First few days in Fiji

Bula from Fiji

25.01.2008 - 27.01.2008 35 °C

January 25th, 2008
BULA! (Hello) from the hottest place we have ever been!
W e arrived in Fiji just after two in the afternoon. We had arranged a shuttle to a hotel in Nadi for the first night, as the boat for the islands leaves at 8:30 in the morning. We waited about 20 minutes on a bench outside the airport until our driver finished visiting with his other driver friends and then we loaded up our luggage in a van and started on our way. Everything happens on Fiji time!! It was scorching hot in the van and of course no air conditioning! I would have liked to have a thermometer, as the van had sat on black pavement with the windows rolled up in the hot Fijian sun for who knows how long! I had to laugh at the driver when we asked about the weather and the seasons – he said there are two seasons: hot and dry and hot and wet. He then made the comment that we would love to go to a colder country such as Canada – because the sun makes him blacker then he already is!
We stayed in a very small hotel right on the ocean, called Aquarius Pacifica. It was very cute and a great little pool and hammocks on the beach. We decided to catch up some rest and have a quiet meal at the hotel on the patio. We both ordered dishes with prawns. We were a little surprised when we received our plates with whole prawns with heads, eyes and feelers! We had some interesting company at supper including: 2 toads, two stray cats, two stray dogs and a couple of geckos!
In the morning we will board a catamaran and cruise up to the top of the Yasewa Islands. I think there is about 15 islands in this group, however there are over 300 islands in Fiji!

This is were we spent the first night in Nadi Fiji.

January 26-27th, 2008

Bula!

We were picked up at our hotel at 7am and taken to the Denarau Marina to board the boat. This Marina is also where the ritzy vacation properties and houses of vacationers from around the world are. There is nice golf courses and resorts, along with a classy shopping center. The catamaran that we boarded takes the 4.5 hour cruise up the Yasewa Islands and drops people off at the various resorts on the different islands. At the same time, this boat delivers supplies to the resorts and picks people who want to visit another resort on another island. It was a beautiful day, so we sat outside and soaked up the rays and were able to take some pictures of the islands as we cruised along. I had no idea how small some of the islands are- and how they manage to fit a resort on them!
Our itinerary was 6 nights on 4 different islands. Our first destination was a resort called Coral view on Tavewa island which is close to the north end of the Yasewa islands, it took close to 4 hours to get to this first island.
I have to say we really enjoyed the cruise and the heat, as there was always a nice breeze when the boat was moving, however after getting off the boat we both felt a little heat/sun stroke even despite the hats and 30 & 45 sun block!
When it is time to get off the boat at your stop, the catamaran can not pull into shore at the resorts because it is often shallow and almost always full of coral. So two small boats come out from the resort and pick up the luggage and the resort guests. It is usually only a 5-10 minute boat ride into shore. The resort staff are all awaiting you on shore with a huge welcome and quickly unload your luggage and show you to your room – or should a say “bure”. At Coral View, our first resort we were very lucky as we had a private bure with running water, electricity and a king bed! The rumour on the boat was that this was one of the nicer resorts and many people chose to extend their stay here. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive which definitely made it easy to settle in.

The main activities on the island were swimming, snorkelling, laying in a hammock or having a siesta. I would say we enjoyed all these!

Bye for now,

Nevin and Kristina