Fiji 2012 - Bularangi Villa, Rakiraki, Wed Jan 4

I woke with the dawn and took my morning coffee down to the little thatched hut in our garden to watch the sunrise. This trip is going to reinforce all my bad sleep habits as dawn here is 4 30 in Aus!

Tom struck some good poses by the pool for me

Kate enjoyed many many swims in pool, and found that the floating bed leaked!

We had lunch at the neighbouring Wananavu Resort just 5 min walk from us. Kokoda,  a cold dish of fish in coconut milk with lime juice, was amazing!

Then our first snorkelling expedition. We tested our gear in the pool, which was a good idea, then our onto the reef. It was amazing, this underwater world that you would just walk on through. Little chiffon like plants

Lovely coral

And the most amazing blue starfish

We were glad we had bought our reef shoes

Fiji 2012 - Lautoka to rakiraki, Jan 3

Had a late check out so time for Kate and I to have brecky, a walk into town as recognizance, and a swim. 

 I even did a little exercise on the way, and no my feet are not still on the ground, it just looks that way!!!

The locals were up early fishing and just hanging out

Then we were all up and off for the hard job of buying food for the villa. This always stresses me as I have to figure out the money ( a Fiji $ is about 50 to 60 c Australian), and also what food is what. It was also very very hot, so the idea of how to refrigerate for our two hour drive was an issue. Blue eskys were F$256, so way too much.

We ended up having a great shop, the markets were amazing, with heaps of lovely cheap fruit and vegies, all in piles to show what you got for a dollar or two. And heaps and heaps of amazing spices ( again the Indian influence!). But very little dairy ( I guess as no refrigeration) and no bacon !!! OMG, this is going to be a test!!!

I had heard that Fiji was a really friendly place, but finally realised that a lot of the Bula’s( welcome) were so enthusiastic as I was walking with a beautiful 21 year old!!

After a nice lunch in an air-conditioned cafe we headed off. Driving is on the left hand side of the road, so it was pretty easy. Lots of pot holes though, and speed bumps that would stop a semi, let along our little Hyundai!!

We were heading north along the Kings Road which hugged the coast line and passed through lots of little villages. To the right were really nice green volcanic mountains, very Jurassic Park. Looking at the families out under the shade of trees next to their houses made me realise how spoilt we are (and thank God for that!). Fiji has the most colourful clothes lines I have ever seen, every little shack had twenty items in twenty colours out to dry!!

We drove for 2 hours and it was quiet remote, no towns or resorts. Then we came finally to our villa on the Sunshine Coast, just near the town of Rakiraki.

 Kate had outdone herself with this selection!! Pool, view, ocean so close, visible reef for snorkelling.

My room, or the master room which always makes me giggle!!

The enormous kitchen and living area,

View from the kitchen to our outdoor eating area over the pool,

First swim

Testing the hammock outside my room

And now testing the banana chairs,

The gazebo in the garden below the pool, overlooking the reef

Tom cooked us a beautiful meal of steak and we enjoyed it on the cool of the deck.

Fiji 2012 - travel to Nadi - Jan 2

Had left Greghamstown on a cool misty morning,

 with Hoobie standing guard.

After a bad nights sleep for all  could that have been because of the Dominos Pissa?) we were up early for a sleepy airport breakfast.

The flight was good, only four hours, and Tom quickly got into the holiday mood. 

We were all in tears by the time we got to Nadi, me from watching Red Dog ( animal movies are so sad!), Tom from watching the Senna movie, and Katie from her book, One Day.

The humidity hit us when we got off the plan, but we were quickly into our hire car ( with a little bit of Margie assertiveness when the Europacar guys told me it was $200 more than my receipt!) and off the Lautoka. A very relaxed airport, not at all like  a US or Bali landing!

This is a sugar milling town about 15 min north of Nadi, which is on the main island of Fiji, Vita Levu. Kate and I made a novice error by telling the staff that her aircon wasn’t working, only to find that we hadn’t put her room card into the slot!!!  We had a booking at a nice cheap hotel, great pool and lovely ocean walk.

 Dinner was at a local pub, as recommended by Lonely Planet, just a quick walk from the hotel. The food was great, and so cheap!! For about A$9 each we had a beef curry, a Mongolian lamb, another dish which I cant remember and drinks. The curries here are fantastic, I guess as so many Indian people live in Fiji. Better start looking for that mumu!!