BULA ~ learning to live on "island time"

Bula!  The Fiji island greeting that is said over and over again.  Meaning "hello, greetings, good morning, good evening... etc"

A chance to go to Fiji and visit this wonderful place was something I was able to do recently.  I have wanted to go to Fiji for a long time so it was a definite "on my bucket list" of places to see.
Upon arrival I was greeted by a hearty "BULA"  something I would hear over and over again.
The island of Fiji is awash in poverty and the people there work hard for a meager existence.  But never have I found a more happy, hearty, lovely group of people.  Always smiling always greeting you with a smile and a hearty "bula"
These people could be digging a ditch, sweeping up leaves, washing dishes and yet they are always smiling, always happy, usually singing or whistling!  What a wonderful outlook on life!
There is "no hurry" to get anything done or a "rush" to get from place to place, it is "island time"  tomorrow is going to be the same as today so why hurry?
A point made clear by the fact that 6 people were replacing an underground pipe when we got to the resort on Wed, they worked at it every day and when we left on Monday they were still "replacing the underground pipe!"  Island Time.

The resort "Sheraton Fiji" was awesome, everything you could want in a resort, from endless pools to cool off in to a swim up bar with "fruity island drinks" to 5 star restaurants and a plush lobby, and amazing rooms.  Truly a great resort.  The spirit is laid back and definitely "island time"  With  no rush to accomplish anything in the day and yet busy making people happy.   The people are friendly and attentive and will take time to sit and just chat with you if you desire.

A trip into Nadi was interesting in the fact that you are immediately asked to "please come in and shop at my shop"  at the same time you may be asked by a local to "please come with me and shop local "Fiji" not the main shops which are "Indian owned"  So you are definitely pulled in both directions your entire time in town.  And have no fear you are "watched" and "marked" as you stand out among the crowd, a "local" insisted that we go to his "local Fiji" shop (something they are very proud of and work to protect) so as we followed him down an alley and up a staircase (yes we are suckers what can I say) we were asked to partake in a "Kava" Ceremony  something that the Fijian people do.  Having been "warned" about such a ceremony beforehand I was happy to sit and watch but drew the line (even if it meant upsetting the locals) on partaking of the "Kava" a root grown in Fiji, dried then pounded into a powder and mixed into a "drink" upon partaking of it you feel "relaxed" (so they say)  it is a "cure for cancer" (although they could not say which cancer) cures "depression, high blood pressure, anxiety, sleeplessness, menopause, headaches and a million other things"  BUT it is "all natural my friend!"   Uhhhh no thanks, but interesting!
The "shop" had "true" Fijian arts and crafts but don't look too close I think it says "made in china"  Ha.
After our little shopping venture (yes I bought some stuff)  the shop owners were happy to accompany us to a local restaurant and join us for lunch!  So happy in fact that they fully expected you to pay for said lunch, because they were your "best friends"  Interesting to say the least.
It truly is a network of people working the town because as soon as lunch was over they wanted to continue to accompany us on our shopping venture taking us to the "approved stores" and then insisted that we "book a table at the restaurant for everyone for the evening of fire dancers, live music and entertainment"  And yes please they would be happy to join us!   "New best friends and all you see"
We finally told them we were happy to continue shopping on our own and did so, eventually making our way back to the restaurant (because it was a good place to eat) having an early dinner and then skipping out on said meeting and evening festival.
As we spent a few minutes in a shop and were ready to head back to the resort a taxi driver that had asked us a few hours early if we "needed a taxi" magically appeared to take us and our bags back to the hotel...
Yes you are definitely "watched"
But a fun experience all together.  No Kava though :)

I did ask at the front desk if I could tour the "Presidential Suite" as I "might" have clients interested.... thus began a complete tour of all the room categories at the resort and the "royal treatment" because I was an "American travel agent!"  The Presidential Suite is gorgeous and I was told the "Prince Charles once stayed there"  something they are very proud of.   It runs a mere $1,100 a night (Fijian money so really not THAT bad!)

A torch lighting ceremony every night with torches lit from one resort to another along the ocean pathway makes for a beautiful evening walk "in Paradise"

If you stay at the Sheraton or the Westin you then have access to three resorts, including all their pools, restaurants, shops, etc.  So basically you have access to a multitude of facilities close by.  Something that is pretty nice!

Include breakfast in your stay if you ever go as it is well worth the price.  A spread of 5 stations of food with everything from omelets to cooked to order eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, meats, pizza (yes pizza) and every type of pastry or bread you can imagine!  (no diets here!)  The fresh fruit is amazing with Mango's being grown in Fiji and in season when I was there.... unbelievable.

All in all a fantastic experience of laid back "island time" living and friendly happy people.
Worth the time and money to visit!

BULA!
travel on!

Nadi downtown

Presidential Suite

Kava Ceremony

Jack's Store Downtown Nadi

Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite

From "desert rat" to "beach bum" ~ Beaches, the Ocean and me

I love the beach and the ocean.

But how I got to be a "beach bum" and an "ocean lover" I have no idea because I was raised in the DESERT of Eastern Washington State in the good ole USA, miles and miles from the ocean and any beach.
My parents were not all that keen on "beach vacations" and "summer's at the beach" were unheard of, we lived on a farm and summers were way to busy to go to the beach.

