Feb 7, 2013 - Last Days in Fiji

We had a Tsunami Warning on our last day in Fiji, following a 8.2 earthquake east of the Solomon Islands. It was a little unnerving, since we were not sure about the proper procedure. Needless to say that nothing happened, but it was good to see the warning system working and followed by most of the population. For our last two days we stayed at the Raintree Lodge, just outside of Suva, the capitol of Fiji. The Raintree Lodge was situated on a former Quarry. It was a beautiful setting with 97 identified local plants and with a surrounding...

Jan 14, 2013 - Fly to USA/Return Home

What would a flight be without drama? Our flight from Sydney was delayed by about an hour. We were able to spend the time in the Air New Zealand lounge. Free food, drinks and wi-fi. Our plane had two levels for business/first class. We were in the upper level. We had flat-bed seats again. Great food on the menu to choose from. When we landed in San Francisco, we found we had missed our connection. We had to wait until the next flight, which was no big deal. We did, however, lose our first class seats. We were able to sit in exit row seats,...

Nov 21, 2012 - Captain's log - Fiji mission complete - signing off...........

We woke to another beautiful sunny and hot morning. Donna claimed she was up to witness the sunrise about 6:00amish but it wasn't that spectacular so climbed back into bed, reaffirming her belief that sunrises are overrated and she is going to commit her photography skills to sunsets instead!!! Our full schedule for the day includes swimming, reading, eating and lazing around - the Wayne and Donna version of a quadathlon!!! The days have all dawned with blue skies and by about 2:00pm it clouds over and we have a burst for a few minutes of...

Nov 20, 2012 - tough job but somebody`s gotta do it

I was up early to try and get a jog in before it got too hot. I headed off to see a resort just up the way Donna had learned about from the travel agents touring yesterday. About 3 k's down the road I find a much bigger and busier resort but a possible dinner place as their menu was quite extensive. Across the street was a pub with a big deck and the music was pumping out with 3 customers and it was 930am!! After a look at the menu and convincing the bartender I didn't have money with me he agreed it would be ok if I came back later. I...

Nov 19, 2012 - beachfront livin`

Our first morning in Fiji was very humid and more than a little warm - not that we are complaining, mind you! Loaded down with our packs we set off for the bus stop to find a bus to Nadi and then on to Tambua Sands Resort (another Lonely Planet suggestions which made us a little nervous based on what we had stayed in last night!). A bus came by as we hit the stop and it was busy but we squeezed in and we were off. This bus had no glass in the windows which actually worked as the wind coming in kept us cool although I don't know what...

Oct 16, 2012 - Hervey Bay Area

Today we ventured out of Hervey Bay to look for birds on our own. According to our sources, we went to two locations about 75 km away. Both were in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. One site took us down roads not maintained for street vehicles, so we had to walk quite a ways. We didn't find any of the target birds, but did see our first White-cheeked Honeyeaters. Plus we walked about three miles in the process, enjoying ourselves until the sun heated up. The second site was at Inskip Point, which is where the 4X4s take...

Apr 19, 2012 - Vanuatu to Fiji - Markets & Cannibals

Port Vila, Vanuatu – Nam-ba-wan Market This is where young Jim Michenor got his start with Tales of the South Pacific. I have met the man who claimed to be responsible, the father of one of my fraternity brothers at Vanderbilt. Bo’s father said he was in Washington DC early in the war working in communications. His commander wanted to assign him to a post in the South Pacific. Mr. Sudduth suggested that Michenor would be a better candidate since he was unmarried and actually wanted to go. True or not? Who knows? But there is still a...

Oct 7, 2011 - Suva, Fiji

Friday, October 7– Suva, Fiji We arrived at port at breakfast time. The weather had been cloudy approaching Fiji and this day began just as the night we left behind at sea, dark and mysterious. Suva is the capital city of Fiji, with a government having been somewhat unsettled since this former British Colony gained its independence in 1970. It all goes back to the American civil war, when American cotton exports were under embargo and England needed another source to supply their mills. Fiji was thought to be a place to grow cotton but the...

Oct 6, 2011 - At sea to Fiji

Thursday, October 6 – At sea In case you wonder- day omitted - we skipped Wednesday! We have a short week and a day at sea to rest up before our next port of call! Our history lecture series is now discussing the impact on this region of the Pioneers and the Imperialists. While this has been exceedingly interesting stuff to learn in conjunction with our travel, I’m sure I would have dozed through much of this in a regular college class.  - No offense Laura! As our next port is Fiji, we also had a destination lecture on the background of...

Oct 4, 2011 - Pacific Harbour, Fiji - Sept 27-Oct 4

September 27, 2011 Even though we didn’t need to be up early, the Kiwi in our room was up around 7am and the two Asians were unpacking and repacking and changing beds and generally being f*cking loud and annoying so we were both up fairly early. I still felt bad so just laid in bed and read before going for a long shower. Once we were packed we went down to the common area to hang out. Our flight wasn’t until 2pm and I soon found out it had been delayed until 4pm. It was barely 10am and they already knew our flight was going to be at least...

Dec 5, 2010 - Fiji#8: Fiji Time

I just want to discuss a famous concept in Fiji called "Fiji Time". Below are examples of Fiji Time: 1) Bus timetable says the bus will arrive 11am, bus will arrive at 12.30pm or not at all! 2) 2 weeks ago we were meant to get the 4.30am Ferry from Ovalau to Suva, we got there for 4am, ferry left the port at 9.30am 3) Van was supposed to come to deliver something to us at 2pm on a Sat and arrived the following morning 4) If a Fijian says we will be "there in a while", or "we are on the way" it means they will get there 3 hours later 5) The...

Nov 11, 2010 - Fiji#7: Homesick

Something strange happened to me for the first time in my life 2 weeks ago; i felt homesick! I lived in LA for 4 months when i was 20 years old and i didn't feel it then. I rang home and had a chat with my Dad, it was great to hear his voice and we caught up for 5 mins before the phone cut out. After the call i had a strange overwhelming shocked feeling. I sat down and Jamie looked at me asking was i ok. I taught i was, but it then hit me later that night when i couldn't sleep that i was homesick! I lay in bed thinking about all my...