Blogs from Fiji, Oceania - page 13

After an 11 hour flight, we arrived in Nadi airport about 6 am Nadi time. The time different of them being 11 hours ahead ment we lost a day technically. Going through border control you are greeted by a trio of Fijian men playing on their guitars and ukeleles and singing away - already an indicator of the happiness of the people here. Once through customs we grabbed our shuttle to the hostel on the beach in Nadi. We had decided to pay the extra two pounds a night for the all girl sanctuary room - hair dryer, incredible aircon and lots of charging points - height of luxuries to me already. As we had gotten to the hostel super early we couldn't actually check in until 1 o'clock. So we had to kill time laying ... read more

In January 2014, Judy (my mother) and I walked into our local Flight Centre to book our first ‘Mother and daughter cruise’ to the South Pacific with Princess Cruises. This was actually my ‘dream cruise because because I’ve wanted to do a Fijian cruise since age of sixteen, and finally in my dream has come true. Prior to this, I had never been on a cruise ship before, and it was also my first time out of Australia. DEPARTING FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: The morning of ‘Saturday, 20th September 2014’ finally arrived. I got out of bed and asked myself, "So can I get excited now?" After a short purse I said, "Yep" and spent the rest of the morning wanting one thing... to get onto the ship! Wendy Grace was the lady who looked after the ... read more

“And by the way” says Doug at the end of his presentation in the Aquarium Bar in Neiafu, “I’m still looking for crew to sail to Fiji!”; I look at Henry, Henry looks at me. To hell with the flight to Sydney - we want to be sailors! Five minutes later Doug sits down at our table and tells us all we want to know about his plans. He leaves us with his number and a date for a trial. Needless to say that we don’t have a clue about sailing as we’re from the south of Germany and the only thing we know about a ship for sure is to locate the front and the back. “How crazy is that guy”, we asked ourselves. “Taking two greenhorns on a passage from Tonga to Fiji??” Our ... read more

Bula from Fiji!! I was a little worried before I got to Fiji as I had read there was a cyclone arriving the day after I arrived. I emailed my airline to check on my flight and they assured me my flight would still be going ahead. I arrived and...no rain! Phew! The other side of the island, however, had been affected quite badly where some people had to be evacuated. Fiji is a beautiful, friendly, relaxed place. The Fiji experience started at the airport where I was welcomed by people playing music, friendly smiles, people shaking my hand asking my name...so much different from when I left New Zealand where the security person checking my passport shouted at me for not moving quickly enough. Why on earth people that work at airports think it is ... read more

We started the day with our usual ritual of morning coffee outside, looking out onto the beach which looks more beautiful everyday. We then went for breakfast which consisted mainly of pastries which is never good for Darren. We decided to go for a walk up the mountain. It was only half nine and the sun was so warm. Walking up we saw the island that castaway was filmed, which isnt actually a secluded island. They are building some new villas upthe top which look beautiful the staff let us look into one which was completed it was amazing had its own pool and a very private part of the beach. We were cheeky and went in through the garden to the beach. Luckily it was low tide so we managed to walk all the way ... read more