Mud pools and stray dogs

We're back at the Hilton for an afternoon by the pool. It's not as hot today which is nice, and it's certainly been good to get to the pools this week, something we missed in Australia and New Zealand. It gives the kids access to some exercise.

Yesterday we visited the Sobeto Thermal Mud Pool. I wasn't keen on going at first. Something about the thermal part didn't appeal - it's already hot here. Also I wasn't thrilled about the mud part - who wants to get all dirty? But as it turned out it was a fun activity and I'm glad we went.

When we first arrived at the mud pool in bathing suits with cameras in hand, we were presented with buckets of mud drawn from the mud pool. We proceeded to coat ourselves in mud from head to toe, and then we let the it dry. I found it cooling to be covered in mud. I can see how this works for elephants and other animals. It must be the combination of protection from the sun and the slow evaporation effect from the drying mud which makes it cool. John wasn't too impressed with the idea of coating himself in mud at first, but he joined in once everyone else started. He did seem a little concerned though as the mud stiffened up. When we stretched it felt very strange as the mud cracked and stretched. After a while, we soaked in the mud pool itself, with contained a few feet of water over the warm mud below. As we stepped in, we sank up to our knees in the goop, and the kids tried jumping from a tree into the mud pool. After we washed off the mud as best we could, we soaked in a separate, and mud-free thermal pool for a while.

After our mudding experience we joined a kava drinking ceremony going on for a tour group that had just arrived. This time the kids joined us and they each had some kava. It was interesting to see each of the kids' reaction when they drank the kava. Elizabeth smiled, but you could see the grimace on her face for an instant. She later said it tasted like mud and she felt like she was going to throw up. I think she was exaggerating, but I don't see them trying the drink again. Me either frankly.

Lynn, the owner of the bed and breakfast we're staying at, used to drink a lot of kava, but not anymore. I asked why, and she said that after she had her daughter, she found that it was hard for her to wake up at night and in the morning to take care of her daughter. Lynn had an interesting perspective on life in Fiji, not all of it positive. A common observation from her again and again is how laid back the Fijians are, sometimes to their detriment.

One issue we've seen a lot here is a stray dog problem. Where we are staying we've seen and heard packs of stray dogs wandering the neighbourhood and fighting with the local property owners' dogs. Some people have taken to poisoning the dogs. Lynn has gone through a few dogs since hers have been poisoned, likely by accident. There are plans to build a dog shelter, funded mainly by a wealthy private family who recently emigrated to the island. It will be better for the dogs and locals when this dog problem is under control. They sure howl at night - good thing we have our ear plugs.

Here's Catheleen and me about as dirty as we're ever likely to be.