Hi everyone - I just thought I've been slightly rude and not said thank you yet for any comments. Thank you very much - they are all read and very much appreciated!!
So, I just thought I'd write today about the little things. The things that run through your head sometimes and usually you share with your flatmates, friends, colleagues.... well, they've all been building up in my head! So out they come...
I went swimming yesterday. Only for about 10 minutes. I was doing quite well, keeping close to the shore, the water is really warm but the waves and currents can be quite strong. Then, all of a sudden... there was a FISH in front of me. And then 2, and they were swimming at me... from a shoal of about 50 of them! They were only a few feet away from me when I noticed them. They were silver and about 15 to 20cm long mostly. I totally freaked out - I am a bit afraid of fish. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. So I scrambled to get out of the sea and nearly stepped on a big ray floating along the sand. That was enough for me. I ran out, shaking and have no plans to go back in.
Um... Nadi, where the airport is, on one of the 2 main islands, is actually pronounced 'Nahn-di' with a ah as in father. This really confused me at first as I thought they must be talking about a different town in Fiji, but luckily I was but right by Isabel before I landed.
All the Fijians on the resort... or anywhere in the tourist industry, wear hibiscus flowers behind one ear. They all smile a LOT (more than me even, and I smile quite a lot!) and say Bula! Which is hello (actually it is m-bula with an almost silent m).
And... we were all greeted at the airport by a local band of 5 or 6 men, singing, playing ucalayles (I have no idea how to spell that, sorry - the very small guitars), smiling a lot, in sarongs and with the hibiscus flowers behind their ears. They should bring that in at Heathrow I say.
For all worried about my lack of reading material, I think it might be OK. I read almost nothing yesterday and just hung out with my new friend. I still have not finished the book I have, have maybe 100 pages t go and then another big book after that. I think I should be OK. And there is a swap shop mum, but all the books are in German or Japanese. Think the English ones must all have been taken already...
Right, that's all for now... it is 12.55pm here (five minutes to midnight your time on Sunday night) and I'm about to spend my Monday lunchtime at the bar, reading, in the shade (it's just too hot in the sun) by the sea with a foot massage afterwards. Hope your Mondays are.... well... er, hope it's not too cold wherever you are :o)
Fi's Travels...
Sunday, 7 November 2010
A more chilled out Fi...
OK, I'm feeling better now :o) I found a little friend, she is 22 and on a gap year before she starts her solicitor training. Just as an interesting aside, she thought she was older than me. She looks about 15. Hmm....
So last night we sat and chatted and some more today. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a quick chat with someone to make you feel better. The massage helped too.
It is so hot, I just cannot explain it. Althugh it's about 31 degrees there is no breeze today. The sweat is pourng off me as if I had just stepped out of the shower. In fact, I've had 4 showers today!
So it's not all so bad. It's only a week after all. Things could be worse :o) We also had a show last night of traditional south pacific island dancing - hoola dancing girls and fire breathing men, it was really good.
Here are some pics...
And here is a link to the rest:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=563441&id=799440229&l=9c5e8ebaa8
So last night we sat and chatted and some more today. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a quick chat with someone to make you feel better. The massage helped too.
It is so hot, I just cannot explain it. Althugh it's about 31 degrees there is no breeze today. The sweat is pourng off me as if I had just stepped out of the shower. In fact, I've had 4 showers today!
So it's not all so bad. It's only a week after all. Things could be worse :o) We also had a show last night of traditional south pacific island dancing - hoola dancing girls and fire breathing men, it was really good.
Here are some pics...
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| The island next to mine, taken on boat journey |
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| My dorm room |
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| The beach at Beachcomber |
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| Some traditional dancing |
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| Some traditional dancing |
And here is a link to the rest:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=563441&id=799440229&l=9c5e8ebaa8
Friday, 5 November 2010
Thank you Isabel!!
This is a special post to say THANK YOU ISABEL!!!
Isabel looked after me very well indeed in Sydney and we had a lovely time together. And all the poor thing asked in return was a bit of chocolate from England (it's tastes different in OZ - preservatives we think) and what did I forget to get at the airport? The chocolate. Luckily my parents are posting some over for me...
Anyway, thank you so much Isabel for a lovely time!!!
Isabel looked after me very well indeed in Sydney and we had a lovely time together. And all the poor thing asked in return was a bit of chocolate from England (it's tastes different in OZ - preservatives we think) and what did I forget to get at the airport? The chocolate. Luckily my parents are posting some over for me...
Anyway, thank you so much Isabel for a lovely time!!!
Putting the Fi in Fiji
Hi guys,
I am in Fiji and I am going to have a moan. Yes, I know you can't believe it... what could I possibly have to moan or complain about? I am on a desert island in the middle of the South Pacfic, it has white sand and palm trees and everything, but...
