Day 11 - Wednesday December 19, 2001 - Noon

My new best friend is Jonas. He’s three years old from Brighton with a shock of straight blond hair and carries two small plastic buckets with him at all times (hey, you never know when two small buckets will come in handy, especially at the beach). I met him this morning over breakfast when he rather timidly wandered over to my table to steal my sugar.

Once he had my attention the real reason for his intrusion became clear.

He told me that his daddy wasn’t there and he needed help in building a boat. The name Jonas and his need of a boat was just a tad too Biblical for me, but I went along.

“Why do you need a boat, Jonas? There are quite a few here for you and your mommy to use,” I said.

“Mommy won’t help. She doesn’t understand. I have to catch fish so I can go feed the penguins. Will you build a boat for me…?” he said.

Penguins?! In Fiji?! Hey, he was three years old - what was I gonna say.

An hour and a half later Jonas had his boat. About two dozen leaves from a couple of palm fronds (keeping with the Biblical theme), a discarded Tetra Pak of milk (sealed with tape so the water wouldn’t get in) and some red flowers just to make it look pretty.

I don’t know if Jonas caught any fish today, or found the penguins, but the boat put a smile on his face for about half an hour and that was good enough for me.

Same Day - 5:18pm

Other than Jonas and the boat I’ve done fuck all today. I sat under the shade of a large tree and continued reading a Robert Ludlum novel I liberated from the small Musket Cove Marina Library. I shot some more video of the resort, downed another pizza (yes, it continues to be the best food I’ve had), and ran into a guy named Drew on the Energizer. Apparently he works for Dave (the charter guy from Vancouver).

I arranged with him for transport back to Musket Cove for Sunday. Cool.

Tomorrow I’ll call Rosie’s Travel in Nadi (the extremely efficient travel agents who smoothed over my problems with the aforementioned ‘waiting hotel’) and tell them I’m staying in Musket Cove until my flight departs the following Saturday. I’ll also arrange — either directly or through Rosie’s — the Malolo Cat back to Nadi the morning of.

I am now officially halfway through my holiday.