Marsha's Marvelous Matangi Marriage
The trumpeting of conch shells announce the bride's arrival on the wedding raft, called a Billi billi. /um-billi um-billi / Drums beat ceremonial rhythms as the bride disembarks and is escorted to her groom by two Fijian attendants. As they approach the Fijian chapel, they are heralded by a Fijian choir.
After the ceremony, everyone participates in a Kava ceremony, an ancient tradition in honor of the bride and groom. The newlyweds are then carried onto the billi billi for their return to the wedding lovo, or feast, typically consisting of roast pig, fresh seafood and other local delicacies."
"Let me see that. Turtle Island! Do you have any idea how expensive it is? I wouldn't complain but some of our guests might find Turtle Island a little out of their price range."
John felt smugly satisfied at the cleverness of his response.
"How about Vatulele?" Marsha asked.
"How about it?"
"They do have diving. Have you ever seen such magnificent underwater shots in your entire life?"
"They are almost surrealistic, almost too colorful and enticing," John said.
"Some of the other images are also quite something," Marsha replied. "Look at this yellow house with pink posts. Isn't it adorable!"
"I guess so, but I like the diving shots better."
"Try the Garden Island Resort."
"Couldn't we move the wedding up a notch?" John said suddenly.
"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Not really! There's an Underwater Digital Shootout at the Garden Island Resort from May 6 -15, 2004."
"Let me see. You have to have booked by January 14. It's a little late. But this is so good," Marsha said getting caught up in John's excitement.
"In-depth learning experience with the latest in underwater photography. Berkley White from Backscatter and Dan Baldocchi from Light and Motion."
"Look at this will you! Two experts from Adobe will be giving seminars on Photoshop: Julianne Kost and Daniel Brown."
"Let's get back to work, shall we?"
"How about Matangi Island?"
"Doesn't look bad."
"What do you mean by not bad?" John asked.
"It's pretty good, I guess."
"It's better than pretty good."
"Let me have a look at it."
"Noel's Wall? Is that where that is? "I've heard of it."
"I do believe so."
"What's it like?"
"There's a sudden drop off. It goes down forever and there are schools of fish and snow white coral. It's um." Marsha stopped talking but it was too late. She had gotten herself in too deep.
"You've dived there haven't you?"
"Yep."
"Who with?"
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