Sunday Pacific Harbour Day

We were ready for the taxi man at 10. His name was Ram and we had a drive along the Queen's Highway. Mainly 2 lanes and they all drive crazier than we do back home.
Luckily it was sunny in Pacific Harbor. We visited the Arts Village and then off to the beach. We were at The Pearl which actually held that night a beauty pageant World Supermodel. Didn't see anything like that.
It was so nice to swim in the pacific ocean, it was warm compared to the Atlantic and the cottage.
Problem for me was getting burnt. Should have know better.

The Pearl Resort

Ram stopped at a road side and got us fresh coconuts so we could have fresh water. Yummy.
There is a picture of The Pearl Resort.
We sat over in shade (not me) and drank some Fiji bitters and Fiji Gold. What a lovely day at the beach.

Jim wading out into the water.

We laid down for a bit before going to have supper. I thought I heard a real deep engine sound. So I got up to look and there was right outside our door the largest catamaran in the world. It is called the Hemisphere.http://www.sy-hemisphere.com

 

Hemisphere

Somehow they came into the bay and I guess they couldn't really park there. So they turned around and headed back out to sea and parked behind Bat Island. Everyone was out on their balconies and out on the deck taking pictures of this behemoth. Excitement!
We then went to dinner where all the talk was of the catamaran. The Band was playing again so it was nice background music.
Came back and found an old movie "The Loser",  I have never seen this picture with Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari. What ever happened to them?  Cute but predictable.
Weekend done. Jim back to work tomorrow.

Saturday November 29

Saturday no sleeping in here. Too much noise where our particular room is situated. On the first floor right near the check in desk. We get up and go and have a lovely breakfast on the open patio. Later on we take a taxi to the Fiji Museum. I was there earlier in the week so got to see the gardens.It is raining cats and dogs and doesn't want to let up. Jim can't stroll around to take pictures. We get another taxi to take us to the MHCC place as we need a few things and want to walk around a bit. By the time we get to the downtown it has stopped raining so we are able to do our walk around not getting wet. Take him to Tapoo City and look at the stoves and such. There are so many clerks working the floor you have people saying Bula every few minutes and asking you if you need help. Not like where we come from and try and find someone to help you at the Bay.
We lug back our water and groceries in another taxi. By the time we are ready to go and eat there is a couple of guys playing guitars and singing. In the lobby are people who are part of a wedding party.The bride and groom are traditionally dressed Fijian style. We listen to the "band" for awhile before we go and eat. They sing contemporary songs and some Fijian. Nice to sit and relax.
I have the lovely fish curry again. Jim has the tandori chicken which is really good also.
Not much to watch on tv here. Thought about going to the movies but that is another taxi and that is at night. We understand that it is better to be indoors after sunset!
Did watch something for a little while.

Friday November 28

Anne and I meet for breakfast and to discuss our excursion. The Jewel of Fiji is recommended and it is a boat ride up the Navua River http://www.discoverfijitours.com/jewel_fiji.html
It is called the Awesome Foursome. We are to motor boat ride up the river, have a meet and greet with the tribal chief and visit a waterfall.
After sometime in the room we venture out to take a walk to the Lami Bay grocery stores. We find the MH grocery store and then walk a ways to the RB Patel grocery store. I buy another towel and a bathing suit which doesn't fit me. Do I return it or do I fix it at home?
We get back and again because it has been so hot and humid, back into the pool. I get a little bit red from the sun. Hoping to get a base.
Jim returns for a bit but has to return for the job at 10. We make plans to go to Pacific Harbor on Sunday. Someone at Vodafone recommends this taxi/tour driver that will take us there and then drive us back.

Thursday November 27

I decide today after having been in the dirty smelly city of Suva that I will stay in the room and catch up with the kids on Skype. Jen,Vicky and Chloe are there and we talk for a bit.
I check outside and it is quite nice so I decide to take a swim. I meet up with a woman from New Zealand who is here with her husband who is also working. She mentions about a sight seeing expedition next week. We plan to meet for breakfast Friday morning to discuss.

