , July 17th 2008
Viva Fiji. Tania make sure you bring back Clement’s Auntie’s curry receipe.
laminar_flow , July 20th 2008
Back to the roots aye Clement. BTW what year did you attend Stella Marist?
Stewart Abdul Yareki-Port Moresby , July 16th 2008
Susa bilon me,
Em lukluk olsem yu bin hamamas tru long go long ples blo bro Clement.
We pacific Islander a truely people full of life and a sense of belonging eventhough we are so far away.
Getting reconnected to lifes pass does have a life time of memories that are hard to let go.
Thank you for the lovely story.
abdulpng@hotmail.com