By the time we got back to Wairiki from Lavena, everyone was just about dead from getting no sleep the night before, so a monster nap time was in order. When we woke up we went to go see what I think is a totally sweet attraction in Taveuni: the international date line. The date line actually kinks out to keep all of Fiji within the same time zone (back when it was colonized by Britain, plantation owners would try to argue about the time zone differences so that their Fijian workers wouldn't get a Sunday off of work), but this is the site of the 180 degree meridian which the date line follows except when it moves around little islands, like Fiji. The guide book said to just head out along the road and we would find a sign under a metal roof, so we went for a walk. We weren't finding any signs, so we shouted out to a family sitting on the stoop of their house by the shore, asking them if they knew where it was.
A little girl scampered out and dusted off some leaves and dirt to reveal...this thing. Just a little 2 inch in diameter metal circle stamped into the ground. So, it was 24 hours later on one side than the other. I tried to get a bunch of pictures of us doing cheesy touristy stuff around it, but the family just couldn't figure out how to use my camera by holding the button down for long enough, so no fun pictures there.
The next day, another group of American students that had been other places on the island went up a little side road and found this:
The actual date line sign. It had been knocked over by the cyclone, but it was certainly there. It reads "Taveuni Island: Where everyday begins....and where everyday ends". I want to come back to Taveuni specifically to get a picture with this damn thing since we couldn't find it the first time.
After recovering with food and sleep, a few of us went out to visit the other American students who were staying in a much prized air conditioned motel room. We all hung out and had a few drinks before heading back for the night...actually I curled up on the floor watching a champions league game, and had the best night's sleep of the whole trip sleeping on wooden floor boards. It was great.
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