F I J I |
 |
|
|
A nice Quiet location out in the middle of the sea. Fiji surprised me though as this picture shows what could be considered "White Sandy Beaches" it in fact was more of a rocky, brown sand, much like So California beaches with small rocks... not what I had envisioned and have constantly seen in the postcards...
|
||
|
Where Exactly, is Fiji? |
 |
|
|
|
But more to the point where in Fiji? |
|
|
How do I get there? What should I know about Fiji? Where's that place he stayed? |
Air Pacific out of LAX |
|
|
Comments: The flight to Fiji consisted of flying down from Seattle 1730hrs, catch the 2330 dep from LAX direct to Fiji, approximate 10.5 hrs arriving at about 0530 hrs (crossing the date line) in the morning. Then a bus ride, 2.5 hrs or so, to the resort. General Intro meeting at 0900 or so - the bar WAS open, so not too bad, and rooms would be ready at 1000. Unpacked, settled down, hit the pool, lunch, nap, dinner and ready for the following day. Typical dive day, up for 0700 breakfast, carry camera gear down to boat (they kept the dive stuff - rinsed - on the boat so you don't have to drag it around) out for a 30-90 minute boat ride, 1st dive, wait, then 2nd dive, back by 1400 for lunch, pool the rest of the day till happy hour (if not already started in the pool) dinner, pool and back to room. No outside influences like a town to wander down to. Departure: Back out on bus at 1000 to city, hang (see Departure De-briefing below) around till 1730hrs or so, on plane, back to LAX by 0600 previous day and on to the missed flight connections to Seattle.
|
||
 |
At LAX, trying to group up and get the tickets processed
|
|
|
...and of course the regular "Pre-flight Check list"
|
 |
|
|
With thoughts of the Fijian Life style...
|
and all the work, hassles, and traumas that come with the territory...
|
|
|
...and soooo we're off... Some people upgraded at the last minute to First Class, the rest of us were in the baggage compartment, or so it felt.... But arrival early in the morning, heading to the bus and figuring out if we're on the right island and then where to go....
|
 |
|
|
|
... Just a drive in the country... the 2 lane road is the reason it took so long to get to the resort. In the small villages, they put up zig-zag barriers of tire spikes to slow down the traffic... |
|
|
and finally to the paradise lost....
|
|
|
|
|
Bula'or Howdy..... |
|
Let's go diving....!!!! |
Ms Remeny, checking out the equipment - and of course, already being underwater her camera's work JUST FINE!!!!!!!
|
|
|
A Nudi-Cutie... to the left frame that is.. Out of all the 180 film pictures I took, 4 came out, way under exposed.... I don't know if it was the camera, X-rays, or developer, but will be carrying my film in the X-ray hand bag next time... a few pics that I happen to catch on digital Memory Stick are below. All of my digital video tape came out completely washed out.. again, don't know, but believe due to the X-rays soooo most of the under water pics are donated by that Photographer Extraordinaire, non other than the Ms Remeny Larson and a few from Fred Muchas thanx to both for allowing something to show of the beauty of Fiji underwater...
|
|
And so we're off.... Charge !!!!..
|
 |
|
|
... just to
get an idea of the colors and the corals that are down there.
Although the visibility was not as great as I had anticipated (100+) it was
good at about 40-70' but still a little hazy. This was typical of
the sea mounts down below... much like walking through a canyon with big
rocks on either side grouped together...
Heheh.. of course I HAD those pictures.... |
|
The fish were around, mostly smaller ones, but did see some 6' sharks cruising around... Specifically went on some well known shark places but only saw 4-6 on one dive only. These angels made up for that...
|
|
|
|
And some things the imitate
Art...
as in a jelly doughnut.. I wouldn't begin to guess what this is... |
|
These, of course, are Divers.... Can you see them??? hehheh...
|
|
|
|
So, no wonder these fishes
like to hide..
notice the matching colors from the suit above to the anemone on the left... |
|
lot of these coral bridges or gateways.... most you can't get through without damage.. so just a pic of the entrance...
|
|
|
And of course the Moi-fish... sometimes a slight current allows you to just lie back - head resting on your hand watching the world glide by...
|
|
|
And so back to the boat for a rest and get ready for the next dive...
|
|
|
But fast forward back to the resort This is the lagoon in front of the resort, The boat would actually pick us up on the other side, would wade out to knee deep and hop on... (sorry, I though I had a pic of the boat)
|
|
and to the munch a bunch of lunch group.... actually believe this was the beginning of Happy hour... Then retire to the Cabana's or ??? forgot the actual names....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ok, But let's get back to diving...
|
Stu's pic of Baby Lion Fish... (Stu had the same problem with film-video that I had) |
|
|
Looking just like an Aquarium...
