Dogs of Savusavu

Living in Savusavu for 5+ months, we may have gotten a little bored. Much like when we shared the many doors of San Miguel de Allende, we are sharing with you some of the dogs that live in Savusavu, Fiji.

Old Dog

Old Dog spends his days in front of a crafts store in the middle of town. You'll have to step over Old Dog if you wish to enter the shop.

Slober Chops Protector

Slober Chops is a cat who lives out front of James Car Rental (cheapest car rental in town) at the end of town. Slober Chops, the cat, as the name would indicate, drools when you pet him. Slober Chops lives with Slober Chops Protector, his dog. 

Tripod Dog

Sporting three legs, Tripod Dog can often be seen hobbling around the outside market. He's quite friendly.

Socks Dog

Socks Dog stays fit by running from one end of town to the other on a daily basis. Do not attempt to pet or befriend Socks Dog, he is not interested or friendly. 

Dirt Dog 

Dirt Dog, is a dude who hangs out in the dirt most of the day. 

Max Dog

Max Dog likes to chill outside of Max Value grocery story in the middle of town. Chill dog.

Midget Dog

Midget (or vertically challenged) Dog is our favorite Savusavu dog. This happy dog is often seen speedy walking through town. His short legs don't offer any speed faster than a quick walk. Midget Dog was the only dog in town not worried about cyclones, there's not enough clearance under him for him to worry about getting blown away. 

The majority of dogs in Savusavu are strays and not necessarily friendly nor do they want you attempting to pet them. Our friend Jim ended up at the hospital with stitches in his leg from just walking down the street minding his own business. If ever we feel that a dog might be a threat, we bend down and pick up a rock and make a throwing motion. We've yet to actually need to throw a rock at a dog. 

Cost to cruise Fiji with a family

Before crossing the Pacific we loaded up with as many spares as we could knowing that sourcing parts in the South Pacific can be near impossible and extremely expensive. The one thing we couldn't load up with before setting across the Pacific was 300 feet of 3/8 inch chain. Unfortunately there was only one place to source the chain (Yatch Shop in Savusavu) and as expected it cost a small fortune ~ price of living in paradise. How about Yoga classes for .75 cents!

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Presenting kava to a village chief.

For us, part of what makes Fiji so attractive is its ability to offer both "big city" and remote village experiences. One doesn't have to travel far to find themselves in a small village tucked away on a tiny island. We truly enjoyed slow sailing through the Yasawa islands last year and have intentions of going back soon. In preparation for sailing the Yasawa's you'll want to ensure that you have plenty of provisions (there are no real stores on the island chain) and bundles of kava. 

Kava bundles are presented to the chief of each of village as a way of asking permission to come ashore. Sevusevu, the process of exchanging kava for permission to walk through the village is somewhat routine. Most often children will meet you ashore, say hello and offer to walk you to the village chief. While meeting with the chief you are often sitting in a semi circle on a woven mat or tarp where the kava is placed. It is important to remember that women are to have their shoulders and knees covered, and everyone is to take off their sunglasses and hats while in the village. 

Once a few smiles are exchanged, the chief will then begin to recite a traditional monologue which is spoken in Fijian. After some spoken words the chief will then end with a chant a some hand clapping. At the end of the small ceremony the chief will ask that you walk through the village and enjoy yourself. Some ceremonies include the sharing of a bowl of grog. We never had a chief ask us to part take in drinking grog, most likely because the girls were with us, which is fine, grog tastes like dirty water. In some instances, after the sevusevu the chief will instruct the village ladies to bring out their crafts for sale and encourage us to buy something. 

Chief of the village

Sevusevu with the chief

Locals selling crafts