Bula Fiji!

Bula (Hello! in the local tongue)
So Fiji was absolutely nothing like what we had anticipated. We had a delightful, but very different experience from the honeymooning couples that so epitomose the Fiji expectations. My initial, and lasting, impression of Fiji is of Goa-meets-Hawaii; the lush greenery and vivid colorful flowers of these islands is so reminiscent of the happy trips we have had to other such polynesian islands, however, the poverty and political troubles that these islands have faced (something the aforementioned honeymooning couples staying at the Westin will have missed entirely)has created a very different vibe here.

Interestingly, at least two Fijians we met seemed favorable towards the British and refered with pleasure to our Queenie on their bank notes (even though they gained independence several decades ago), and refering to Britain as the motherland, and another was quite grateful that the European missionaries rid them of their canibalistic ways. Most surprising indeed.

Nevertheless, we spent a wonderfully relaxing time out on a remote Island, largely spent watching the warm monsoon rains from the balcony of the restaurant/bar at the Funky Fish Resort where we stayed. One of the true delights is that every single member of the staff (probably about 20) all knew us on a first name basis, and greeted us with warm hospitality and tremendously good food.

On our second day, we had the pleasure of experiencing a traditional Kava ceremony where the village chief would mix up this rather special blend (otherwise known as Grog) for the guests to enjoy. Suffice it to say that this grog is a mild narcotic and not advisable in many western countries and leaves you feeling a little light headed and tired-eyed... or maybe that was the jet lag.

Some of the other highlights of our 5 days here in Fiji included eating veggie curry with the locals in the mainland, drinking Fiji Gold Beer(in a stubby); local bus ride through the monsoon rain, the locals laughing at us as we wade through muddy puddles in the monsoon rain (yet again), and Bryan Adams...but that is another story.

Off to New Zealand tomorrow