Sovi Basin Hike

I went hiking with the outdoor “Rucksack Club” in this is a rather remote stretch of primary rainforest, maybe 10000 hectares in size. Nobody gets up here, we where the first (and probably only) tourist group this year. Its one of the only remaining stretches of lowland rainforest in Polynesia. You first have to do a “sevusevu” (ceremony) at the village to get guides and permission. This involves a VERY traditionally ceremony drinking Kava (local narcotic drink – I love it!), and a lot of talking and sitting! Awesome! We hiked up the river, crossing it several times over 2 days. Hiked upriver some more, then took a single bamboo shoot ride down it! You squeeze it between your legs, jump into the rapid and off you go! This was a bit hairy, and I have the bruises to prove it. At night the guides made us some rourou (traditional veg) inside the bamboo on the fire and we spent the nights, drinking kava with them and chatting about rugby. Next day the guides built us a “bilibili” or bamboo raft, and we floated back to the village. It was simply spectacular, one of the coolest things ive done here!!