A Snake Story
I am not a big fan of snakes. I like the idea that Hawaii has no snakes, on land or in the water. Tavarua, Fiji on the other hand is Sea Snake central, 100’s of them. It is just like how the surfing world loves that little island, so do Sea Snakes.
A past time of guests is to go looking for them coming out of the water just after dark. Now these are really poisonous snakes. You will die in a few minutes if you get bit. No one ever seems to get bit.
I stepped on one early in the morning, thought it bit me, but Rick came by in a little while and said I would have been dead by now if it did. So one late night over in Fiji camp, drinking way to much Kava in a Bure with a dirt floor, no door, one comes slithering in to join the party. I kind of mention we have a visitor, Big Mary sitting next to me with Kava in hand says “Oh mister snake, Shu Shu Shu no kava for you”. Mister snake took one look at the size of Big Mary and made a U-turn out the door.
The Snakes are such a big part of island life; they seem to favor the other side of the island away from the resort. It is fun to hear the stories from the locals about growing up with the snakes, sleeping with them on the beach, before us surfers moved into the neighborhood.
My dearest friend 'Big Mary" R.I.P.