When I got to the airpoty last night, I was walking from the plane to the terminal and I saw a lovely rainbow. It's such a small thing, but I really wanted to share that rainbow with someone. I wanted to be able to say to someone 'look at that rainbow!'. But I couldn't. I considered pointing out the rainbow to strangers, but no-one was even walking close to me. So I didn't.
I was due to be picked up for free by the hostel I had book into. A man came straight up to me, and I thought it was him... he asked if I wanted to book anything for the rest of my trip and before I knew it he had whisked me away to a deserted office in the top florr and locked me in with him. I started to feel uncomfortable and realsied it certainly wasn't the driver from the hostel. He was showing me brochures and offering to book anything I wanted. He said there was no commission but I would just pay him a deposit, but I still wasn't sure about it. He did quote the right price for Beachcobmer Island though - I checked it all out on the internet although I didn't book anything but my first night. But I was worried the deposit he took wouldn't count and I'd still have to pay the full amount. Then I said I was thinking about 1 night at Navutu Stars, which is a luxury spa place. And luckily i had already checked out the rate - 525 Fijian dollars which is about 180 GBP for one night. He quoted me 645 FJD which included a deposit of 120 FJD. I did some quick maths and that decided me.
But I was in an office, locked in on the top floor! I was worried he would be weird but in the end I said I just wanted to book my first three night and that was it. I paid a deposit of about 90 FJD and we left. He had said he would drive me to my hostel but then just put me in a taxi (annoying as the pick up would have been free) but I was glad to be away from him!!
So, yes, I know, I'm an idiot. You've all been groaning and rolling your eyes and thinking how you would never have done anything so stupid. What can I say... clearly in this situation I am better travelling with someone than on my own!
Anyway, the good news is that the deposit did work for the resort I am at now. I just paid the difference between the deposit and advertised rate, so I'm happy with that. I shall just decide tomorrow maybe where I will head to next.
And also... I'm sort of a bit bored. There's very little to do, and although I love reading and have a couple of books with me, it's not... I don't know. There's couples and big groups everywhere, not so many single travellers... it's harder to meet people and I'm feeling just a tiny bit lonely for the first time since I left London. I don't know, maybe that's pretty good going.
I didn't bring enough beach clothes with me either. And all the girls are thin and in bikinis.
OK, moan over.
Here is whre I am staying:
www.beachcomberfiji.com
Here is a photo of the Island I am on:
www.travel247.ie/images/products/FJ_NAN_Beachcomber.jpg
I will uploaded my own photos soon....
:o( xxx
I am in Fiji and I am going to have a moan. Yes, I know you can't believe it... what could I possibly have to moan or complain about? I am on a desert island in the middle of the South Pacfic, it has white sand and palm trees and everything, but...
When I got to the airpoty last night, I was walking from the plane to the terminal and I saw a lovely rainbow. It's such a small thing, but I really wanted to share that rainbow with someone. I wanted to be able to say to someone 'look at that rainbow!'. But I couldn't. I considered pointing out the rainbow to strangers, but no-one was even walking close to me. So I didn't.
I was due to be picked up for free by the hostel I had book into. A man came straight up to me, and I thought it was him... he asked if I wanted to book anything for the rest of my trip and before I knew it he had whisked me away to a deserted office in the top florr and locked me in with him. I started to feel uncomfortable and realsied it certainly wasn't the driver from the hostel. He was showing me brochures and offering to book anything I wanted. He said there was no commission but I would just pay him a deposit, but I still wasn't sure about it. He did quote the right price for Beachcobmer Island though - I checked it all out on the internet although I didn't book anything but my first night. But I was worried the deposit he took wouldn't count and I'd still have to pay the full amount. Then I said I was thinking about 1 night at Navutu Stars, which is a luxury spa place. And luckily i had already checked out the rate - 525 Fijian dollars which is about 180 GBP for one night. He quoted me 645 FJD which included a deposit of 120 FJD. I did some quick maths and that decided me.
But I was in an office, locked in on the top floor! I was worried he would be weird but in the end I said I just wanted to book my first three night and that was it. I paid a deposit of about 90 FJD and we left. He had said he would drive me to my hostel but then just put me in a taxi (annoying as the pick up would have been free) but I was glad to be away from him!!
So, yes, I know, I'm an idiot. You've all been groaning and rolling your eyes and thinking how you would never have done anything so stupid. What can I say... clearly in this situation I am better travelling with someone than on my own!
Anyway, the good news is that the deposit did work for the resort I am at now. I just paid the difference between the deposit and advertised rate, so I'm happy with that. I shall just decide tomorrow maybe where I will head to next.