Wednesday November 26

Same routine, Jim leaves for work and I go and have my big breakfast. Today I decide to go to Domodar City. Supposedly has best grocery store for foreigners. It is called New World IGA,
It is quite farther than downtown Suva. Cab driver has to be paid extra. He drives like a maniac. There is no air conditioning and it is hot and humid again.
Domodar City is an outdoor 2 level plaza. IGA is on the downstairs and I grab a cart and start shopping. Fresh banana bread for Jim, gluten free crackers for me, sultana's and some more nuts.
I spy a suitcase that is about the right size for our extra's. 69.00 dollars Fijian, better price and just as good as the 139.00 one. I get it and am able to store my groceries in it while I walk around the mall. There is a movie house and a few other stores. Jack's of Fiji is there and I buy a few more gifts. Get a real Fiji shirt for Jim.
I feel I am done too early to get into another taxi so I go into another Gloria Jeans and have coffee and some of the nuts that I have bought and read the newspapers that I have bought. Air conditioned Ahhhh
Get in a rickety dirty cab. The young man tries to talk to me but I can't understand him and he has the windows open and the music on. Glad to get back and go for a swim. I meet Anne a woman from New Zealand we are able to chat and decide since our husbands are working we should go on an excursion.
Jim is late again so I nibble on fruit, nuts and I finally make some porridge which makes me feel better. Tummy was grinding!!!!

Tuesday November 25

Once again after Jim has left for work I go to the dining area and have their full breakfast. Eggs sunny side up, bacon, sausage and gluten free pancakes. To start I had pineapple slices, watermelon and pawpaw. Of course lots of coffee.
It is funny to watch them dump food over the side for the fish. They leap and thrash to get at the pieces of toast etc...There are also these funny birds that fly in and walk around like they own the place.
Come back and check in with the kids back home and then try and get the shuttle back into town. This time I am informed that the shuttle is not available but they will call me a taxi on their dime. Ok whatever. Well, the taxis in Suva/Lami are much to be desired. Some are fine, some are down right dangerous.
The driver today is alright. His cab is clean and I can understand what he is saying. He is an ex warden of a prison somewhere else. Had enough of being away from his family so is driving a taxi.
He drops me off at Tapoo Center. Says he will pick me up if I call him when I am done.  I walk around to see what there is there. At the top of this really nice modern shopping center is a large window that I can look out and see Suva Harbour. There is a big cruise ship parked.
I look for an extra bag to take back all our stuff and see the cheapest one for about 139.00 Fijian.
Take some pictures will decide later if this is what we want.
Visit Courts the department store sort of like a poor man's La Baie. When you check out you have to go through security to get your bag for your purchases. Really high security here in all the stores.
Change some canadian money at the MHCC and get 1.63 for every 1.00 Canadian.
Call taxi guy, sit and wait and have another coffee at Gloria Jeans. Mmmm Coffee.
Jim works late so I eat some of my fruit and nuts that we have. Seems to be enough because of the big breakfast in the morning.

Monday November 24th

Jim is off to work at Vodafone Headquarters. I decided to take the hotel up on their offer of Novotel Shuttle that would take me into town. I have mapped out and checked city walks to see what I want to do. I got them to drop me off at MHCC place (Morris Headstrom) shopping center. I took a peak inside scoping out a hat for Jim. Decide that I am feeling capable of walking down Victoria Parade to the Fiji Museum.

Little did I know that the sun was so hot on my neck that I could feel the heat when I got to the Museum. I paid the admission fee, bought a cold Fiji Water bottle.and was glad that there was air conditioning in some of the rooms. Took pictures and went out into Thurston Gardens and took pictures of the marvelous old trees and beautiful flowers.

Once I started my trip back I put up my umbrella to protect my neck. So hot and humid. I stopped in the Republic of Cappuccino and had a cappuccino. Sat in air conditioning and cooled off a bit before I started back out again. Got to MHCC, got Jim's hat and went shopping for chocolate and fruit for the room. I was done early for the shuttle to pick me up so I went and had another coffee at Gloria Jeans. In a real coffee mood. Got the shuttle back. Went for swim and sat by the pool. Jim was back for dinner and we had a nice one.

On the right is bat island

Sat outside around dusk and saw the fruit bats swarming out from the island across the way. Nice to see some bats are thriving in this world.