Fijian Frolicking

So flights were pretty uneventful really - was glad to get to Heathrow with ample time and get through the ridiculously long queues for the three or four duplicate security checks. Everyone is surprisingly patient though - and no one seemed to be rushing which was nice being in the line - though at times i wished the security people were in more of a hurry (can i emphasise the loooooong queues?) Sat in the departure place and drooled over a shiny new ferrari that was up for raffle... just £20 a ticket!! needless to say i'm not a gambler so didn't buy a ticket... but it was a beautiful piece of engineering/artwork. Had seats through to LA right at the back of the 747 where it starts to get narrow, so there was just the two of us which was nice. And plenty of leg room. Good clear view of Greenland too! However it was also right beside the toilets, so the occasional wafts were not so nice! LA was a mad scramble but we made it onto our connecting flight to Nadi which was almost empty - nice - a great sleep (6hrs) was had by me and Mez managed a couple of 2-3hr naps. So we arrived in Fiji reasonably well rested, and managed another couple of hours sleep before getting up for our first day trip...

If I ever need proof in the future that God likes me, show me pictures of where He once let me visit - the outer islands of the Mamanuca group in Fiji are BEAUTIFUL. Great day out on South Sea Island (the innermost of the outer islands) was only $100ish each and included boat trip to and from, free drinks all day, use of kayaks and snorkelling gear on the island, and a gigantic (all you can eat) BBQ lunch. Well worth it. Very relaxing, and even got to go out on or in a semi submersible for a bit of a different look at the reef from snorkelling. Was most stoked to see a wee reef shark while snorkelling too, though I suspect he was less happy to see me as he swam away fairly rapidly and hid under a rock when I started coming in for a closer look... Day finished off with a bit of beach volleyball to burn off some of the lunch. Great great day!

Day 2 we headed off in a rental car around the King's Highway towards Suva (the Capitol). Only managed as far as our accomodation on the Coral Coast before crashing though - The beachhouse - most famous for being the set of UK's Love Island, not that i've ever seen it...

Crashed out in the afternoon after a solid attempt at climbing a coconut tree... solid attempt but unsuccessful. Though a local took pity on me and got me a coconut and showed me how to open it (with a bloody big knife!) . A wee nap was next and almost didn't make dinner - Jet lag definately setting in, but managed to meet a nice couple from the UK who we offered a ride to Suva the next day. Jet lag was pretty much the theme of the two days on the Coral Coast. Crashed early and woke exceedingly early (like 4.30am) to a somewhat excited wife... Peeing at a stick is not that exciting when you're a guy and can aim where you like, but clearly it is for girls as was evident from the reaction Mez took to it. Or perhaps it was what the wee stick (pun entirely intended) told her. So like a magical sharma lady she waved it in front of my face at 4.30am when she could no longer contain herself. (actually she couldn't contain herself an hour or so earlier which was why she did the test). "What does it mean?" I ask, playing dumb... or perhaps just biding time while I think of an appropriate response... "It means we're having a baby!" My excited wife relays. 'Big Hug'. I roll over and suggest we get more sleep... And three seconds later spring spritefully from the bed - there's no way you're getting back to sleep with awesome news like that eh! So we got up and played with the camera instead. Hmm and had a more successful attempt at climbing another coconut tree. But only successful because it was growing almost horizontally!



We opted out of a previously planned day walk to a waterfall and instead took a quiet drive to Suva and met Mez's old Nanny/housekeeper from when she lived in Fiji as a child. Cool lady and cool to see some childhood photo's of the McBride Whanau when they were young and smiley (as opposed to now when they're slightly older and smiley!) Got approached by a film crew when wandering around Suva...

"Are you from Australia or NZ?"
"Yes"
"Would you care to make a comment on the current standoff between the military and the government? What is the feeling as a tourist? Are you concerned?"
"ah, ooh, I don't think we're the best people to talk to - we've come from the UK, we have no idea what you're talking about"

And that was that... except for some cryptic texts from Gwum (Mother in Law) saying she'd be happy when we were on the plane. Evidently Australia sent a frigate in case it was needed to evacuate the antipodeans. No Suggestion of danger as far as we could tell though, and the guard at the president's place didn't seem to mind us snapping his pic...

And that was Suva. Managed to make it back to the Coral Coast in time for some skanky fish curry dinner then bed for weary travellers.

Next day was another earlyish start to get back to Nadi for our departure out to another of the outer Islands, this time the outermost of the Mamanuca's - Castaway Island.
Similar price tag, similar result, but this island was the bomb funk family island much more exclusive (only 17 visitors allowed per day) and had HEAPS more cool stuff to do, like parasailing, waterskiing, 2 man Catamarans etc etc... unfortunately they all came with cool price tags too, so we just snorkelled and went for a bit of a walk to the top of the island. Where Mez did a funny wee joy dance, most of which was captured on camera. And had another great lunch. And relaxed in the sun. And took more photo's, of course!

An Idyllic holiday, great for getting over the Jet lag and managed to get in a picture postcard sunset to finish the trip with. Next morning was exit to NZ!