MOCE FIJI

Our last two days in Fiji were spent being as lazy as we possible could. I have never had a holiday that was just relaxing, every holiday I have ever been on was spent exploring and adventuring, so it was a lovely change of pace, to just relax beside the pool, read my kindle, walk on the beach, oh and eat, eat a LOT of food.

Justin shouted himself and me a massage, and this was the most energetic thing I did. She really had an issue with my butt. Do not think I have ever had anyone ever spend so much time massaging it. All the while I was thinking am I going to end up bruised? And Lady that butt is never going to look like a twenty years old behind ever again, Don’t both with that much work, get back to my shoulders!

The journey home took most of a day, we were picked up from our hotel at 10 am and we got home to Brisbane around 8 pm that night. Exhausted and shell shocked to be home.

As I sit here in Brisbane typing this and looking the sky and the last of the photos, Brisbane is getting a big storm with the sky turning green and I think Fiji you were an amazing country to visit, with the friendliest people, I would happily go back any time I could. With the free hotel upgrade and free room upgrade we also got totally spoilt with the luxury.

Thank you Fiji for reminding me how to relax and not stress so much.  

Photo bomb by Jarvis while I was trying to take a photo of the Day Spa

 How amazing does this Day Spa look?

We went in the rainy season, but even on the 'bad' days it was still gorgeous

At night Justin enjoyed sampling many of the free cocktails from the many bars. I think this one was called a traffic light.

 Jarvis got to enjoy a rice cracker and a straw

I enjoyed cuddles and a stunning view

 The closing of the day and the welcoming of the night ceremony

 After cocktails we went for night walks on the beach and Jarvis played with the local children

 Doesn't the swim up bar look fabulous on sunset?

 Our last morning was spent relaxing

Jarvis and I had a last minute swim before we started the long journey home. While Justin had his last extra nap

BULA NAVUA RIVER

I knew our second full day in Fiji was going to be a huge day, Justin and I had decided to do the Navua River Village and Kava Ceremony Tour which included a swim at a waterfall. It was with mixed feeling that we booked this tour. Part of me always feels as if I am treating the locals as ‘other’, as a tourist attraction in their own right. However, I knew that because we were staying at a resort this was the only way that we would get to experience anything resembling the real Fiji.

After anther massive breakfast, we were picked up from our hotel and driven to the Navau River. 

Downside to the tour:

Have you ever tried to wear a huge toddler in a sling, with a life jacket over the top, and sit on a narrow wooden seat and try not to move to much as not to rock the boat?  I did for several hours in the hot, hot sun and it is not comfortable.

Still do not how to find comfort in treating other people as a tourist attraction

Jarvis was asleep when we got to the waterfall so I did not get to swim

Upside to the tour:
The river was amazing. We journeyed to a world away from the cares of modern living, past villages, farm lands, pristine tropical rainforest, deep gorges, meandering rapids and numerous cascading waterfalls. We past locals fishing, and playing in the river, and not once did I see any rubbish.

Going to the village was in part awkward, but I got to talk to so many of the local children who were equally fascinated with Jarvis and my hair, that I soon forget to feel like I was invading their space.

It was an eleven hour journey that I would repeat again, even though Justin and I both came back sun burnt and with very sore necks and backs. Mine was from holding Jarvis in the boat the entire time and Justin from diving into the waterfall.

As soon as we got back to the resort we changed into our swimwear and ended the day like the spoilt tourists we were; at the swim up bar and spa. Capping the night off with the best dinner at the Italian restaurant, and a walk along the beach.

 Arriving at the waterfall

Yes Jarvis is getting way to big for the sling. Try climbing these wet slippery stairs with him strapped to your back

 Justin was quick to dive in

 Apparently the water was beautiful

 We passed lots of other waterfalls on our journey.

Passed lots of villages

 Also saw lots of people enjoying and using the river

 We were greeted at the river.

 Welcome from the village

 Justin drinks Kava.

 The dance ceremony, Way more energy than us, and we only danced a few dances with them

 As much as I wanted to take the portraits of all of the local children, I did not know what was the protocol  so I decided to error on the side of caution  as their parents where not there to ask permission. But on the journey home these guys were playing in the river and stopped to yell out Bula. When I raised my camera they all nodded and waved. So I captured this image.

LA BULA FIJI

Fiji, ahh you were planed in secret, and well worth the effort. I organized and planned the whole trip to Fiji, keeping it from Justin as it was his 30th birthday present. It was weird, as I share everything with Justin, but for months I held onto this surprise. Even having to tell a lie when the travel agent called him about our flights to France, and mentioned something about Fiji. 

So on the morning of his birthday when we woke up in Paris is was amazing to finally give Justin his gift, I had been bursting at the seams in the effort to keep it in and not talk to him about it. The other beauty was, when we came home from France and suffered our holiday come down; we immediately started counting the days, weeks, and months until we would be off on another holiday.

As part of the gift I bought Justin a Lonely Plant guide for Fiji (which I read from cover to cover), I spent hours researching Fiji on the internet and I spoke to fellow blogger, Vanisha from Vanisha’s Life in Australia Vanisha's Life in Australia about Fiji.

Fiji turned out more amazing than I could have ever thought. From the moment we stepped off the plane at Nadi International Airport, I knew this place was going to steal a piece of my heart, after all who could not love a place when the tiresome process of customs is broken with the sounds of traditional Fijian folk music. This is not mine, but I found it on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz4I61giKq0

I knew straight off that six days was not going to be long enough, especially since we would be losing most of the first and last day to travel. After customs, we found our transfer to the hotel. Two hour plus drive from Nadi to Coral Coast was not fun, with a toddler who was over being stationary and just wanted to play. But, as soon as we got to Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa, all tiredness left my body, especially since on check we where asked if we would like a complimentary room upgrade. Umm let me think for a minute…would we prefer a standard room? Or a suite overlooking one of the pools and the ocean? Yes, we took the upgrade.

As good as the room was, we took all of ten minutes to change and then set off to explore the resort and the beach. Wow, how gorgeous a greeting did the resort give us with the most perfect sunset?!  Jarvis acted at home and thought everything was just the best place to explore. I just wish I had gotten photos of him at the swim up bar, and of Justin at dinner the first night. Justin has a huge appetite, he is always hungry, and so he was more than excited to take advantage of the all inclusive package. It included all meals and all drinks.

With very full bellies, and the sound of the ocean in our ears all three of us had a restful night, which was good, as day two was a very full day. I will write about this next week.

Jarvis off exploring the resort

Three pools, one with a swim up bar, and a spa, five restaurants, we did not know where to begin exploring.

 One of the restaurants, a private meal with own personal waiter could be had at the end of the pier.

 I wanted to just lay here for hours

Jarvis kept trying to catch the fish, so many bright colourful fish that would just swim up to you.

The seafood restaurant

 The view from our room at night, if we looked to the left: one of the pools

Look to the right: the ocean