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Published: January 5th 2014
Bula !
Happy New Year Fiji style Wishing all our friends relatives and assorted readers a very Happy New Year from fabulous Fiji. This is the most fabulous place and very relaxing after 7 weeks 'on the road'. Started with 4 days at Yawa island in the western Yasawa chain. That was a lovely place with a beach side Bure, from which the pacific virtually lapped our toes. Spent our time fishing (unsuccessfully), eating fish that someone else caught, swimming, snorkeling over the coral, lying in a hammock with a beer, and generally working hard doing nothing! Needless to say, Shirley is very happy..got her sun, heat (33) and sea,, and we stay in the same place for 4 whole days!
Got cramp snorkeling on 1st day, and struggled to get out of a rip with only one leg working, so got dragged over some rough rock and tore some lumps out of both knees and side. Didn't realize until got to beach as cramp was so distracting. I should know by now to prepare muscles and not expect to work fins on unfit calves ..every days still a school day. Healing slowly and hasn't stopped me swimming or snorkeling.. I just wait until its calmer!
Airport Welcome
Your names on the list..in you come. Hogmanay was brilliant in contrast to Xmas in NZ..the resort did a great party with canapies and cocktails from 6 then dinner and champagne toasts to old year at 10, followed by fire dancers, reggae band and dancing, then fireworks on beach and traditional jump (or thrown if too slow) into pool. Fully clothed. A first for me, but got to do it sometime! Only disappointment was wifi too weak / slow for Skype so missed out on family /friends again. Managed to get some texts away and even got some replies...thanks to all, its great to keep in touch.
Had a couple of hand line fishing trips for red snapper, both spectacularly unsuccesful, if not a tad entertaining. Should have had an inclination as to how the afternoon would pan out when our experienced skipper took us out to his failsafe garaunteed fishing ground, cut the engine and dropped his shining new steel anchor, expertly feeding out the anchor line. Until the last bit slipped through his hand and he realized he hasn't tied it on. The look on his face was priceless. Oops, he said (really, these guys are chilled)..turned to us and said, what do we
do now? Luckily he new a beach where he thought there might be an old bit of pipe, which worked, but clearly exuded some kind of fish inhibitor. Still, the beer sneaked aboard by some Ozzie's was good, and the scenery stunning.
Then boat hopped to second island, Nanuya, where the film, Blue Lagoon was filmed, and now our 3rd day here. This is Paradise. quieter than first resort and have awesome treehouse bure with fantastic views to neighbor islands. Sea very calm..a lagoon in fact, so snorkeling much easier, and coral reef superb. Basically being very lazy and recharging travel batteries, though walking, swimming / snorking daily. Went to see famous caves yesterday, also featured in the film...I'll have to watch it again now...the beach featured is 5 mins walk from our beach bar. The sea caves were great, also achieving a lifetime first. Had to swim through an underwater narrow rock tunnel to second cave, which was completely dark...god knows how anyone found it as the only way in was a small underwater hole in the rock! A guide held a torch at the other end to give you something to aim for...a long deep breath, dive,
Yep this'll do
But no hoover ! hold breath for 10 secs or so whilst pushing yourself through dark narrow tunnel toward torchlight and praying that they told you the truth...then tap on head to let you know you can surface safely..and emerge in totally dark cave with sheer rock sides. Terrifying but awesome! Great sense of achievement, then look around by guides torch and realize that all my fellow adventurers are all 30 something's! Am I mad, as Shirley suggests, or just refuse to grow old gracefully? I prefer the latter. Always said there will be plenty of time to sleep when your dead.
Another first awaiting tonight when I have my first ever massage..a Polynesian massage, whatever that is. Just hope she takes it easy with the snork injuries! Sounds safer than waiting a week till bangkok,however, as I've heard they can be dodgy, with 'extras'.. Now even I know I'm too old for that kind of nonsense.
Get seaplane back to main island in couple of days, for onward flight to Sydney..one of our favorite cities..only 24 hours there to catch up on old favorite haunts then on to bangkok and travel mayhem again for a month.
Meantime, back to the
hammock and that ice cold Mohito.......
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badger
non-member comment
Hey drifters, a very very happy new year to you both XX. Fiji sounds more like the mutts nuts & looks wonderful. I am salivating at the thought, it looks like the kind of place where badgers should be. I am very impressed with Mrs Drifters new found underwater abilities, swimming through caves & snorkelling. You are the girl shirl\'s...can I see some pics pls :) I recommend you both try the Thai massage, seriously, (but with no happy ending). Glad New Year was better for you & look forward to the next episode of \" I\'m a retiree, get me in the there\".