Ready Set Holiday.

DAY 1
After a long overnight flight and the normal waits and checks we had finally arrived in Fiji. We had some breakfast at our island’s ‘sister’ resort called Raffles. It’s just a short walk from the airport and it helped us pass the time while we waited for our bus to the marina.
After a 45 minute boat trip we cruised in past the moored yachts and into the sheltered cove of Plantation Island.
We were greeted by guitar playing and singing Fijians welcoming us with their traditional song and a shell necklace. After a short tour and welcome drink we were shown to our beach front Bure and were pleasantly surprised to find it was only 10 metres from the water’s edge with a fantastic view and a hammock slung between 2 palm trees.
The rest of the day was spent trying to stay awake with only an hour snooze on the plane. We managed to stay awake long enough to eat before crashing into bed at 7.30.

Waiting at the airport.


Having a swim while waiting for our transfer to the island.

The first look at the island.

Our home for the 10 days.

The hammock of reflection.

Relax

DAY 2
We were greeted with a beautiful sunny warm day to start the first official day of our stay.
To fit in with the whole Fiji mind set we didn’t do much besides hire 2 glass bottom canoes and explore the coral reefs 50 metres off our beach front.
The rest of the day was spent snorkelling, swimming and generally lying about, warming ourselves in the Pacific sun.

Where we spent many hours just hanging around.

Beach eating.

Island Hopping

DAY 3
While being tempted to do nothing, we decided to take an island hopping tour of the surrounding islands. Unfortunately we day we choose ended up being very windy. This caused a change of schedule and instead of 5 islands, including the famous Treasure Island and Beach Comber, we instead only went to 3. These included Mana, Castaway and Walu Beach. Having visited these other islands we came to the conclusion that while our island may have its faults, we wouldn’t swap it.
After we returned we continued our usual snorkelling and fish feeding routine.


Walo beach Resort.Castaway Island.



Castaway.
Mana Island.

Mana again.

Castaway.

Castaway.

Day 4
Vicki started the day early with a walk while the rest of us quite easily slipped into Fiji time.
After breakfast and a swim the kids had their hair braided.
The only afternoon event was a cruise on the Sub Sea- a dropped glass bottom boat that let you descend down stairs to an underwater viewing area. With the strong smell of cigarette smoke from the locals upstairs and the realisation that the only thing that was keeping us afloat was a large amount of silicon around the haphazardly repaired windows, we set off.
The fish were abundant but the coral was not overly colourful, but when burly was added to the last reef we visited, fish came from every direction filling our windows with colour.

Day 5
Today we went on the Dolphin Safari.
We were the only passengers on the 1940s clipper with our huge smiling Fijian captain. After a 45 minute putt-putt out to edge of the reef we were greeted with a beautiful pod of dolphins swimming happily in the crystal clear water. They first gathered around the boat for an investigatory look before happily swimming off to resume doing whatever dolphins do.
On the way back we stopped at Brighton Reef for a snorkel. Glenn, Megan and James braved the open water for a look. Being in deeper water the coral was a little better and the fish life more abundant. One large piece especially held a huge variety of fish. After returning to the boat with the kids the non adventurous one was dragged into the water for a look. After a 10 minute drag Vicki finally loosed up and began to breathe, after returning to the safety (I use that word in jest)of the boat, she was heard to say “it wasn’t that bad.”
Then back home for the traditional eating, drinking, swimming and relaxing that we have become quite good at by now.

DAY 6
The first sign of bad weather greets us this morning. Glenn and Vicki venture out for a 7.00am walk around the island, where Glenn manages to stub his little toe so now it matches the mangled mess of the one he did earlier in the week.
Another big breakfast today with James eating his mandatory 6 Weetbix, Megan’s Pancakes, Vicki’s omelette and Glenn wondering why the waiter thought it was funny when he ordered the “Spicy Chicken” pancake. It didn’t taste bad with a little Maple Syrup. (Much to Vicki’s disgust.)
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and swimming.
James found the time to make a coconut face with some friends he had made.

Day 7
Normal big breakfast followed by Glenn and Vicki borrowed a canoe while the kids went to play mini golf.
The afternoon trip out to shell village was interesting. The village was a shanty town where over weight Fijian woman sit on blankets and sell trinkets, necklaces and carvings.

Day 8
It was Megan's and Glenn's turn to use the canoes today. We wanted to hire a catamaran but because of the shallow reefs they are only hired at high tide. After lunch we tried again and this time success. First it was the kids time out with Glenn followed closely by mum.
It was another lovely afternoon with a stunning sunset.

Day 9
Not much today besides the normal swimming in the pools, snorkeling fish feeding and eating.

Megan and the BBQ chef

With our favorite Fijian Lena.

Kids with the Fire Man.

Day 10
Apart from the usual beach time activities, Glenn and James had a ride on the big banana.
The driver took us for a huge ride out past the end of the island.
In the afternoon Glenn went Scuba diving off a reef near Castaway island.
In the evening we had a big dinner for Barb our next door neighbor who was turning 50 the next day. In typical Fijian fashion her birthday cake had the wrong name on it, but no one seemed to care.

On The Way Home

Day 11
BULA!

With a late checkout we could enjoy our last day on Plantation Island. We joined around 20 staff on the ferry leaving the Island with us.
After a quick swim back at Raffles at Nadi we jumped on our Air Pacific Jumbo for an 8.30pm take off arriving at Melbourne around 12.30am. This meant we arrived home at 2.30am to a lovely welcome from Keira.
Its nice to come home but i think after a week we will be missing Fiji.

VINAKA!