Back to Fiji

I mean, I'm not going back to Fiji, just the blog is.

One of the advantages of being rained out for several consecutive flights is that one has the chance to catch up on all sorts of internetic activities...and the fact that I never did wrap up this Fiji trip has been weighing on my mind and to-do list for weeks (not kidding).


This is the hostel I stayed at my first night. I highly recommend it - the Downtown Backpackers Inn in Nadi. This was why it was awesome:
1) two seconds from the Hindu temple
2) dirt cheap
3) in fact, the free airport pickup for me saved me more in lack of cab fare than the one night I paid to stay there
4) because I made friends with the Indian staff guy, my sister ALSO got a free pickup the next day - and she wasn't even staying there!
5) I ran into said Indian a few days later at a bakery at 7 a.m. and was greeted like an old friend...subsequently felt connected and cool...
6) I met a really cool Frenchman there who has since sailed his way to Vanuatu which is why instead of finishing the Healthy Schools survey I intended to do Tuesday night I wandered Vila like a tourist and played on a pirate ship till the wee hours of the morning (I believe the appropriate term is 'schooner')...alas, bon voyage, mon ami!


Well, the market looks just like the one here in Vila but smaller, but I don't know if I've ever posted pictures of it...


If you're ever in Nadi, definitely go for cheap, fabulous Indian food at Tata's around the corner from the temple. But, do not, under any circumstances, kiss anyone while you are there! It is not allowed!


Andrea's first coconut!


This could be a beach in Anywhere, Vanuatu, which is why I didn't really take any scenic shots.


But if it was Vanuatu, I couldn't wear this! Oh, how I enjoyed being scantily-clad before returning to the land of Cover-Your-Knees...


Andrea's peaceful coconut-drinking experience is disturbed by a wild pig, which is part and parcel of Pacific life. The seemingly shy teenager that attends to it becomes somewhat of a mascot and our, um..."tour guide" for the rest of the trip (his cousin-brother's wife sold us said coconut).

I could go into the whole story about a sketchy rental car, an unexpected additional chauffeur, bogus entry charges and a lot of wheeling and dealing but let's focus on the positive memories, shall we?


I give Andrea a lesson on harvesting island food...


While on tour of the chintzy First Fijean Village, I tried my skills at hearing the Voice of Our Saviour. My tour guide made me do it...I swear. I mean, not swear but...um...


This is Jamie's family in his village (different one). Holding this baby was the best part of Fiji.


"No, really, I don't like beer...yes, even FIJEAN beer. What? Ok, well that was stupid because I'm really not going to drink it..."


We didn't USED to be the kind of sisters that shared each other's clothes and stuff...maybe it was our Couple's Massage and Harmony Spa that geeked us up...

So, like, if you want to see actual blog-worthy pictures of beautiful Fijean beaches and crystalline water etc, maybe Andrea will be kind enough to post a 'comment' with her Picasa link. I can't help it...I'm too oblivious to paradise to notice anymore... :(

You'll have to wait for the documentary...I promise it's coming...