There was some rain, and some sunshine, then rain, then cloudy sunshine ..... do you get the drift of the weather day!
Our holiday has been cut short as the Navini Island Resort has closed it's doors. Anyway, messages to our trusty travel agent results in accommodation bookings moved, flights brought forward and transfers rearranged. All good for Sunday now to return home.
Relaxing morning on the boat. Missed the beach, and rain and a bit of snorkelling, then lunch. Our botanist lecturer has not made an appearance so could have gone to the beach. Anyway, things do have to be packed so the afternoon drifts away.
Dinner was to be a BBQ on the sky deck. But guess what ??... it looks like rain (and it does come) so back to the dining room. The evening is spent with music and dancing. It is the last cruise for awhile as any further cruises have been cancelled. So the crew are cleaning up and heading home the next day. Interesting times ahead.
Thursday, 19 March 2020
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
18th March - Rain and Caves
The morning was to be snorkelling, fish feeding and swimming/beach. But is was raining and just not conducive to beach going .... not that I’m the beach baby type! Some do go in but it is pretty rough so much easier looking from the deck.
Lunch is had on board while we head to calmer waters, and yes the weather fines up. Even the sun comes out.
The afternoon has us snorkelling / swimming in a cave. Great time and you need to “dive” to get to the inner chambers. Really a great time. Wildlife .... cockroach and an eel .... plus a few tourists. The inner caves are great with the shine of the torches. So happy to have gone.
The evening starts with a village visit, a welcome drink, a short tour and a market. The goods are not local and the shells just can’t be bothered being brought home. Dinner is predominantly a delicious seafood extravaganza. Very tasty. We could have watched the classic “Blue Lagoon” film, but choose a nice wine and some sea views.
Happy birthday Carolyn. Great place to celebrate your significant birthday.
Lunch is had on board while we head to calmer waters, and yes the weather fines up. Even the sun comes out.
The afternoon has us snorkelling / swimming in a cave. Great time and you need to “dive” to get to the inner chambers. Really a great time. Wildlife .... cockroach and an eel .... plus a few tourists. The inner caves are great with the shine of the torches. So happy to have gone.
The evening starts with a village visit, a welcome drink, a short tour and a market. The goods are not local and the shells just can’t be bothered being brought home. Dinner is predominantly a delicious seafood extravaganza. Very tasty. We could have watched the classic “Blue Lagoon” film, but choose a nice wine and some sea views.
Happy birthday Carolyn. Great place to celebrate your significant birthday.
Tuesday, 17 March 2020
17th March - Relaxation and Local Culture
Decided not to go snorkelling this morning. Just have a relaxed morning. Lunch was to be on the beach but the weather wasn’t the best. The odd shower and pretty windy. So all return to the boat.
After lunch we go to the beach. A walk through the coconut grove to the other side of the island and then round the beach back to the landing site. This island is part owned by the company and has tables and sun lounges for everyone to relax.
Dinner is to be cooked on the hot stones in a pit. We watch the cooks prepare the pit and then place the food and then cover it. We then have a swim or float, depending on your definition. Afternoon tea is had on the beach and our boat moves because of the wind. Very disconcerting when you look up and your “house” has moved.
On return to the boat we shower and then meet for a beer. The captain prepares a Kava drink for us to taste. Not something that I can highly recommend. Tastes more like dirty water. Next is our sumptuous feast. Well cooked and flavoursome with sweet potatoes and taro cooked with our meat, plus salads.
After dinner we are treated to some local singing and dancing. Originally planned for the beach, it was moved in doors as a “just in case” weather event. It did sprinkle a little during dinner. After the entertainment there is the obligatory shell market. Another interesting day in paradise!
After lunch we go to the beach. A walk through the coconut grove to the other side of the island and then round the beach back to the landing site. This island is part owned by the company and has tables and sun lounges for everyone to relax.
Dinner is to be cooked on the hot stones in a pit. We watch the cooks prepare the pit and then place the food and then cover it. We then have a swim or float, depending on your definition. Afternoon tea is had on the beach and our boat moves because of the wind. Very disconcerting when you look up and your “house” has moved.
