Keep It Simple

Nakanacagi Village - Vanua Levu, Fiji

Kava ceremony with the Nakanacagi Village.

Marika Votomosi (third from the left) is the leader of the Nakanacagi village.  He is also the person who taught me how to tie a sulu.  

I was struggling to get my sulu "right" prior to attending a kava ceremony.  I must have looked pretty pathetic.  

Soon, a stranger approached, grabbed the ends of the fabric, and immediately tied a knot.  With a smile he added, "keep it simple".


That stranger turned out to be the leader of the village as well as region.  I spent the evening at his side sipping kava and sharing stories and time.

From then on, I noticed that most of the other sulus I saw  while in Fiji were folded over and held tight similar to how you might wrap a towel around your waist.  That is not the Marika Votomosi way.  

"keep it simple"

   

Wearing my first Sulu. Fijian Culture, Religion, and Nature.

Celebrate Fiji. 

That is my plan for the 10-day trip ahead. 

To quote the Lonely Planet travel guide to Fiji,

"Fijians are a famously hospitable people with personalities as sunny as the islands they live on".    Wow.

This is one of the most important work trips of my career.  An opportunity to be involved in the permanent protection of habitat for one of the world's most endangered species.  I am deeply appreciative of  partners like RainForest Trust and a host of Fijian organizations like NatureFiji-MareqetiViti and the National Trust of Fiji.  (RainForest Trust did a great write up of the effort Project Description.)

But! this isn't a Work blog.  The purpose of this blog remains the same; to reflect, to pay attention, and to record the people and places of this world. 

Similar to my post on Belize (Belize Trip) I hope to publish at least three blog post corresponding to my time on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Taveuni.  I will also be active on a new instagram account. 

So now; the wait, the wonder, and the realization that no matter how many travel books you read...you really dont know what is going to happen to you until you get there. 

Au saa liu mada,

-kp

   

A "Day" at the Museum

Nancy B. Simmons, Curator in Charge

The Department of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History houses over 275,000 specimens, making it the third largest collection of recent mammals in the world.  The exhibits are phenomenal and the research is critical. 

The museum is also the very famous backdrop for the Night at the Museum film series.  I love those movies but the real behind the scenes action of the museum is so much cooler.  Every nook, cranny, corner, and eave is stuffed.  What a place.

Shameless selfie in the Hippo Room

Thanks so much to Dr. Nancy Simmons for the amazing tour.  

And if you are in town June to August don't miss the Evening Bat Walks in Central Park hosted by the NYCity Batgroup.  You can sign up online and then meet up at the Museum entrance on 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. 

View of Manhattan from Central Park during a "Bat Walk".

After a little informal presentation on "the night life" of the park, you are off with a bunch of new friends and a host of gadgets that allow you to hear and see the ultrasonic sounds of echolocating bats.