Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Racing in Fiji


My dear readers. 

Good morning, afternoon or evening. We just returned from crewing on a 41 foot catamaran during a race during which we were all supremely soaked. We’re at Musket Cove Regatta Week. Yesterday my team won at tug-o-war. Tomorrow we’re going to a pig roast.  We came in 3rd  in the race and we had lots of fun. The start of a race is kind of weird because everyone’s sailing around and every time you turn around another boat looks like it’s going to ram you. I was inside for most of the race so I can’t provide a very accurate description. We sailed around the island, got very wet, and had a lot of fun.

Sorry to say this blog post isn’t very long. I’ll write a longer one soon.
See you later!

Friday, September 09, 2011

Places I Love

My grandma asked me about my favourite place since we left Canada. I don't have a favorite place so here are my favorite things from each place.

THE U.S.: I really loved Christmas time. We were in Newport Beach (in California) for it. I didn't love it just because I got great presents, (although that was pretty fun) it was fun because of all the little secrets, decking out the boat for Christmas, cutting paper snowflakes, singing silly Christmas songs, and the feeling of merriment.

MEXICO: I loved La Crez and I met my friends Mairen and Siobhan and soon we became inseparable, sleepovers every night, eating ice creams, going to the market together . . .We strengthened each other and we became best friends.

MARQUESAS: It was a big change from hot, dry Mexico to the humid, misty Marquesas. Instead of sandy ridges there were towering lush, green mountains. We arrived very early in the morning, at about 4:00 am. We went back to bed and I woke up first at 6:00 am. I went outside and I saw huge green mountains and endless mist. If the explorers saw the same sight I did, I almost don't blame them for wanting the islands for themselves.

TUAMOTUS: We met so many great friends there. Dinner was almost always spent laughing and joking with another family. I loved how many potlucks and meals we all had together. The weather was perfect and every day was an new adventure.

SOCIETYS: I loved hanging out with my friends and going shopping in the Carrefour (a super market) with them. I liked going with my mom to the pearl shop and looking at buckets of pearls and deciding which pearl to do what with for which friend. And I loved the strong scent of fresh flowers in the morning from the shore.

COOKS: I liked motor scootering with our friends, except my dad and I crashed and that wasn't so fun. I liked going to see the giant clams even though we almost sank. (The dinghy was over loaded). It was fun going to shore in my kayak by pulling myself along the shore line. Everyone on the island was very friendly.

TONGA: We were in the first calm anchorage for a long, long time and as the sun set my parents and I swam towards the sandy beach. We played there for a while then we swam home.
That night I felt complete, a family.

FIJI: I really liked swimming in the water fall. It was so cold! In one place the rocks had worn away a natural water slide. There was a big bump about 6 ft down and it looked like it was really going to hurt but since you were airborne for the last 6 ft it didn't matter. It was really fun and I had a great time.

Our friends Mark and Val just left. Mark taught me to scuba dive. Our other friends Jen and Peter are coming with their kids Anja and Cara. We're going to Regatta Week (a big cruising get together with games and barbecues) so I guess this list will just keep growing.
LOVE, MAIA.

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Thursday, September 01, 2011

Birthday Diving



Hello my dear, dear readers. It's another beautiful day in Fiji. And it's almost my tenth birthday. What more could one want, right? But I also get to go scuba diving for my tenth birthday. Contrary to the common belief, scuba diving does not make you feel like a fish. Not at all, at least not at first. At first you feel like a puppy that's paws are too big for its body. But it's amazing, seeing all the coral and fishes and being able to inspect them for a while. Sometimes you soar, sometimes you sink, sometimes you rise. It all feels great.