On return to the boat we shower and then meet for a beer. The captain prepares a Kava drink for us to taste. Not something that I can highly recommend. Tastes more like dirty water. Next is our sumptuous feast. Well cooked and flavoursome with sweet potatoes and taro cooked with our meat, plus salads.
After dinner we are treated to some local singing and dancing. Originally planned for the beach, it was moved in doors as a “just in case” weather event. It did sprinkle a little during dinner. After the entertainment there is the obligatory shell market. Another interesting day in paradise!
Monday, 16 March 2020
16th March - Transfers and Blue Sky and ....... Rain
We have the 3 day cruise passengers disembarking today to be “replaced” by the 4 day cruise passengers. Goodbye to the Italians!
You could go for a quick swim this morning or skip the swim and just be there for lunch on the beach. Alas the rain came in and lunch was rolls in the usual dining area. After a short while, we went to the beach as it had cleared up, while the transfer of passengers occurred. The rain came and went but the sea water was warm, but we didn’t really get back to the snorkelling. After the swim off the beach we were back in time for afternoon tea.
There is a music quiz tonight and we were the winners basically on the teams effort of dancing. Damn hard work. But the champers did go down well!
Given all the exercise today it may be an early night. By the way, green islands and blue water (when the sun comes out) abound. Not too bad a place to be!
You could go for a quick swim this morning or skip the swim and just be there for lunch on the beach. Alas the rain came in and lunch was rolls in the usual dining area. After a short while, we went to the beach as it had cleared up, while the transfer of passengers occurred. The rain came and went but the sea water was warm, but we didn’t really get back to the snorkelling. After the swim off the beach we were back in time for afternoon tea.
There is a music quiz tonight and we were the winners basically on the teams effort of dancing. Damn hard work. But the champers did go down well!
Given all the exercise today it may be an early night. By the way, green islands and blue water (when the sun comes out) abound. Not too bad a place to be!
Sunday, 15 March 2020
15th March - Sunday in Fiji
Up for breakfast and then back to So So village for the Methodist Church Service. The singing is 4 part harmony and beautiful. The rest of the service is mostly in Fijian but sounds good. We then return to our boat for lunch and then prepare for a snorkel trip. This one is reputed to be one of the best for the trip.
The coral reef is very good. The coral looks healthy and there are blues and purples and reds and yellows and all the nooks and crannies for fish to hide. We have a couple of big fish including reef sharks, but lots and lots of little fish. They range from the brown / grey to brilliant blue. There are black, white, yellow Angel Fish, plus yellow and black fish, neon blue fish, etc. Just a variety of fish near the coral plus quite a few shoals of fish passing by. There is also a number of blue star fish. When you really look, there are a lot around. It is a long snorkel as you need to make your way back to the beach. It gets harder as you draw closer to the shore but you can always hitch a ride on the tender!
We could have done Bingo in the evening but decide to give it a miss. It is a warm evening and the rain forces us back into the dining area rather than under the stars on the top deck. An enjoyable evening. Another very good day.
The coral reef is very good. The coral looks healthy and there are blues and purples and reds and yellows and all the nooks and crannies for fish to hide. We have a couple of big fish including reef sharks, but lots and lots of little fish. They range from the brown / grey to brilliant blue. There are black, white, yellow Angel Fish, plus yellow and black fish, neon blue fish, etc. Just a variety of fish near the coral plus quite a few shoals of fish passing by. There is also a number of blue star fish. When you really look, there are a lot around. It is a long snorkel as you need to make your way back to the beach. It gets harder as you draw closer to the shore but you can always hitch a ride on the tender!
We could have done Bingo in the evening but decide to give it a miss. It is a warm evening and the rain forces us back into the dining area rather than under the stars on the top deck. An enjoyable evening. Another very good day.
Saturday, 14 March 2020
14th March - Snorkel and Village Visit
After breakfast, we went for a snorkel with the sharks. They were black tipped sharks and there were quite a few. The coral was colourful with some reds and yellows plus plenty of other fish as well. It was a very pleasant time.
