Now I know that in many ways I considered this past year a bit of an indulgent and protracted holiday, but that was until I experienced the blissed out tropical indulgence of Fiji. That's what I call a holiday!
Before you can truly experience Fiji- you have to change your mental clock to Fijian time or you will never appreciate the pace of life they enjoy. Luckily Harry and I were forced into an understanding of the Fijian Island as soon as we touched down at Nadi on the Emerald Isles. As soon as we were past immigration, we were accosted by a large Fijian lady with a huge smile and flowers in her hair who informed us that she had been expecting us... this personal welcome was a little too good to be true and sure enough she then enformed us that the hotel we'd booked was fully booked. As Harry later exclaimed 'yes, but we are one of the bookings that's filled it!'. Instead we were booked into another hotel but not to worry as it is all sorted. We didn't know then but we should have shredded our itinery there and then as this was typical of all Fijians- nothing really works as it should, but smile and it will work in the end, but no-one knows how yet! So we pitched up at another, still nice and luckily, air-conditioned hotel and after a few looks of confusion and telephone calls we were shown to our room. Harry and I just looked at each other and went to sleep.
The next morning we got the bus to the port at Denerau where we caught the boat to our first Island, Beachcomber... the opposite direction to our itinery but we shrugged and enjoyed the journey, taking in our first look at the stunning scenery of turquoise seas and golden beaches. That was until it suddenly occured to me that our bags were tagged for the island we were origianlly supposed to be going to and as we then discovered, were on a different boat going in completely the wrong direction. Our brains switched back into British mode and we desperately tried to arrange a way to recover them. None of the staff seemed worried and reassured us it would be sorted. However, when we later returned to ask exactly how and when we were to be re-united, they looked at us blankly and we realised they had already totally forgotten about them! Much stressing, placating, and my rash decision to board another boat (more of a rowing boat actually) and make sure they were taken off the boat at the next stop we were finally reunited and Harry and I found our way to the bar on the Island (not difficult as it was less than 100m sq!) and had a couple of celebratory cocktails and switched back to Fijian time as we watched a beautiful sunset and partied with a group of 10 hilarious and great fun Fijian ladies. At the time we assumed they were in their early 30s, they later told us they were 45 on a school reunion. So much for the sun being ageing!
The next day Harry and I woke early to beautiful sunshine and heat even at that time in the morning. Grabbing a mug of tea and some breakfast from the generous breakfast buffet (tons of fruit, muffins and even an omlete station) we sat down and wondered exactly what we were going to do with our day!