But my love of the ocean and the beach has always been there I think.  It just took the painful journey of divorce and a move across the entire US to figure out just how much I loved the ocean, how peaceful it is, how the sounds of the waves can take a day from "I can't do this" to "life is so good"
I found that just looking out over a stretch of ocean (any ocean) makes me feel very very small, and makes me realize the power that is far greater than I and it makes even my "biggest" problems feel very very tiny in comparison to the vastness of an ocean.  Walking the beach in Florida I found that it was my "think time" where the cares of the world could float away on the waves, where simple pleasures such as walking barefoot in the surf or finding a jelly fish (and carefully avoiding stepping on it) made my day.
It was watching kids fly a kite, or build a sand castle.  It was the fishermen patiently waiting for the pole to jerk or the family that had packed half the house to set up for a "beach day"   There was always something interesting "on the beach"

There is just something magical about the ocean and a beach and I have been lucky enough to get to visit a few beaches in my travels.  Maybe because I try to book a "beach destination" anytime I can?  From the white sands and the brilliant blues waters of the Caribbean, to the Beaches of Normandy, to the Black Sand beaches in Hawaii and beautiful Waikiki, both coasts of Mexico, all along the Pacific Coast of the US from Washington to the border of Mexico, Biloxi Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico, North Padre Island Texas,  the San Juan islands, Alaska (more glaciers then beaches but still an ocean!), Victoria British Columbia and now.... Australia!

My next adventure will be the beaches in Fiji for 6 magical wonderful days.....  ahhhh beach.

I am lucky enough to have friends here who seem to understand my "need" for a "beach fix" every so often and are kind enough to "whisk" me away so I can walk the sand and smell the ocean and "let it all go"

I find it amazing that as I stand here a world away from the tiny little farm town in Eastern Washington and I gaze out over the Pacific Ocean I realize that even this far away we are connected by the very same ocean , so far away yet so connected and it makes me feel very very small.

And so yes, I am firmly now a Beach Bum, long gone is the Desert Rat!

travel on!

Planes, trains, buses and ferries.... public transport and me...

Upon arriving in Australia I quickly learned that not having a car meant learning how to get around via public transportation.  Thankfully Sydney and surrounding areas have a wonderful bus, train, ferry system to get me from point A to point B, sometimes through C,D and E, but I still get there!

I have learned to have on hand a trusty "Travel 10" bus card, I have downloaded the app on my phone that gives me the times and schedules of the trains, buses and ferries.   I have figured out that bus M54 takes me to Epping, Carlingford and Paramatta,  And bus "292" takes me to the shopping centre.  I have learned which side of the street to stand on to catch the right bus going the right way.
I can "read" and understand! the train boards and know which platform to stand on so I catch the right train going the right way.
In the beginning I did get on the "right bus" on the "wrong side of the street"  but only once!
I also got on the "right train" going the "wrong way" but again, only once.
All a learning curve and all an adventure.

I know that most mornings at my bus stop I will see the little man who sings "opera" to the waiting people, belting it out at the loudest vocals he can and then will bow to the cars at the stop light, he also has very interesting conversations out loud with the other people that apparently reside inside his head, but it is cute and entertaining and he has no care as to what people think, he is living his life his way.

I have met another fellow traveler at the bus stop who immigrated here from Thailand, is finishing up Uni and working at a bank.  He questions me daily about life in the USA and what it is like and how I like it.

I had a "close" encounter with a fellow bus rider when the driver slammed on the brakes and the man behind me was thrown forward almost hitting the back of my head, after recovering he leaned forward and said "sorry sweetheart, if I kissed the back of your head it wasn't intentional!"

I have observed school children, young mothers, elderly people going for their daily grocery shop, visitors, travelers and business people.  Everyone going about life as they make their way through the journey of life.

Taking public transportation has taught me a lot, I get to observe people, watch the scenery go by, not having to concentrate on driving I am free to observe, watch, listen and see so much more!

I have enjoyed the train rides into the city, crossing the harbour bridge and looking at the beautiful sight of the Opera House glistening in the sun, the water bright blue and gorgeous, the boats and occasionally a cruise ship in the harbour.   I have arrived at Wynyard Station and been engulfed in the rush of people going from destination to destination.   I have taken the train to the airport, all by myself!  Finding that the start of a vacation can start the minute you walk out of the house as I make my way to the bus stop and then the train station, changing in the city to the train that will take me to the airport.....  something I would never have done in the USA.

I have had the pleasure of taking the ferry a few times and it is always a treat.  From Circular Quay you can take it to Manly Beach which is the most beautiful ferry ride ever, the views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the City are amazing.  On a sunny day this is an adventure I could do again and again and again.

The downside of "no car" is this.  Last Saturday I needed to get some groceries, so I loaded up my bags for the groceries, put on my walking shoes and headed to the bus stop, it was a hot and muggy day so I decided to take the bus to the shoppes instead of walking.  I get to the bus stop and check my phone only to discover that the bus comes once an hour on the weekend, not every 15 min.  I had just missed the bus so I had 56 minutes to wait in the heat and the sun for the next bus, or to walk the 3 plus k's to the shopping centre.  So yes there is a down side!  I opted to walk to a closer shop which is really just a "mini mart" and the prices are much higher and the selection limited....  I did get enough of the groceries I needed to survive and I didn't die of heat stroke so again it was an "adventure!"


My experience with "planes, trains, buses and ferries" has been one of the best adventures on this journey I have had.  I have loved being "forced" to figure out how to get where I want to go and enjoyed the adventure along the way.

Some of the views I have experienced on public transportation!

travel on!