Blogs from Viti Levu, Fiji, Oceania - page 3

Arriving in Fiji was everything you'd expect and more from a pacific island getaway; the blast of tropical humidity that hit us in the face as soon as the cabin doors of the Boeing 737 swung open, the welcoming upbeat tunes of the band in the terminal who were sporting the traditional shirts with colourful wreath garments and the lovely smiling customs lady who sympathised with our unfortunate New Zealand robbery and then blessed us both to have a great stay in Fiji. Now that’s what I call a welcome! After picking up our bags and surf board we were met in the arrivals area by Harry our eccentric taxi driver who would take us on the two hour journey down the coast from the main town of Nadi to ‘The Beach House’ resort in the ... read more

Bula, a word used by every person, regardless of where they originate, workers along the waterfront, hotel guests and screaming school children. Meaning hello, it's the main Fijian word used where most people's mother tongue is English. And boy did we hear it hundreds of times daily. Despite the fact we went nowhere! Our flight from Auckland was a good one, fairly good breakfast on the early morning three hour flight where although we advanced, we went back in time an hour (Fiji do not have spring daylight saving for its always sunny*.) We were greeted by a man wearing a skirt (completely normal) playing a banjo singing in Fijian folk (even more normal), we got through customs fine and although many staff wanted us to take a taxi we got the public bus, success. Although ... read more

This instalment of our blog is dedicated to the memory of Edna Rosina Beaken who died this month and who's funeral is taking place in Sheffield today. She was nearly 90 and she was Carla's Gran. She was an intrepid traveller. Alex: On Tuesday morning I arrived at the offices of the Glacier Guides company wearing about 5 layers so that I wouldn’t be cold. Our guide was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and suggested that I might want to leave a couple of layers behind as it wasn’t going to be all that cold on there. I had been expecting to walk up onto the glacier, as that was the advertised trip on their website, so was happily surprised when I was told to walk around to the heliport to wait for the helicopter ride ... read more

Bula Bula everyone! In my last update I’d just arrived in Fiji at 5.30am…so let me tell you what I got up to whilst I was there… well, what I can tell you of what we got up to…what goes on at The Beachouse stays at the The Beachouse… ;) FIJI – Thursday 17th November 2011 I’d lost a day on the plane. I left Los Angeles at 9.30pm on Tuesday 15th November 2011 and after a 10 or so hour flight arrived in Fiji on Thursday 17th November 2011. Bit random. As I’d managed to sleep so much on the plane it was just like having a night’s sleep and I didn’t feel too much of the jet lag. We entered Nadi airport to the sounds of singing, a lovely local band was playing for ... read more

Bin genau zur richtigen Zeit aufgewacht, also gegen 8h ohne mir den Wecker zu stellen. Ein gemütliches Frühstück bei beginnendem Sonnenschein hat schon erwarten lassen, dass der Tag ein guter wird Ich hab noch ein anderes Mädl, Luna aus Holland beim Frühstück getroffen, und sie hat uns begleitet, weil heute ihr letzter Tag war und sie sowieso nirgends großartig hinfahren hat können. Um 9h waren wir dann alle versammelt. Scherz. Kann ja nicht sein, dass alle Frauen pünktlich sind. Aber auf Fiji gibt’s sowieso „Fiji Time“. Das ist wirklich ein gebräuchlicher Begriff hier, den auch die Einheimischen verwenden. Und zwar bedeutet das, dass man die Zeitangabe nicht wirklich genau nehmen darf. Wenn ein Bus um 4h Fiji Time kommt, dann kann man schon mal mit halb fünf rechnen. Ist sehr entspannt und gut so, sobald man ... read more