Sad news from Fiji.

This photo was taken last July when Aradhna and I visited bhabhi's family in Nausori, a predominantly Indo-Fijian town in western Vitu Levu (the town Aradhna and her family lived until moving to Australia in 1989). Aunty (above), Uncle and son Danny made their home our home during our brief stay. When I visited for a night in September during my solo trip around Vitu Levu, Aunty prepared a wonderful dinner while Uncle, Danny and a group of their friends invited me to drink kava and talk. After a lovely breakfast the next morning, Aunty packed food for my trip and insisted I return for a longer stay before flying back to Australia.

Unfortunately, I never made it back to Nausori. Yesterday, Aradhna and I learned that Aunty passed away suddenly on Sunday night. It's a terrible, terrible loss for her family. Though I did not know her well, it was impossible not to admire her love of laughter and beauty and how she never considered what she may have lacked -- her only concern was doing for others.

She was a remarkable person.