Fiji

We spent a very relaxing week in Fiji.  Thanks to my parents who let us use their timeshare, we were finally out of hostels and in a nice resort.  We had a two bedroom, two bathroom suite with a kitchen and even a washer and dryer (finally! clean clothes!)  The resort was on the beach and had a huge pool.  There were also different activities offered at almost every hour of every day.  At the beginning of the week a welcome reception was held with free drinks and a fire dancing show.  There was serenading everynight.  I watched a woodcarving demonstration, tasted fresh coconut milk and water during the coconut carving demonstration and was entertained by the "international" turtle races.  It rained several times during the week, but since we had a massive balcony where we could sit and read our books, we didn't even mind.  We enjoyed the resort so much, that we only left the property a few times.  

Fire Dancing

Wood Carving Demonstration

Our first Fiji sunset

Our trips off the resort included a few visits to Port Denarau, where the Denarau Island shopping center is located, and one trip out of Denarau and into Nadi Town.  In Nadi, we did our grocery shopping for the week and also visited a few tourist shops.  In the first shop we went in, we were given a very warm welcome by "Steve" who insisted that we come to the back of the store for a traditional kava ceremony.  Kava is a drink made with the roots of a kava plant  and has anesthetic and sedative properties.  Steve gave us a little kava lesson, making a bowl full of the drink right in front of us.  I watched as he used a cloth that looked like a bar rag as part of the process and poured single servings into small bowls that had probably not been washed since the last "welcome ceremony."  Four months earlier I'm sure I would have politely declined my serving of kava.  What actually happened though was that I had two servings...and my tongue quickly went numb.  After our ceremony, Steve followed us around the shop trying to convince us to buy some overpriced wood carvings.   

We went to Port Denarau about three times.  One trip was not planned.  We had decided to go on the "bike tour" offered by the resort thinking we might get some information about the area while we cruised around on bikes.  We were the only ones who showed up for the tour and our guide simply had us follow him to the Port Denarau shopping center.  We were given about twenty minutes for our "break" and then just rode right back to the resort.  Our guide hardly spoke.  Not the best "tour" I've ever been on.  Simon and I were highly amused.

The majority of the time, we just relaxed and read books.  Even though I loved our week in Fiji, I was really excited to head back to California and see my family.

View from my lounge chair

Resort pool

Beautiful Fiji Sunset