That view from up there is breathtaking wow! Heard of this place but didnt know it would be so amaizing. At 35:39 that sound so calm 😇 It would be nice to have a 360° angle view of that mountain , prolly use a drone or something.
I have a drone, Marlene, but I didn't bring it with me. Would have provided excellent images from up there. When I return in the dry season I'll take a drone with me.
I appreciate your videos and all the hardwork put into it. Its interesting watching you document these little gems of history. I absolutely love your videos and I look forward to further vlogs. Vinaka vakalevu.
I visited Lomawai's old mountain settlement in Nadroga in the 1990s. But I went after a brush fire went through the area, burning off all the tall grasses. I could easily find not only foundations but discarded pottery, sea-shells, and the hard-packed trails and pathways of centuries before. The local Mataqali and Tokatoka still knew their old allotted land and village areas in the old village. (Sereana could "guide" you home because the horses already know the way.)
Hi Mike. Thanks for the info. That’s what we intend to do when we revisit Vatutibitibi in September or October. Get someone (in protective equipment) to spray some weed killer and then we can explore the place after a couple of days. Lomawai might be worth a visit too.
The horses had an uncanny sense of direction! "Ulux" knew quite a bit about the area although he wasn't a member of the local mataqali. He is a member of the Bula Tale community which has been given land to settle in the area in an attempt to bring them back within the fold of the Fijian way of life. fascinating stuff.
In the dry seasons there were always brush fires up in the mountains when I was living there. You might be able to find an ancient village site that has been recently cleared by fire. I don't think you could afford to buy enough weed-killer to control that grass. I remember when Fiji Pine was building those roads, and paying locals to go up into the mountains and plant seedlings.
@@ThePaleBlueDot Oh, and the old foundations of the big foundation I found was oval, not square. I never saw an oval bure in Fiji, but I hear that's how Tongan's build them.
What a beautiful country Fiji is. Amazing views like I've never seen there before. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Your guide, Aunty Bui and Sereana must have been a delight to travel with. And on the way back down a treat of Guavas 😋
Aunty Bui is always a ton of laughter. Sereana was an amazing guide for such a young person. As for “Ulax”, he was both: funny and a great guide. The wild guavas were amazing!
Too good, I hope horses were looked after well, but no doubt Fijian's are great every creatures on the earth. I'm living in Australia and so proud to be Fijian. Love for Fijian's here is incredible.
Yes, I bonded with my horse really well. Not shown on camera, I kept rubbing it down and talking to it. They are beautiful creatures indeed. Thank you fro your support. 😃😃👍🏽✌🏽👌🏽
What a place, wonder why they had to relocate the village. Vinaka Ratu thanks for sharing the adventure really enjoyed it. So every monday after dinner we tune in to your latest video. 👏🏼👏🏼
My pleasure! 😊 Basically, when the missionaries turned up in the mid-nineteenth century they were trying to make a decisive break with the pre-Christian past of Fijians by moving them to the coast to make it easier for the propagation of Christianity. I'm not sure which writer it was that I read recently but he described early Methodist Christianity in Fiji as a maritime faith: Missionaries came in by boats. Hence, it was easier to spread the faith along coastal villages. Besides which, the crisis that forced those ancient Fijians up into the hills brought about by the beginning of the Little Ice Age in the late 13th century ( It was especially devastating for the Pacific between 1250 and 1350) was over. There was no need to live in inaccessible hilltop villages anymore. I'll explain more in a further vlog.
Many villages were relocated from highly defensive positions to the shores because with Christianity and western incursion came a cessation of inter-tribal wars. Everything except defense is much easier near the shores. Fishing, farming, transportation.
@@mikesloothaak679 Correct. That's what I wanted to communicate in my narration but I was too worn out with getting to Vatutibitibi. Instead, I put it in the written intro to the vlog.
Excellent documentary of inland beautiful Fiji islands. Having being lived in Nasinu, never had a chance to explore North. Many thanks for sharing this.
Gave me chills ..epic opening song..one of your best vlog. All the best..Fijians have heart of gold . So happy with what they got🙌🙌.. may I ask what's your opening song called? . Take care..will continue living in fiji through your lens
Oh okay..if you need few accessories for your camera ..let me know ..I can certainly send it to you..the only thing to keep in mind is: here in Canada we have 120 volts. Willing to help out at my expense..as long as the content keeps coming..thanks
Great expedition.. with that history settings. I always like your adventure filming it's really enlighting history here, by the way... Fiji is such a beautiful country and the whole place was breathtaking 👌👌👏
Thank you, Simione! There'll be lots more such expeditions in the future once I can lay my hands on a tent and some camping equipment and up my videography skills. :)
oh hi, I just wanna say thankou for filming the vatukoula goldmine, even though you may not enter but still you manage to do your best to record it on tape, Thankyou very much,
Vinaka, VakaXdua! No, I’ve had it for two years. Sadly, the camera lacks IBIS (Inbuilt Body Image Stabilisation) but its image quality is incredible. Really beautiful. So I used it for the opening static sequence and a GoPro for the moving sequence of images. All that’s about to change in a few weeks when I make major upgrades to my camera equipment. Then you’ll see superb image quality all round. 😃
No, it's Viti Levu, the main island. To begin the journey, I had to get to the entrance of a settlement about 15 minutes by car from Ba Town then climb up a hill. I arranged for horses from there.