After lunch we visit So So village. We are welcomed in the village hall, then make our way to the school and church. Many of the houses have new water tanks from a 2019 visit by Habitat for Humanity. The villagers are very welcoming and they have a market set up to sell to the tourists.
There is another snorkelling trip but we miss that one.
Dinner is an Indian affair but not spicy. It is up to you to add the spices at the end depending on your spice temperature!! After, is a dancing fest but not the Bollywood that was advertised. It is some oldies but goodies like Nutbush City Limits. Dancing gets you beetroot red in the tropics!!
No pictures as it takes toooooooo long to load. Maybe another day. It only rained a couple of times today, in the morning when it didn't really matter and just before we visited the village. The weather gods were kind.
After lunch we visit So So village. We are welcomed in the village hall, then make our way to the school and church. Many of the houses have new water tanks from a 2019 visit by Habitat for Humanity. The villagers are very welcoming and they have a market set up to sell to the tourists.
There is another snorkelling trip but we miss that one.
Dinner is an Indian affair but not spicy. It is up to you to add the spices at the end depending on your spice temperature!! After, is a dancing fest but not the Bollywood that was advertised. It is some oldies but goodies like Nutbush City Limits. Dancing gets you beetroot red in the tropics!!
No pictures as it takes toooooooo long to load. Maybe another day. It only rained a couple of times today, in the morning when it didn't really matter and just before we visited the village. The weather gods were kind.
Friday, 13 March 2020
13th March - Cruise on the High Seas
We have joined the cruise, And guess what it is raining. ......
The weather was too rough for the walk on the beach made famous by Tom Hanks in Castaway! We had our welcome drinks. Had to be all crowded in one deck because of the weather. But the champers warmed us up. Then dinner. But the captain decided that we needed to move otherwise too many people would be thrown out of bed over night.
Will be better at posting some pictures tomorrow as I get used to the wifi. Only available in certain parts of the ship ..... the bar!
Sonny came 4th. Got too far back for a payout but finished off well. Maybe next time!,,, Ever the optimist when you own a racehorse!
The weather was too rough for the walk on the beach made famous by Tom Hanks in Castaway! We had our welcome drinks. Had to be all crowded in one deck because of the weather. But the champers warmed us up. Then dinner. But the captain decided that we needed to move otherwise too many people would be thrown out of bed over night.
Will be better at posting some pictures tomorrow as I get used to the wifi. Only available in certain parts of the ship ..... the bar!
Sonny came 4th. Got too far back for a payout but finished off well. Maybe next time!,,, Ever the optimist when you own a racehorse!
12th March - Relax Day in Fiji
It is a little bit on the rainy side today. Cloudy with the odd shower, which can be a fine mist or a heavy downpour. Our view (now that it is daylight) is the par 3 of the Denarau Island Golf Links. We are on the other side of the small river that separates the Golf Links from our property. A few golfers have passed by.
Otherwise it rained for most of the day!
Otherwise it rained for most of the day!
Wednesday, 11 March 2020
11th March - Off to Nadi
We have started on our travels. So far so good to Sydney at 11am. A couple of hours and then the next leg to Fiji. All went to plan and on-time. The flight to Fiji is only 3 and a half hours, so we made it in time for dinner. Plus they are only an hour ahead in time zones.
There is a sprinkle of rain on our arrival, and of course we are in the tropics so it was dark so quickly. About a 20 minute drive to our digs on Denarau Island, A nice apartment on the ground floor is found and across the road is the Hardrock Cafe. A wander around the corner finds another bar with live music. A great way to end our day travelling to Fiji.
There is a sprinkle of rain on our arrival, and of course we are in the tropics so it was dark so quickly. About a 20 minute drive to our digs on Denarau Island, A nice apartment on the ground floor is found and across the road is the Hardrock Cafe. A wander around the corner finds another bar with live music. A great way to end our day travelling to Fiji.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)