FIJI - 30 Nov - 4 Dec 2006

December 1, 2006

Man it’s warm and humid! I love it! It is a little cloudy this morning (but its only 5h30am). I am sure it will clear up. I traveled by catamaran through the Fiji Islands this morning. My stop was Kuata Island on the way back. Settled in my dorm and then did a whole lot of nothing for the rest of the day! I slept for an hour then got a light lunch. In the afternoon, I played cards (mostly solitary) and walked around. I met Didi from Suva. She works on Kuata Island for her internship in school. She is studying “Tourism and Communication”. Then I met Katja from Germany (Cologne).

The main language in Fiji is called Bavan. However, every island has there own “Bavan dialect” (like every other country).

I love it here! It is so calm and relaxing! There are hamaks everywhere by the beach. The weather is great!

I went for a short hike up “Mount Kuata”. We wanted to catch sunset but it was cloudy. But the view was really something!! Very nice!! Once back, I had a cold shower and diner. We witnessed the traditionnal “Bula Dance”. “Bula” means “hello” by the way.

For the rest of the evening I played cards with Katja and Christian from Germany, and Caroline from the UK.

December 2, 2006

Things cannot get more relaxing then that! Sun was up and hot at 5am this morning!! Had breaky at 7h30am then slept until 9am. Then I went for a kayak ride to the next island, Maya. Katja was my kayak partner. After the kayak ride, I found myself a hamak and had a morning snooze until lunch.

In the afternoon, I walked to another beach on the other side of the island. Then I chatted with Katja and Christian until “afternoon tea”. She offered me to show me Cologne is I was in the area. Woohoo! Later in the afternoon, Katja and Christian had to leave to get to another island. So, I found myself another hamak and read for hours! I finished my book and just stayed there doing nothing, thinking nothing, wanting nothing, needing nothing, and wishing nothing, dreaming nothing just a big white screen! Felt so good! Just to concentrate on the sound of the waves, feeling the heat and the sun on my skin was enough to exhaust me and put me to sleep again! Haaa!! That is the life! At that precise moment, life was perfect!

Later, I had diner, wrote my journal and went for a night walk by the beach. Then, these crazy crabs scared the shit out of me walking everywhere on the beach. It was dark so I could not see very much, but I knew something was moving around… They are so creepy! They send chills down my spine, and not good ones! These crabs remind me of spiders… But anyways, minus my fright, the moonlight reflecting on the sea was so beautiful!! The sky is filled with stars. I felt like on a deserted island! I could not here anyone and I was near no one. It was so peaceful, and the night was so warm (but not muggy) with a gentle breeze. …And suddenly I was reliving Mozambique all over again…

I was sleeping with my head near the doorway. Since there is no door, I had a perfect view of the sky. I woke up in the middle of the night with the moon so big and shining so strongly in my face… It was like putting a flashlight in my face! I smiled and fell right back to sleep…

December 3, 2006

Another great day! This is just the kind of day I would need twice a month back at home.

Woke up and went for a morning kayak ride before breakfast. Then found myself a hamak and started another book, slept some more and listened to music. I skipped lunch; was not very hungry but had my afternoon tea. Late afternoon, I took a last walk around the island before taking the boat back to the main island, Fiji.

I am now at Smugglers Cove for the night. Wow! I am very impressed by this hostel! It is by the ocean, very clean, classy and romantic…love it! Very close to center town of Nadi and 10 minutes away from the airport.

Dam it! I am already leaving Fiji tomorrow morning… I have to leave at 4h30am tomorrow morning!! Yeah, tell me about it! Nevertheless, I so enjoyed my time in Fiji. This was “my” time, my alone time. I did not want to socialize too much. This was my time to breath, to reflect on things… mostly my trip. It is amazing how I have seen and done so much in such a short period! Much more then many people had the chance to do in a lifetime! However, my trip is not over yet! I still have a little over 2 weeks.

Anyways, my skin has taken a color I never thought it would take!! It suits me good! I love it! I will have a little more color longer this winter before becoming “Snow White”!

December 6, 2006

Oups, missed a couple of days!

On the 4^th, I was at the airport at 4h30am for my 6h50am flight back to Auckland. Nicky was so kind to pick me up at the airport. I did all my laundry, had a run and watched 2 movies: Resident Evil and Zathura.

On the 5^th (yesterday), I woke up as late as I could (7h30am…). I watched a movie: “Bug’s Life”. Then had breaky and watched another movie, “Chicken Little”… Yes, I am on a movie marathon here! I did some “research” for Germany and tried to plan some stuff. I went for a long run and had the greatest shower ever! I watched another movie, “Nell” and after diner, it was “Alexander”.

Today, same thing. Watched “Cars” this morning, then had breaky. Checked my emails, had a good run and wrote my journals.

December 9, 2006

Well, my last 2 days have not been much different from the previous ones. I ran, went to Milford Shopping Center, and watched Lord of the Rings!! You can’t come to NZ and not watch Lord of the Rings!! And, that’s it. But, obviously during all my evenings here, I had the great company of Nicky, Sandor and little Alek. They are so amazing!

After saying goodbye to Sandor and Alek, Nicky brought me to the airport. My flight from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur leaves at 2pm. It’s a 10-hour flight but I arrive in KL at 8pm or something!! Then my flight from KL to Frankfurt leaves at 11h50pm. It is a 13-hour flight. I should be arriving in Frankfurt at 6h30am tomorrow morning. I said goodbye to Nicky… ;-(