Fiji

How could you not have an amazing time in paradise?  Fiij was absolutely beautiful and lived up to its reputation.  Our friend Dirk joined us for the week at the timeshare at the Worldmark Denarau.  The two bed/two bath apartment was perfect for the three of us.  The only person missing was Tim, Dirk’s partner who unfortunately couldn’t make it due to pressing family matters.  

The plane ride from Sydney is only about 4.5 hours.  It’s funny what you get used to living in Australia - it seemed short and easy.  When we were in the US a 2 hour plane ride from Atlanta to Boston was arduous.  

Fiji is a large archipelago with many islands surrounding two main islands.  We were on Viti Levu, the largest island outside the main town of Nadi.  Denarau is a planned community only about 25 minutes from the airport.  There are 5-6 high quality resorts, a golf course, a marina, a couple of spas, a small high end residential community, and it’s all surrounded by a great walking track and beautiful landscaping.  The drive from the airport to the resort area is pretty dismal.  Poverty abounds and there’s very little to write home about.  From what we learned from the cabbies in Denarau, it’s pretty prestigious for people to get jobs inside the resort area and I can see why.  It’s certainly night and day crossing the gates.

We spent the entire week relaxing.  There was very little on the agenda other than that!  Our mornings started with breakfasts of local fruits in season...watermelon, pineapple, papaya, and bananas.  We had fresh eggs and bread from the local bakery.  Our balcony was large and the sound of the waves crashing and palm fronds cracking against each other in the wind was so peaceful.  Dirk and I spent most mornings together because David was off Diving.  We didn’t make it out to the pool until noon most days because we enjoyed the mornings in the apartment so well!

Every day we enjoyed the poolside lounges overlooking the beautiful ocean and island clusters, under thatched umbrellas and palm trees.  We all read endlessly and chatted the hours away.   Dinners were in the various great restaurants in the resorts and the Marina.  There was one in particular, Moo Moo’s at The Westin that we loved so much we enjoyed twice!  Moo Moo Jus on warm bread with butter and carrots (sounds strange but SO good) and a Japanese Wagyu beef roast for three.  Crusted with mustard seed yumminess and served with a pear and parmesan salad, fresh green beans and mashed potatoes.  TO DIE FOR!  And of course we had to seal the deal with a hot fudge brownie sundae.  I’m drooling just writing this! 

The first night we enjoyed fire dancers (check out the pictures!) and we took a day trip on a catamaran out to Musket Cove to do some snorkeling.  The snorkeling was amazing!  Crystal blue waters and white sand beaches.  We saw a school of cuddle fish (25-30 of them!) and marveled at how they changed color as they swam close to check us out.  Another day Dirk and I enjoyed massages at the Spa - outdoor cabanas with breezy massages.  Divine!

Dirk admired the flowers as much as I did and thankfully he knew the names of them so I could share them here. :)  Hibiscus, orchids, bromeliads, birds of paradise, plumeria and many we didn’t recognize.  Beautiful! 

Each night there was merriment with duty free vodka mixed with fruit juices and baileys for dessert.  We had a ball laughing and telling stories all week.  It was wonderful to see David and Dirk getting some quality time - how heartwarming to see close friends share inside jokes and even allow me to play along from time to time. :)  We all agreed that it was a perfect vacation and can’t wait to go back! 


This last picture shows just how sad David and Dirk were to leave Fiji... ;)


~LAA :)