Hey friends and family,
Fiji is warm and tropical. Fijians and really nice and mostly really good looking. I was first in line at the airport in Brisbane and even had to wait from them to open check in. Thanks for that Mike. I felt really good about being on time and early. Flight was great. Air Pacific have some comfy seats. The couple from Townsville I sat next too were so awesome and lovely, and we chatted the whole way. I'm invited to visit and stay with them next time I'm up that way.
I was met at the airport by my couch surfing host's nephew, which was really nice. They asked me before hand to buy some Gin for them through duty free and they would pay me for it. But alas it wasn't to be, as they smashed outside on the footpath. $35 literally down the side path into the drain. A bit annoying but whatever.
He wanted me to grab a taxi, but I suggested the bus. So we rode the bus home and had a nice dinner together with all the family. Save and his wife Nani with 2 little boys and little 8mth old, and Niece and Nephew and Save's older brother John.. Rice and vegetables and black tea.
On Sunday I joined Ana (16) and John (8) in our formal gear to Catholic Church. Ana gave me a satin long skirt to put under my skirt so my legs weren't showing. We walked to the nearby village together, passed the other 2 churches on the way. It was hot with all those clothes on. We got there so early we heard them practise their singing for the mass. Their voices where excellent. It was all in Fijian too. I nearly did nod of later, as it was all in tongues. Sometimes when they were speaking in tongues I did start to get the impression that I was getting in trouble from the tone of voice the priest was speaking in to us. But I have no idea what he was saying. The Chief of the Village sat up the front on the right in his own chair facing us. My host families Village is in Suva on the Eastern side of Fiji. They have come to this area for work and because it's easier for their niece and nephew to go to school. They go to a Hindi school where it is law to only eat vegetarian at school. My family here eat meat though occasionally.
Today after having breakfast with them all, and saw them all but 3 go off to work and school, I made my way to town walking first to check out the Garden of the Sleeping Giants. They are talking about Lilies or Orchards. I wandered in and had a look. I decided not to pay to go in if asked, but the gate was open. I have no idea of time here except that they all caught the bus apparently around 7am. I had a look around for nothing (was told it is $15 FJ to enter) Was pretty nice. Not too many flowers in bloom though. But..but.. on the way out on the road I saw a thing run across the road into the long grass. I had to know what animal it was. The Fijian lady coming down the track in her flowering outfit (on her way to work with her flowery outfit on and pretty skull earrings - she laughed at this observation of mine)..she told me it was a mongoose. They introduced them into Fiji to get rid of the snakes here. It looked like a light brown long big rat. Quite shivery when I think about it. They live in the cane sugar fields here...where the snakes would. She told me a shortcut to the main road through the Village near the church we went to, and someone in the village directed me through to the main road.
I was deciding to catch the bus, but then decided to walk and hitch in. The boy in the village directing me out said it was quiet alright to catch a lift.
I walked for a bit found a great spot near the servo, and tried to make sure I didn't catch a bus instead with my finger gingerly out. A van pulled up and asked me where to. I said could a catch a lift with them into Nadi town. I felt really great. I got in. It was aircon and they put on cool music. Then they kept stopping for others and people paying and bum..I had got into a mini van bus. I paid when I got out at my destination, they said it was 1.50, I gave $2 and they ended up giving me $1 back. They were pretty cool.
So I walked into the Orphanage down the road from that and the FIJI RUGBY team in their team getup were in there holding babies and chatting. They had just given signed footballs and drink bottles etc to them. They are flying out to Australia tonight to play Australia somewhere. Still don't know where they're playing. Pretty interesting. They are definitely buff.
I had a cup of Fijian black tea again with the ladies at the Orphanage (I actually had 2). They are really nice. There is a Japanese girl there and also a guy from Denmark volunteering there officially. He said it costs a bit to do his trip from Denmark. Anyway I'm going to head back tomorrow and do some stuff with them. They are pretty keen.
School for the year here finishes on Friday and then they have 8 weeks holiday over the Christmas break, so Ana and her older brother will head back to their family and village in Suva (four hours away apparently) and the others will go for family Christmas there. As they all went to Nani, Save's wives family up north in the highlands last Christmas. I love how they all look after the little 8mth old girl. She fell alseep with Ana in her room last night. Plus we watched pirates of the Carribean Saturday evening. It does go on and on. We were all sitting on the floor one of the main rooms. It was fun laughing with everyone.
Off to investigate more. I leave next Tuesday to Los Angeles. Still some time here in Fiji. Definitely go for a swim. I have bus routes and information for that.
Take care til I check in next.
