Blogs from Suva, Fiji, Oceania
March 9th 2012
Bula! We arrived at Nadi airport in Fiji about 2pm on February 28th, it was extremely hot when we got off the plane. Del's very good friend Azinta was collecting us, so we began to wait in the queue at passport control. Whilst we were waiting, we saw a young airport worker coming towards us and he asked if we were Anton and Kate! We replied yes and he told us to follow him! He took us to the head of the queue and right through to baggage check and then onto meet Azinta; it was our quickest time through an airport yet! After greeting Azinta, she explained that he was the boyfriend of her daughter and offered to come and get us through all the checks quickly. We went back to Azinta's house, well one ... read more
March 2nd 2012
Bula! I am in an internet cafe in Suva, Fiji and thought I would update you on what I have been up to for the last few days... Despite taking off from London at about 3.30pm, it was daylight for the whole journey from Heathrow to LA as we were chasing the sun from east to west. It was a really comfortable flight with good food, plenty of leg room and a row of 4 seats all to myself. We flew in an arc - northwest past Iceland, over Greenland and then southwest over Canada and central USA. The skies were clear and I had a facinating view of frozen seas and the hundreds of miles of frozen willderness of northern Canada including Hudson Bay which was covered in a layer of ice and the Hudson ... read more
December 27th 2011
Let's go discover Fiji. Our last stop was slightly luxurious and pretty relaxing, but that was nothing to do with Fiji. So on the 25th, and for three days, we went around Fiji. Our first move was a taxi ride to Nadi to pick up the bus to Suva. With so many bags, the best bet was to take a proper bus for the 3 hours and half ride to the capital city of Suva. On the way we had only two stops, and the first was at the Shangri-La resort. What was not my surprise to see "Santa Claus" boarding the bus in shorts and T-shirt. After all, we were on the 25th December afternoon, and Santa has done his job for Fiji. Yes, Santa is reaching Fiji. Leslie had a big smile on his ... read more
October 21st 2011
Well hello all, I have not written a blog is some time, for some reason my abilities to update greatly decline as the span of my trip goes on. I did this same thing in Central America and got messages from strangers asking me what had happened to me. So here I am not disappearing off the grid! I’m sitting in a workshop for the next 5 days, so maybe by the end of the week I can have a finished blog Lets see where did I leave off… I guess it was with the fire-walking…yes that was a while ago… since fire-walking I’ve dived with sharks and zipping across large ravines, I have also welcomed a ginger Nurse from home for her 3-week holiday. Ok, I’ll tell the full story… SHARK!!!!! A terrifying word thanks ... read more
August 30th 2011
Well I have been in Suva for over a month now, and boy oh boy has it been a time. You all know that I am no longer a vagrant, I have a flat, a job (though the pay leaves something to be desired), and I have figured out the yoga schedule at the Indian cultural centre. And as exciting as all of those things are, I have actually done some cool things too! First adventure to note was the hike that I took with 15 other young ex-pats outside of Suva called Joske’s Thumb. It was a hike that was straight up to a large thumb like rock structure poking out of the rainforest-y mountains that is somewhat iconic of Suva. Did I mention it was straight up? But the day was not rainy and ... read more
August 29th 2011
Well it’s that time of year here in Suva Fiji, the Hibiscus Festival. Technically it’s called the Vodofone Fiji Hibiscus Festival, but here in this blog we’re not into obscene amounts of product placement. Hibiscus is the largest festival in the Pacific, and it’s a pretty huge deal here in Suva. At the core, it is a beauty pageant. On the outside, it is a carnival with rides, games, sugary food, street meat, and bouncy castles. Somewhere in the middle there are 7 categories of contestants, all competing for the crown of either Queen, King, Lady, Teen, Princess, Prince, and the Adi Senikau (transgender people), all sponsored by various Fijian companies, and all with some sort of social issues that they are fighting for (or against, depending on the issue I guess). With all these categories, ... read more
August 25th 2011
Captains Log: Voyage covered 1257 nautical miles taking 9 days and 18 hours at an average speed of 5.4 knots. Fastest 24 hour run was day 2 at 158 nautical miles with an average of 6.6 knots. The slowest days run was the eighth at 115 nautical miles, an average of 4.8 knots. The Bigger Picture: The return to Opua through the gale was fairly dramatic as can be imagined. The following week was a little fraught as the repairs were made to the boat and a question mark sat over whether we would be able to travel north again or would have to be satisfied exploring some of the New Zealand coast – not a particularly inspiring prospect given the temperatures (I have since heard Auckland has had snow!). Luck was on our side however, ... read more
August 11th 2011
Greetings all, I have been firmly implanted here in Suva for about a week and a half now. In that time I have managed to get a mobile, a place to live, start at work, and receive even more mosquito bites on my legs than before. Fairly productive I would say. I have also managed to not eat any fast food, have been to a few yoga classes, and met seemingly a million young ex-pats at the Yacht club during a night out. Busy busy. But going back to the start… I flew to Suva after being on Taveuni for a few days and got a room at the South Seas Private hotel. It was a big rambling colonial house that seemed to have a never ending amount of twists and turns and rooms at dead ... read more
Day 28 - Have you ever caught a wild bore while rafting? We have!!
Published: August 3rd 2011Oceania » Fiji » Suva
August 3rd 2011
The alarm went off at 6 am today. We were again hoping for a beautiful day in paradise, especially since this was the last adventure for the two of us. We put on our swim suits, packed our dry clothes and ate breakfast. Pick up for the rafting was at 6:45. Several people from our lodging were on the bus and we met up with several others at the main office. In all about 29 people were on the excursion. After we sign our life away we pile back into the buses and head for the drop off, this took 3 hours. They told us it would take 30 min Fijian time. We were not expecting that. It has been raining for 3-4 solid days and today was not different. It was a very rocky, bumpy ... read more
January 2nd 2011
New Years Eve we had a Lovo cooked - basically an earth oven. What happens is they dig a pit in the ground then the food goes in and it's covered up. I takes half a day get this thing on - by the time they dig up the spot, get the fire going and then cook the food but let me tell you it was worth the wait...the food was sensational. We put 5 whole chickens in and a dozen lamb shanks and it all went - we had 20 people here. Before we ate the guys got the Kava bowl out - my first try and probably my last - doesn't do it for me i'm afraid (did make my mouth numb)...So Happy New Year...hope the new years is a great one for all. ... read more