Nice views! The sound could be kakalu ( cicadas ) insects, maybe? Yes the Pine Commission had the bright idea to uproot the native trees and vegetation and make some $$, but then the Ba river started to flood every year, still does, and now looks like FPC just up and left, sad.
Thanks, Gee Wah! Kakalu: That's what I initially thought but I wasn't sure. The FPC promised so much in the area but sadly failed to deliver. I'll be going back to Vatutibitibi later in the year when it's cooler for an in depth exploration of the remains of the ancient Fijian village. The grass on this trip was just too long!
My understanding at the time was that the Japanese were behind the project in hopes of pulping the trees for paper. The type of pine planted was very fast growing, but wasn't good for much else. Indeed it wasn't the most environmentally friendly way to develop that land. In the west of Viti Levu at least there were no trees on the mountains except very near streams, as brush fires came through every few years. Cane farmers often burned their crops to ease harvesting, and the fires would spread into those tall grasses.
@@mikesloothaak679 I know the head honcho at Fiji Pine. I might get the full story from him when I see him next (which should be in the next few days). The old Fiji Pine road shows up on Google Earth clearly but the reality is that it is only the shadow of a road. Practically impassable with any type of vehicle now. Behind Vatutibitibi there was a moderately-sized creek that I didn't capture on film. I think you're wholly correct about the weedkiller. Do you think a fire would be better?
@@ThePaleBlueDot My memory is weaker these days, but what I recall was just sending up a bull-dozer to make a crude road soon washed out in so many spots they'd need to bull-doze again at harvest time. It was more like cutting a temporary path than road building. I'm very conflicted about development. That rough land could be used for cattle and sheep grazing, and the communities can use the added income, but that would profoundly change Fiji. I don't have answers. The Fijians need to decide, and so far they tend to decide for minimal development. Fiji has enough bush fires, no need to start another one! Just be patient.
@@mikesloothaak679 Thanks for that, Mike. Sheep farming is already taking place but not nearly enough. Your Lomawai expedition has given me ideas for a visit. Plus I might get to see their famous salt production.
Thanks for beautiful blogs lots of love and blessings from Australia 🇦🇺💞💖💕my birth paradise Fiji 🇫🇯
My pleasure, Anita. There are some amazing stories out here. 😊
Thank you. 🙏
I'll be going back.
Interesting vlogs thanks for the adventure trip
Glad you enjoyed it 😃👍🏽✌🏽
Amazing Vlog 👏 💖💖
Glad you enjoyed it, Yani! 😃👍🏽✌🏽👌🏽
Yes its beautiful 😍😍 amazing the trees and views its worth it
Thank you! :)
Thanks for sharing. It's educational and informative.
So nice of you!
That view is lit🔥🔥🔥...btw aunty bui is such a vibe!!!!
She's a scream, isn't she? 😂😂
Interesting. Thank you for sharing this with us
Glad you enjoyed it, 'Risktaker 17'! I've got lots more stories to tell so stay tuned! 😃
Love your contents.
Thank you, D Marcos. 😃
Great work Azeem! Cheers bro!
Vinaka Wilson! :)
This is really amazing ✨. Thank you for sharing this 🙌🏻🇫🇯
My pleasure, Paul. I’m trying to be more cinematic in my vlogs. 😃
That view from up there is breathtaking wow!
Heard of this place but didnt know it would be so amaizing.
At 35:39 that sound so calm 😇
It would be nice to have a 360° angle view of that mountain , prolly use a drone or something.
I have a drone, Marlene, but I didn't bring it with me. Would have provided excellent images from up there. When I return in the dry season I'll take a drone with me.
I appreciate your videos and all the hardwork put into it. Its interesting watching you document these little gems of history. I absolutely love your videos and I look forward to further vlogs. Vinaka vakalevu.
Thank you very much, Fi M-Kaukimoce! 😃👍🏽✌🏽👌🏽
Serafina 😂😂😂 Got me laughing .