And also... I'm sort of a bit bored. There's very little to do, and although I love reading and have a couple of books with me, it's not... I don't know. There's couples and big groups everywhere, not so many single travellers... it's harder to meet people and I'm feeling just a tiny bit lonely for the first time since I left London. I don't know, maybe that's pretty good going.
I didn't bring enough beach clothes with me either. And all the girls are thin and in bikinis.
OK, moan over.
Here is whre I am staying:
www.beachcomberfiji.com
Here is a photo of the Island I am on:
www.travel247.ie/images/products/FJ_NAN_Beachcomber.jpg
I will uploaded my own photos soon....
:o( xxx
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Be jealous, be very jealous...
Right you lot, I am off to Fiji tomorrow. I plan to spend my first and probably last mights in nadi, the capital (I think... where the airport is anyway) and then spend the rest of the week Island hopping on the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands. Please google images of these and make yourself green with envy :o)
I may be rather extravagant and stay just one night in a luxury private spa resort...
Oh, it's a hard life.
I may be rather extravagant and stay just one night in a luxury private spa resort...
Oh, it's a hard life.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Bondi Beach Baby
So, today was BONDI BEACH!!! Not sunbathing or anything,a lthough the weather was much better and we had sunshine. No, Isabel and I did the Bondi caostal walk as there is a 'sculpture by the sea' exhibition on currently of modern ... you guessed it, sculpture! It took us 2.5 hours there and back and we loved every second of it. Then we had hot chocolate in a cafe and came home. Pics below....
Also, on the way there we stopped off in a district called 'Beauty Point' where it kind of looks like the French Riviera! All harbours, expensive houses and yachts, plus some pelicans... gorgeous. Someone please find me a millionaire who will adore me and buy me a house overlooking the sea there,
Finally, got home to a couple of 'white tip' spiders. Lovely creatures who have venom which dissolves your flesh. I don't have a pic as they scared the crap out of me, but Isabel kindly killed them with some spray. I now have a can next to my bed, just in case.... (gulp)
Also, on the way there we stopped off in a district called 'Beauty Point' where it kind of looks like the French Riviera! All harbours, expensive houses and yachts, plus some pelicans... gorgeous. Someone please find me a millionaire who will adore me and buy me a house overlooking the sea there,
Finally, got home to a couple of 'white tip' spiders. Lovely creatures who have venom which dissolves your flesh. I don't have a pic as they scared the crap out of me, but Isabel kindly killed them with some spray. I now have a can next to my bed, just in case.... (gulp)
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| Beauty Point, Sydney |
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| Bondi Beach, Sydney |
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| Me eating lunch at Bondi Beach |
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| This is a swimming pool next to the sea, full of sea water! |
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| Beauty Point, Sydney |
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| A sculpture near Bondi Beach |
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| A sculpture near Bondi Beach |
More photos to make you thoroughly jealous!
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Cats and Dogs
It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring...
We had a proper big thunderstorm yesterday and it rained all day. A lot. Stiill, I did make it out as I was determined to get out and see Australia. I made it to the beach where I saw dozens of surfers taking advantage of the wind and ignoring the rain:
Today was another totally fab day. Isabel took me to a wildlife centre where you get to interact with the animals a lot, the wallabies and kangaroos and emus all wander around trying to eat things out of your pockets and bags. The emus are a bit scary as they're taller than me! Not that difficult I know, but still... I saw qall manner of fantastic, fabulous, amazing birds and animals - here are a couple of my favourites but if you like animals I recommend you follow the link below!
After that we went for a drive into the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Fab views:
And then dinner at a really quaint little cafe where I had pumpkin soup. Clearly, with Halloween gone, they're needing to get rid of all the pumpkins...
We had a proper big thunderstorm yesterday and it rained all day. A lot. Stiill, I did make it out as I was determined to get out and see Australia. I made it to the beach where I saw dozens of surfers taking advantage of the wind and ignoring the rain:
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| Crazy surfers |
Today was another totally fab day. Isabel took me to a wildlife centre where you get to interact with the animals a lot, the wallabies and kangaroos and emus all wander around trying to eat things out of your pockets and bags. The emus are a bit scary as they're taller than me! Not that difficult I know, but still... I saw qall manner of fantastic, fabulous, amazing birds and animals - here are a couple of my favourites but if you like animals I recommend you follow the link below!
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| Wallaby and joey! |
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| Albino peacock |
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| Rainbow Lorikeet |
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=558445&id=799440229&l=56b744e1ba
After that we went for a drive into the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Fab views:
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| Blue Mountains west of Sydney |
And then dinner at a really quaint little cafe where I had pumpkin soup. Clearly, with Halloween gone, they're needing to get rid of all the pumpkins...
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