Back out in the river the rain was falling more steadily, warm and refreshing and we hid under plastic sheets to help keep what dry clothes we did have stay dry. Travelling back down the river we made a stop at the Nakavu Village. It is traditional for women to cover arms and legs in villages and a nice gesture for tourists to offer money for the village donation boxes or lollies for children. Being led through the village visitors are greeted with cries of bula from families sitting in doorways of thatched bures and concrete houses. The village which has no electricity, has about 400 people and is totally self-sufficient with its main income from farming root crops.
Tourism is also a growing part of the income.
Nakavu Village has purchased a generator which will be used for power and the community is paying it off. It's expected to have power connected by October. All visitors are expected to take part in the traditional kava-drinking ceremony before eating. Kava is made from the dried and crushed pepper plant root and the powder mixed with water before drinking. It is common for the liquid to be drunk every day in most villages and it has a soothing effect causing many people to fall asleep if enough is drunk.