@@fim-kaukimoce7283 Serafina/Seriana: I couldn't make my mind up! :)
u r legend saukhan
Thank you ever so much.
@@ThePaleBlueDot i am a music therapist n sociologist of sorts
@@harpar1028 wow! Quite a fascinating combination! 😃
@@ThePaleBlueDot wud luv to ride with u....across the mythical magical forests of my country
@@ThePaleBlueDot do u live in UK ?...curious
Bula re!Beautiful part of fiji which don't get much recognition and wonderful people! Good work appreciate vlog Mr khan.All the best!
Thanks a ton, B G Tokalau! 😃
I visited Lomawai's old mountain settlement in Nadroga in the 1990s. But I went after a brush fire went through the area, burning off all the tall grasses. I could easily find not only foundations but discarded pottery, sea-shells, and the hard-packed trails and pathways of centuries before. The local Mataqali and Tokatoka still knew their old allotted land and village areas in the old village. (Sereana could "guide" you home because the horses already know the way.)
Hi Mike. Thanks for the info. That’s what we intend to do when we revisit Vatutibitibi in September or October. Get someone (in protective equipment) to spray some weed killer and then we can explore the place after a couple of days. Lomawai might be worth a visit too.
The horses had an uncanny sense of direction! "Ulux" knew quite a bit about the area although he wasn't a member of the local mataqali. He is a member of the Bula Tale community which has been given land to settle in the area in an attempt to bring them back within the fold of the Fijian way of life. fascinating stuff.
In the dry seasons there were always brush fires up in the mountains when I was living there. You might be able to find an ancient village site that has been recently cleared by fire. I don't think you could afford to buy enough weed-killer to control that grass. I remember when Fiji Pine was building those roads, and paying locals to go up into the mountains and plant seedlings.
@@ThePaleBlueDotI don't know what you mean by "Bula Tale" community. "Bula Tale" would mean something like "life story"?
@@ThePaleBlueDot Oh, and the old foundations of the big foundation I found was oval, not square. I never saw an oval bure in Fiji, but I hear that's how Tongan's build them.
What a beautiful country Fiji is. Amazing views like I've never seen there before. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Your guide, Aunty Bui and Sereana must have been a delight to travel with. And on the way back down a treat of Guavas 😋
Aunty Bui is always a ton of laughter. Sereana was an amazing guide for such a young person. As for “Ulax”, he was both: funny and a great guide. The wild guavas were amazing!
Fiji is such a beautiful place with lovely and warm people. Thank you brother Khan. Your vlogs are outstandingly superb.
So nice of you, Tukimanda! 😃✌🏽👍🏽👌🏽
Too good, I hope horses were looked after well, but no doubt Fijian's are great every creatures on the earth. I'm living in Australia and so proud to be Fijian. Love for Fijian's here is incredible.
Yes, I bonded with my horse really well. Not shown on camera, I kept rubbing it down and talking to it. They are beautiful creatures indeed. Thank you fro your support. 😃😃👍🏽✌🏽👌🏽
What a place, wonder why they had to relocate the village. Vinaka Ratu thanks for sharing the adventure really enjoyed it. So every monday after dinner we tune in to your latest video. 👏🏼👏🏼
My pleasure! 😊 Basically, when the missionaries turned up in the mid-nineteenth century they were trying to make a decisive break with the pre-Christian past of Fijians by moving them to the coast to make it easier for the propagation of Christianity. I'm not sure which writer it was that I read recently but he described early Methodist Christianity in Fiji as a maritime faith: Missionaries came in by boats. Hence, it was easier to spread the faith along coastal villages. Besides which, the crisis that forced those ancient Fijians up into the hills brought about by the beginning of the Little Ice Age in the late 13th century ( It was especially devastating for the Pacific between 1250 and 1350) was over. There was no need to live in inaccessible hilltop villages anymore. I'll explain more in a further vlog.
Many villages were relocated from highly defensive positions to the shores because with Christianity and western incursion came a cessation of inter-tribal wars. Everything except defense is much easier near the shores. Fishing, farming, transportation.
@@mikesloothaak679 Correct. That's what I wanted to communicate in my narration but I was too worn out with getting to Vatutibitibi. Instead, I put it in the written intro to the vlog.
Excellent documentary of inland beautiful Fiji islands. Having being lived in Nasinu, never had a chance to explore North. Many thanks for sharing this.
My pleasure, Prem. I'll be doing lots more similar videography so stay tuned. :)
Gave me chills ..epic opening song..one of your best vlog. All the best..Fijians have heart of gold . So happy with what they got🙌🙌.. may I ask what's your opening song called? . Take care..will continue living in fiji through your lens
Hi, 'B. Singh'! Thank you! That song is 'Face' by Alex Kehm. Lovely song.
