Arrived in Fiji  

We arrived in Nadi, Fiji after an 11 hour flight and our first travel endurance test. The flight from Seattle to L.A. was cancelled which met an extra leg in our flight plan to get to L.A. Once in Fiji we discovered our two backpacks didn’t make the flight. Since we had our swimming suits in the carry-on bag we changed and headed for the beach. We promptly fell asleep and looked like lobsters that evening. Our bags arrived the following day. We are “good to go” now.

Viti Levu Island is absolutely beautiful, so green with foliage and the water so blue. We’re staying at the Sheraton Fiji on Denarau Island. One of 5 major resorts on the island. Yesterday we rented a car and drove north to Lautoka, the second largest city. I was glad I had my trusty co-pilot since the driving is on the left side of the road. Since it was Saturday, the large fruit and vegetable market was full of local people (Indo-Fijian’s) buying the locally grown produce. As much as we like crab, we had to pass on their local crab, laying there in the head with a long skewer through several of them. The women were dressed very colorfully. After lunch we were on the road again to explore the town of Nadi. Outside of Nadi is a very colorful Hindu temple called Swami Temple. We had planned to stop and visit but I wound up driving onto the main walkway of the temple and a couple of men stopped us and were not happy. After turning around we decided we may not be very welcomed. It was time for dinner and we had a delicious meal made with a local Fijian fish.

Today we practiced the Fijian way of life, being friendly and relaxed. Tomorrow is Windjammer Cruising time.

Where’s Pat and Mike

12/30/07