October 2010 – Taveuni – Vurevure Bay

The Henning’s Home

On a point over looking the sea is Jim Henning’s house. His grandfather came to Fiji from Germany in the late 1800s. Jim grew up on the copra farm in Vurevure bay. His 200 acre copra farm is rolling hills of coconut trees, with chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, cows and horses grazing underneath. Cyclone Tomas damaged or downed over a thousand of his coconut trees. On one side a white sand beach with leaning trees lines the coast of his property . A coral reef spreads from the point sheltering the bays. We spent one afternoon visiting him and found out he had just had his 80th birthday. He gets around slowly but his mind is sharp.

Ocean point Henning’s farm

Copra farm Tranquility

Beach on Henning’s land

Coconut sunset

Up the river and under the sea

We also took a dinghy excursion up the river. We went as far as we could until we came to a village where the river was blocked by fallen trees.

Up river as far as we could go

On a day when Jim and I rested and relaxed on INTENTION, Fede went on shore to go snorkeling among the coral near the pearl farm. He also visited the pineapple plantation located in this bay. He brought back some fresh fruit and vegetables that had been harvested on the spot as he walked through the garden.

Hut perched in the water for tending the oysters.

Exquisite squid

Pineapple farm