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Published: November 30th 2022
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There are lots of activities that take place on this resort every day. Yesterday there was aerobics in the pool that I had fun taking part in and there was pool volleyball that I had fun watching. This morning some of us are going on a small shopping jaunt. The resort provides a bus and takes us into a small town about 40 minutes away. No requirement to buy but a chance to get to see the area in the daylight and see how the people live. When we arrived the other day it was pitch black at night. There are 3-4 small villages between the resort and the town and everyone waves and hollers “Bula!” as we drive by.
Once in town we have 3 hours to wander and shop and find something to eat. We checked out the stores in the “mall” and then sauntered down the street and around the block ending up at the local fresh market. A large building full of individual vendors of fresh everything. A young lady explained what some of the unfamiliar vegetables were and showed us kava root and powder. Kava is a depressant drug which gives you a sense of
well being, removes anxiety and sharpens your senses. When the powder is mixed with water, it just looks like muddy water - we didn’t try it! She also showed us a form of tobacco that is all rolled up in a ball. The farmers mix it with honey to roll it up and it is either chewed or smoked. She was very polite and friendly but we felt obligated to look at her display of jewellery before we left the market. One of the local places was a fabric store with the most amazing colourful fabrics you ever laid eyes on. Stunning florals in every colour - I am not a sewer but I couldn’t resist buying 3 meters of a soft material that was a deep velvety green with red and orange hibiscus. I will make a sarong or a simple cover up dress when I get home.
Speaking of people, Fijians are very nice. Fiji is a communal society so everyone shares. At the resort, the staff can’t do enough for you - they go out of their way to help in any way they can. But keep in mind that it is on “island time”. You
might think that they have forgotten your request but eventually they show up with what you want. Never be in a hurry, enjoy your time together as you wait for your meal or your drink. As you pass staff in the hallways, they always say Bula and ask how you are and are you enjoying your vacation. Fijians are happy and love music, many of them dancing as they prepare your drink at the pool or wait on your table. We are on Viti Levu one of hundreds of small islands that make up the archipelago of Fiji.
But right now I am sitting on our little patio enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to the birds sing and squawk and announce their opinions of the day. There are bold mynah birds that hang around the open dining room and will quickly steal food off your plate if you set it down and go back in to get something else.
Yesterday afternoon there was a little tropical rainstorm while I was at the pool. Luckily I was under one of the umbrellas so my books, etc. didn’t get wet. But I went into the pool while it
was raining the hardest and it was such a cool experience. I was floating in the warm water with cool raindrops on my face.
Dinner last night was at one of the 4 restaurants on the resort. It was a little fancier, adults only, with 2 Fijians playing guitar and singing in the background. I had coconut crusted Mahi Mahi fish (delicious) with baby roast potatoes and fresh local vegetables and, of course, the 3 of us split a bottle of wine.
After we wandered around and ended up back on the other side of the resort to watch the Polynesian show before heading to bed. With the heat and getting up early every day, we are all sleepy in the evening.
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