Category: Travel

After a bad nights sleep I got up at 4am, read some blogs on my i-pad and went back for a little nap around 6.30am. Eventually we all got up, dressed and packed. Then headed for our last breakfast.

 

I’ll miss having breakfast cooked for me every morning, and I’ll especially miss the smoothies and juices – without the clean up.

As we were leaving we ran in Brendan, my childhood friend – who has been sick the last 4 days. I didn’t get to have much of a catch up with him but I did have a few chats with his lovely wife.

We took a stroll down to the beach…

then back to our room. On our way up to reception Christy said farewell to one of the kids club ladies…

When our bus arrived to take us to airport we recieved our last “bulla”….

and scenes of island life…

At the airport we got checked in….

had some lunch and did some shopping…

before boarding our flight (and  having to dispose of the 4 bottles of drink we had JUST bought 🙁 )….

Our last glimpse of Fiji….

Reading, watching TV and relaxing on the flight home…

On our approach to Sydney we spotted one of cruise ships heading out to sea…

One last limo ride home….

and we’re nearly home….

 

I can’t believe it’s our last day in Fiji – so sad. Since it’s “do what you want” day it’s only fitting that we operate on Fiji time. Those of you who have been here will totally undertand the saying. Basically means turns up when you’re good and ready and don’t worry about it :-).

With that in mind we eventually headed to breakfast around 9am, after stopping to visit with this little fella.

Today’s breakfast saw me indulge in both a smoothie and a watermelon juice. Plus the usual.

It was during breakfast that we noticed one of Christy’s eyelids swelling up. She’s obviously had a reaction to a bite. Luckily Kevin had some lotion and  medicine for her.

The girls headed off to do some jewellery making and we headed for the pool. As you can see we pretty much had it to our ourselves.

I read a couple of mags by the pool and started the latest Janet Evanovich book, which I had been saving for this trip.

At 12pm Kevin and I took the girls to do some more craft but the lady never turned up (she’s on Fiji time as well) so Christy made another necklace.

We then went to the beach….

to watch the coconut husking demonstration….

It’s so amazing, and wonderful, that every part of the tree has a use.

We got to try some of the coconut as well. So fresh and moist. Check out Christy’s eye in this photo :-(.

Then it was back to the pool to have our last poolside lunch delivered.

I had the messy and most delicious veggie wrap again.

After a swim and time for lunch to go down I ordered my very last Fijian virgin pina colada.

Christy went to kids club for the afternoon session, and I met her back at the room (where Kevin & Amy had been enjoying the air conditioning – it was really hot today) in time for her horse riding.

She went on a hour long ride today and seemed to love it just as much as yesterday.

Sprinter is a gorgeous horse…

and Christy got a little teary eyed knowing she wouldn’t see him again…

The girls ordered room service for dinner.

And at 6.30pm we went to watch the torch lighting ceremony. The torch lighter was on Fiji time so the drumming and shell playing went on for quite some time, which meant Christy got to play along.

Eventually the torch lighter turned up and Christy was able to light some (got it on video, not photographed).

After the kids went to kids club (for the last time) the rest of us went to pick up some last souveniers. While up at the reception we saw the most gorgeous sunset. And, of course, for the first time ALL week I didn’t have my camera. We raced to get it and down to the beach but the sun had already sunk below the horizon.

The resort is just as beautiful at night as it is during the day.

Back to the room to find our last after dinner drink had arrived. Mum & I don’t drink them but we enjoy the treats :-).

We had planned to go out for our last dinner – just us adults but it was SOO hot today/tonight we just wanted to stay in the air-conditioning, so we ordered some room service. I had a lovely salad.

The food here has been fantastic. We would just have liked a takeaway cafe to be able to grab a snack for  dinner.  We had no internet tonight so ended up heading to bed around 9.30pm for some reading. No one wants to pack up and go home in the morning.