|
|
Or without the bright colors... It still has a Sophisticated look about it..... This is a good example of the visibility, Clear, but hazy
|
|
|
|
Remember those Old South Sea films, Where the treasure divers got attacked by the Hyper-aggressive killers - the Giant Clams.... heheh Well, here's one of those aggressive puppies... don't get to close or it'll swallow you whole.... (Joking, of course if I remember correctly, this was about 18 feet across... errr.. I mean 18")
|
|
Sunrise with the Clowns.... |
|
|
|
And some fish just blend in as do this pair of Lion fish.... Extremely poisonous if their prickers at the end of their plumes touch you...
|
|
Even underwater (as compared to above water?) fishies celebrate Xmas with this Christmas Tree Coral.
|
|
|
|
or some do it in Blue... .....nope, no idea what these are..
|
| And out with a Flash.... |
|
|
|
Ok, so now back to the other part of the Fiji Trip... the pleasant, relaxing stroll through the Fijian paradise You go Stu.... You tell it like it's gonna be... heheh... OR Not !?!? |
|
Ok guys, Here's the scoop It's gonna be like this... It'll be a cake walk... A nature hike... A stroll through nature's paradise, as it were... Untouched by modern man.... Heyyya, com'on I'll be fun.... I'm going... It's settled - Good!! Here's mud in your eye...
|
|
|
|
It ends up at
This beautiful Water fall Where we can swim, jump and Frolic in the warm Fijian way... It'll be fun... We'll just hop in the van, they'll drive us there, hop out and a short jungle walk to the falls... No Problem-O....
|
|
Soooooo We start off... Hop in the 2x2, as compared to a 4x4, wheeled van and visit the Black Church... Nice....
|
don't let those RAIN clouds affect you're judgment
|
|
|
No problem they say...
We'll meet the great people on the road... you'll get to experience what they experience.. Like a 'Hands On' type of hike... Now notice the mud? Caused by the Rain from the Clouds earlier? We got stuck 3-4 times, had to push along with our friends pictured along side. If it weren't for them, we couldn't have gotten out... and that was just the beginning... |
|
Finally, after pushing, sinking in knee deep mud we pulled in to a home a little short of our destination. The van simply couldn't go any further... We then got to appreciate the nature walk that Mr Stu raved about... E-nuf said about this pic... heheh... LOL ROTFLMAO....
|
this was just the beginning of the hike... Certainly not the right time to SIT DOWN !!! and think about it.. |
|
Compound, inside we had our lunch....
|
So we press on, get to the village, actually compound of one family - Happens to be the tour guides family and experience the KAVA ceremony and dancing.
|
|
And the Kava is prepared by the Medicine Man.. Kava is a root that is ground into a powder Go figure, it's gotta have some kick to it...
|
|
|
|
I was voted Chief of 'OUR' tribe So got to have the first taste... Hmmm.... I said... as my mouth became nummmmbbbbfffphhh..
|
|
sooooo after WE ALL had 3-4 rounds we started off to the short walk to the falls... in the rain, mud, sleet and snow... or felt like it anyway... with a guide on each hand to keep from falling
|
I
|
|
|
It had been raining like
crazy all day and the water was a little over enthusiastic in running
over the falls... normally, I'm told it's clear, clam an swim-able..
Some did swim, some did float and some just survived....
|
|
Ohhh??? huh???? Stu?, you having problems?? You said something about undertow??? current?? Whaaaatttta you saying????
|
Ohhh... Looky dar.. Bye - Bye Stu.... Whooosh.... |
|
Let's do lunch... We were treated to a great lunch...
|
and time to move on, back to the ranch....
|
|
And back to "Happy Hour" The Staff..... Bula' Bula'...
|
|
|
|
And settle down to a typical dinner, with a cast of thousands...
|
Or a dinner hosted by the Dive operation.... |
and the layout was pretty good....
|
|
But as always And the conga line begins..... Back to....
|
The watering Hole... AT the Sunset bar.... |
|
Out of boredom, I decided to Try, Taste, Test Every Phoof-Phoof drink on the resorts list of Phoof-Phoof drinks.. you know the ones, with the umbrellas On them..... soooooo
|
Heeeerrrre's Johnny... There were several of us trying to beat the others.. and the competition was tough... This is drink # 5 on the list... Obviously a little later in the evening... |
After dinner, some asked "Where's the Southern Cross...eh?? Well, with all the Broo Ha-Ha of happy hour Everyone knew exactly where the Southern Cross was.. Why it's up there, dummy...!!! Some use different pointers, but they all point to the same location
|
Oh... and here's one native whose glad Fiji is NOT French... they don't run when the Chef comes a calling... they still have their legs....
|
|
and a final Departure De-briefing... While waiting in town for the trip back home.
|
...with a departure dinner My, what a big.... Grinder you have...
|
| Finally, a special thanx to
the players that made this
web page possible....
Bruce and Susan Dolphin Dive Shop
|
Remeny and Fred Photographers Extraordinaire.... |
|
and Soooooo My friends, That was Fiji for the week..... Hope you enjoyed it, I do have a few more pics if you need them..... Soooooo
|
Cheers..... and till the next time... |
(Fred's)
