An escape from reality - Part 1
PEOPLE say Matokana Village, located in the interior of Navosa in Nadroga, is the last village before you reach heaven. It’s a common saying because of its geographical location high up in the mountains, making it a real challenge for any visitor.
Travelling to the village takes a whole day, by foot and vehicle and it’s not a journey for the faint-hearted – only for those brave enough to take on the challenge.
Taking on the mission were 70 students of the University of the South Pacific. The trip was an educational one and I was blessed to be a part of this rare opportunity to explore a place where not a lot of people have been. slippery and dark, but we were determined to reach the village.
On the way we talked among ourselves interested to know how this village was formed so far away from civilisation, and even though the journey was long I knew there would be stories waiting for us to hear once we reached that village next to heaven.
After crossing the river several times, I thought we were just metres away from the village, but there seemed no end to the winding road. We climbed a number of hills for an hour until and reached a remote village. Even though the body was willing to settle for the night, our minds were determined to complete the mission.
It was dark by the time we reached the village, some of us had to be navigated through the thick darkness with torches.
The last lot reached the village after seven. We had been travelling for more than 12 hours, a first for many of us except for the guide. More next week