Another magical day in paradise. It seems to be harder and harder for everyone to get up, even I had trouble after being up for a couple of hours during the night (I’m battling the start of a cold). But Kevin & Amy were off early for a scuba dive. It was Amy’s first proper dive and she loved it.

It was after 9am by the time everyone was up and dressed and ready for breakfast. Since our Village Tour left at 10am we only had time for the buffet. Fine by me as I love the selection. Today I had the most delicious Paw paw smoothie.

And a selection of my other favourites….

We couldn’t linger today, and headed up to reception, only to have to wait over 15 mins for one of the guests to turn up – even her family wasn’t happy with her. The Fijians didn’t worry at all. I do love their relaxed, carefree attitude.

It was just a five minute drive to the village of Malevu, with a population of 342, where many of the staff come from. Uncle Jim was just supposed to take us there but the village guide didn’t turn up (here’s where the relaxed attitude isn’t so good) so he ended up doing the whole tour.

We didn’t really see a whole lot of the village but enough to give us an idea what it’s like.

When you live with a view like this wouldn’t you be happy all the time like the Fijians?

We also came across the smallest pup I’ve ever seen.

Which of course all the kids wanted to pat, and like dogs everywhere it quickly demanded a tummy rub. The dogs here are pets or used for hunting wild pigs.

We were then invited into the meeting area where we got to sample some kava. It really does taste like muddy water but isn’t overly bad.

Christy did really well trying it and actually “says”she  likes it. Both her and I even accepted a second bowl (which is really just a mouthful). Unfortunately I didn’t capture Nan’s expression. Horrified was how we’d described it. She was aiming for a blank look :-). I’m sure they’re used to tourist but you aren’t supposed to refuse it – just taste and smile in thanks.

We then bought a few things from the locals and Christy posed for a photo with these gorgeous Fijian girls. Isn’t the little one in the red the cutest thing ever?

The Fijian society is really a wonderful thing. Love how doors are left open till evening, family and clan is everything, neighbours help neighbours, children are even adopted by brothers if they can’t have kids. Western society could certainly learn a lot.

At 12pm we boarded the bus back to the resort and sent a message to Kevin to meet us at the Sundowner for lunch. I had the tapas again.

We then headed to the room for a quick change and off to the pool for a swim. It was really rather hot and muggy today. After a swim the girls wanted to tie die a shirt.

Unfortunately Christy couldn’t wait to see her shirt being down as she had a date at the beach…

a date with Sprinter….

She went on a guided 30 40 minute ride up the beach….

and absolutely loved it. So much so she wants to go for an hour tomorrow.

We then headed back for another swim, and relief from the heat. Then back to the room before it was time for the fire walking show.

Uncle Jim was on hand to (repeat) tell us info about the culture of Fiji and about the fire walkers.

Kevin said the stones are about 60deg cel. Don’t think I’d want to be standing on them.

After the show we headed to the buffet dinner for a Fjian feast.

Mum was nice to enough to buy flower leis for us girls.

I snapped this cute pic of my Mum & Dad…

and of Christy… both of whom looked very tropcial…

Kevin enjoyed his nightly cocktail…

The buffet looked lovely… lots of yummy salads (that I enjoyed) and local (meat) specialties.

My first plate. The second contained some rice and the yummiest ever ratatouille.

And once I’d spied the desserts I made sure to leave some room for them.

But I was so keen to dig in I forgot to take a photo until after I’d started eating! The key lime pie, mango slice and coconut macaroons were all delicious.

After dinner there was a traditional meke show with dancing and singing.

It was really enjoyable and the girls, who were right down the front, had fun being frightened by lunging warriors and (fake) spears. At the end the kids were invited to dance and join in.

It was a lovely end to our culture filled day. Kevin, unfortunately hadn’t been feeling well and I was developing a cold-induced headache. So it was back to our bure for a bit a quiet time before a relatively early night. We’re all feeling a little sad that tomorrow is our last day. We’re declared it “everyone do what you want day”, except I’m guessing Kevin & I will have to go along with what the kids want to do :-).