Thank you..Quick question I saw that you posted a picture of you in Ukraine..were you there visiting or work..Also you staying in Fiji now?..
@@B9149-q9c I was in Ukraine for two weeks at the invitation of a friend and a school. Presently in Fiji. :)
Oh okay..if you need few accessories for your camera ..let me know ..I can certainly send it to you..the only thing to keep in mind is: here in Canada we have 120 volts. Willing to help out at my expense..as long as the content keeps coming..thanks
@@B9149-q9c Wow! That's incredibly generous. I'll let you know. :)
Great expedition.. with that history settings. I always like your adventure filming it's really enlighting history here, by the way... Fiji is such a beautiful country and the whole place was breathtaking 👌👌👏
Thank you, Simione! There'll be lots more such expeditions in the future once I can lay my hands on a tent and some camping equipment and up my videography skills. :)
Vinaka! 😍
😃😎✌🏽👍🏽👌🏽
Miss Fiji miss home love to see u r voge n.z
Don’t worry, you can always watch my vlogs if you’re feeling homesick. 😃✌🏽👍🏽🙏🏼👌🏽
Nice one mate ...Had me thinking that you are Indiana Jones on horseback for a second 😂😂..Always awesome Content
Hahaha! Thanks, Alipate. I certainly felt like it as I was exploring Fiji's ancient past.
oh hi, I just wanna say thankou for filming the vatukoula goldmine, even though you may not enter but still you manage to do your best to record it on tape, Thankyou very much,
My pleasure, Kelepi! Glad you enjoyed it. 😃
Amazing! Surprised the local tv stations hasn’t picked you up for your own show. Regards from california!
Vinaka, Anthony! I’m just getting warmed up! Lots more great stories to come! 😃😃
WANANAVU 🇫🇯💙
Nice work boso! Did you get a new camera?
Vinaka, VakaXdua! No, I’ve had it for two years. Sadly, the camera lacks IBIS (Inbuilt Body Image Stabilisation) but its image quality is incredible. Really beautiful. So I used it for the opening static sequence and a GoPro for the moving sequence of images. All that’s about to change in a few weeks when I make major upgrades to my camera equipment. Then you’ll see superb image quality all round. 😃
@@ThePaleBlueDot wow still looks immaculate ! I can’t wait for the equipment update.
@@Olematey Thank you!
Is this the northern island
Vanua Levu
No, it's Viti Levu, the main island. To begin the journey, I had to get to the entrance of a settlement about 15 minutes by car from Ba Town then climb up a hill. I arranged for horses from there.
Nice views! The sound could be kakalu ( cicadas ) insects, maybe? Yes the Pine Commission had the bright idea to uproot the native trees and vegetation and make some $$, but then the Ba river started to flood every year, still does, and now looks like FPC just up and left, sad.
Thanks, Gee Wah! Kakalu: That's what I initially thought but I wasn't sure. The FPC promised so much in the area but sadly failed to deliver. I'll be going back to Vatutibitibi later in the year when it's cooler for an in depth exploration of the remains of the ancient Fijian village. The grass on this trip was just too long!
My understanding at the time was that the Japanese were behind the project in hopes of pulping the trees for paper. The type of pine planted was very fast growing, but wasn't good for much else. Indeed it wasn't the most environmentally friendly way to develop that land. In the west of Viti Levu at least there were no trees on the mountains except very near streams, as brush fires came through every few years. Cane farmers often burned their crops to ease harvesting, and the fires would spread into those tall grasses.
@@mikesloothaak679 I know the head honcho at Fiji Pine. I might get the full story from him when I see him next (which should be in the next few days). The old Fiji Pine road shows up on Google Earth clearly but the reality is that it is only the shadow of a road. Practically impassable with any type of vehicle now. Behind Vatutibitibi there was a moderately-sized creek that I didn't capture on film. I think you're wholly correct about the weedkiller. Do you think a fire would be better?
@@ThePaleBlueDot My memory is weaker these days, but what I recall was just sending up a bull-dozer to make a crude road soon washed out in so many spots they'd need to bull-doze again at harvest time. It was more like cutting a temporary path than road building. I'm very conflicted about development. That rough land could be used for cattle and sheep grazing, and the communities can use the added income, but that would profoundly change Fiji. I don't have answers. The Fijians need to decide, and so far they tend to decide for minimal development. Fiji has enough bush fires, no need to start another one! Just be patient.
@@mikesloothaak679 Thanks for that, Mike. Sheep farming is already taking place but not nearly enough. Your Lomawai expedition has given me ideas for a visit. Plus I might get to see their famous salt production.
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