Bula from Fiji!

Well we've arrived in Fiji safe and sound. We've been here for two days now and have done a lot already...

It took awhile to get out of Vancouver. Our flight was delayed by a couple of hours. Finally, we were on our way to Los Angeles. We had a very quick stopover...practically ran for the gate to catch our flight. The overnight flight to Fiji was alright. Conrad and I both slept for a good 6hrs which seemed to give us energy to start things off as soon as we got to Fiji. We arrived at 5:15am Fijian time. After waiting until the bitter end we realised ours (and many others) luggage had missed the exchange at the LAX. No backpacks for the backpackers! [Hmmph!] I quickly regretted not packing my bathing suit and extra over night stuff in my carry-on bag. We had arrived and we had but the clothes on our back... Aside from it being 6:30 in the morning, it was already incredibly bright and 28degrees! [damnit, why didn't I pack my bathing suit!]

We arrived at the Mango Bay Resort after an hour and a half coach ride. Along the way we got to see the life of Fijians first thing in the morning. All the school kids were dressed in their uniforms; all the workers were ready to start another day; both were seen waiting on the side of the road making sure their ride did not pass them by. Its quite a charming system. Any time we are on the road there are constantly clusters of people waiting on the side. They wave any time a car drives by, hoping for the chance that the driver will have a little room to get them to their destination sooner than the next bus could.

Even those that aren't looking for a ride wave. The villages between the larger towns and cities and filled with friendly people that casually go about there day according to the Fijian clock. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is stressed. The cows and horses grave freely along the sides of the road. Apparently, they belong to the adjacent villages. I asked one of drivers how they would go about collecting them and he just kind of laughed. [Hmm???]

The resort we are staying at is beautiful. Since we arrived first thing in the morning we got a full day in right off the bat. Because I had nothing (Conrad was smart enough to put swim trunks in his carry-on) we went with a group for a shopping trip to a town called Sigatoka, a half hour away. I was searching for a swimsuit and sunscreen. I can handle having no luggage as long as I have those two things. Because the luggage was lost the baggage services offers to reimburse you for $50 Fijian dollars/ day. Conrad and I each get that amount so we were able to pick up the basics for "free".

When we got back to the resort we played a quick game of egg toss, then ate a "Pool Snack". The food here is pretty good...not too expensive. But what really impresses me are the activities available. It seems like every time you go to sit down they start drumming on this wooden canoe, after which they yell the next activity... "BEACH VOLLEYBALL!", "COCONUT BOWLING!", "HAPPY HOUR!". So far we've played beach volleyball, gone on a horseback ride down the beach, went snorkelling off the reef, and enjoyed a quick sea kayak around the lagoon.

Its weird to think there is not much wildlife here (as we know it back in Canada). Apparently, they only have wild pigs reigning the back country. But that being said you do see a lot of life. Bats fly around during the day here. They are huge and have fuzzy heads. They are really cute!! Even Conrad agrees and he's one tough critic when it comes to the degree of "cuteness" in bats! The fly more like birds, with slow flaps and large wing spans. At night, right after the sun sets the toads, salamanders and resort dogs all venture out of there cool day hide-outs.

...I have to go... we're going on a Waterfall hike and the group is about to leave I'll finish my story later...