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Viseisei Village
Michael Cook
Mermaid Waters QLD 4218, Australia
Dear Betty
Thank you so much for helping us to organise our recent trip to Veseisei Village. My family and I had a great time. I thought I would share with you and any other readers of the website our experience.
 My wife (Jacque) and I, and our three girls, Jordan (9), Tyler (7), and Joli Belle (5) had been looking forward to our Fiji trip for months. We had arranged our Holiday at Trendwest Resort, and through your help Betty, a night with Lusi and her family at the village.
We asked hotel staff to recommend a reliable taxi driver that could take us up to the village early one morning and then be relied upon to pick us up the next day. We were introduced to Sampson, and were taken by taxi to Veseisei. Our driver was great, drove us into the village, and organised our introduction to Lusi.
The reception was fantastic, if not a little daunting. The locals were amazed that there was an Australian family unpacking their bags within the village.
We were introduced to Lusianna and Ilami (Mum + Dad), four of their five boys, Poni, Kelivi, Aponi and Noah, grandson Abesei and many other relatives. Kelivi took us for a tour around the village to see the sacred burial sites, the church, and spoke about all the traditions and land ownerships.
We were shown to the best room in the house, right by the seaside, with comfortable beds and a great sea breeze. After a long chat about “life”, Jordan and I, Lusi and Ilami jumped on a bus for Lautoka, to buy food for our pending feast. I offered to Lusi that I would pay for all our food and that she could choose whatever she liked. We got pork, chicken, beef, a host of local fruit and vegies, soft drink and lollies.
 When we got back, the lovo was well under way, so Lusi, her mother, my wife and all the kids sat around the lovo and prepared dinner. Kelivi prepared coconut leaves for the lovo while the men sat around drinking coconut milk and telling stories.
Dinner was truly awesome. I suppose you cannot get more authentic than that. After dinner and a chat, we were all ready for bed. Ilami spoke and said it was time to meet some of the village elders and drink grog (kava). I was tired but keen to do this. We sat around drinking kava until the wee hours of the morning. Jacque told me I slept really well that night.
It was quite funny, I have been a regular visitor to Fiji for many years and I had many people in the village recognise me from previous visits. Most of these people worked within the resorts around Denaru. So don’t be surprised, that some of the hotel staff you meet may well live in the village.
The next morning, Lusi prepared a traditional breakfast for us that was great, and we all sat around talking and admiring the view.
 It was getting hot, so Kelivi took us all down to where the river meets the bay, to the Black sands. The kids and I, together with many village children played for hours and hours. One of the little boys came up with the idea of “painting” my girls black, with the black sand. That kept them amused for hours. We caught sand crabs, pippies etc and took them back for lunch, another big feast.
As the day was drawing to a close, and our cab driver was not that far away, it was time to start saying our goodbyes. We had planned previously to hand out some Xmas presents to everyone who helped us at the village. In fact we brought an extra suitcase, full of coloured pens, texta’s, colouring in books, crayons, writing paper,,,, and the biggest hit-balloons. The kids went nuts, and it wasn’t long, until all the kids in the village, together with mine, were in the biggest water balloon fight I have ever seen. Everyone got wet!!
Our taxi arrived right on 5 O’clock, ready to take us back to the resort. My kids were so keen to stay; we could barely get them in the cab. After a long saying “goodbye session”, we were on our way, much richer for the experience.
We would highly recommend this experience to anyone.
Some advice or hints; if your kids are like mine, bring extra snacks to tie them over between meals, you must bring rid or mozzie repellent, bring kava as a gift on arrival and you will get to drink plenty let me assure you. We took some western gifts over for the kids and that was fantastic. Pre book your cab or become aware of the bus routes. Big hats, sunscreen etc as there is not much shade unless you go indoors.
Drinking water is good at the village, view is spectacular, people are fantastic. Absolutely awesome experience.
Mike, Jacque, Jordan, Tyler and Joli-Belle
Viseisei Village
Michael Cook
Mermaid Waters QLD 4218, Australia
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