Fiji 4 day cruise

I didn't think I'd be back in Fiji so soon, but it was a long Easter break for workers in Aust and Chris and Alex had booked a cruise. Jan Dave and I couldn't resist the chance to join them. Jan and I had a few days in Suva before Dave arrived and then it was off to Denarau to get our cruise boat. So many islands to visit and more to see as we glided by. Big or small every island has different rock formations, evidence of a volcanic past.


























While the food was good, it was difficult not to wish you were outside on the deck, taking photos. They got used to me making a quick exit between courses and coming back after I'd got a great shot. The pineapple is always sweet and juicy, so different to that green sour thing other people buy at Woolworths














From whatever angle you looked at this island there was always an intriguing shape










Four days goes to quickly and then it was time to return to Suva, we went via the Kings Road around the top of the island, and while the scenery is great the road leaves a lot to be desired. Last time we went that way the road works were in progress and this time the roadworks are still in progress.








While I had planned to return to Brissie on 3 May with Jan and Dave, the offer of a substantial discount for a 7 night cruise to different islands,starting on the 3rd made me change my plans, and of course Chris was to go to Canberra again on the 10th so I just had time before it was back to grandchild minding (not that it's a hard job with Alex in charge)

Brisbane Canberra

It was school holidays in Fiji and Chris was in Brisbane but had work to do in Canberra, so I brought the boys back from Fiji with me, with bribes to ensure good behaviour on the plane, Chris met us in Brisbane and we had a couple of family days, and then we all went off to Canberra






It wouldn't be a visit to Canberra without a day at Questacom. Oskar did the maximum jumps with zero gravity, wish I could have been quicker with my finger on the camera to catch the leap. Carlo was tall enough to jump but not old enough, so next time it will be his turn




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Its only a camera trick with mirrors, but I guess it described how I felt at the end of a day at Questacom. The boys were well behaved but how many times does one have to watch them sitting pretending to fly a plane





After the hot of Fiji, it was a bit of a shock to have cooler weather, but seeing the trees changing colour reminds me that it will only get colder in Canberra. At the park we were entertained by the drummers sitting in the middle of the picture.


The boys are at home anywhere, and what better to use up there energy but tie at the 'underground park'








It was an early start to get the 6am plane back to Brisbane, and a visit to the markets, Chris took the boys back to Fiji and I had some time catching up with friends.
watch for my next destination, no prize for guessing where.

More Fiji - Naigani - Pure Fiji

Naigani, 540 acres, mostly hills with a tiny resort, great snorkeling and an amazing coast line. We drove to Natovi, didn't get on the giant vehicle ferry to Ovalau, or the slightly smaller one to Savusavu which both were at the dock, just got the small tinnie for a 40 minute ride out to Naigani. We got a bit of spray and a shock when a flying fish went straight over the top of our boat. Too quick to catch on camera, but seen by us all.













Oskar returning to land after his snorkeling expedition, he doesn't wear a snorkel, just free dives, We had taken a small boat to this beach I walked along the beach took photos and collected some shells. The colours of the water still amazes me.














Carlo also snorkels but this day we were heading out to the outer reef and he had a boat driving lesson. On our way back we did another circle of the island and saw the cannibal cave. It still has an eerie feeling. I'm pleased I wasn't living here in those days, I try to imagine how one of my first cousins x5 removed, must have felt trying to convince the people that they didn't need that protein. I'm also think how the wife must have coped with her husband off preaching and her left at home with young children. Beside preaching, William Moore also wrote a book 'Handbook of the Fijian Language' in 1860 and its still being published today, You can also download the book for free. I marvel that he could write how there is always an N, in Nadi, (Nandi), Kadavu, (Kandavu), Beqa (Benga) etc, and how C is pronounced th. eg Moce Falls. Moce Falls in the Navua Valley is one of the places on my bucket list.









There's no BMX track or skateboard park, but with a bit of imagination, the Garden city shopping complex in Suva can fill the bill. We go there after 5 when the shops are closing and the cars are leaving. Its great to see the smiles on the workers, who wish they were doing this instead of getting the bus home from work



The place to see the sunset it at the Holiday Inn, when its good its good (the sunset), the pizza is good as they have a wood fired oven, and if you drink Vonu beer you are helping to save the turtles. A good Saturday night combination. If you happen to be in Suva on a Saturday morning, you can go to the Pure Fiji factory and stock up at bargain prices and help the Fiji economy. I've been having a U-Sabai massage, originated in Thailand but done in Fiji by blind massage therapists. This provides employment for the blind who now can earn an income and my health is benefiting as well.

Uluru, Sydney and Fiji - Feb-March

I've celebrated my birthday in many places but none as remote as at the base of Uluru, Chris had asked our tour guide to organise a cake as a surprise and we lit the candles and sang happy birthday in English and Danish. That wasn't the end of my birthday, we flew to Sydney and had dinner at Bhodi,









Next day we flew back to Nadi, and drove to Suva. This a view of Suva from the Harbour, the close up look it different, but there is some good and not so good shopping and a good coffee if you search (we make the best at home).









I'm crossing off how many of the 350 islands I get to see. We went for a day cruise to Nikalau Island, check Wiki for its history. I walked around the island, possible with my water shoes and everyone had a swim. In the afternoon a storm formed over Suva and the sky was black, black, lucky it had passed before we left to return home but we knew it had rained heavily as our sun roof in the car had been left a slightly open,


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Suva is noted for its rain, and of course the old saying Red Sky in the morning is a sailors warning, I think I saw two mornings that the sun came up bright and shiny. Still the rain is good, and it doesn't take long to dry off if you get caught in a shower.








Butterflies are supposed to be signs of spirits watching over you and I was pleased to photograph this one when I decided to take swimming lessons, I've always hated getting my face wet, (a left over from living at Taylors Arm where the boys loved pushing you underwater if you couldn't swim well) so have achieved that milestone. Really need to get my skills up for snorkeling and river rafting.

Feb 2011 the Red Centre

When Chris and some Danish friends decided to go to the Red Centre, I grabbed at the opportunity to go with them, I flew Bris-Syd-Alice and they flew Adelaide-Alice, they had been to Kangaroo Island, and that's now on my 'bucket' list. what was amazing was a clear view from my window seat of how much rain had fallen on the country below, I wanted them to see it as we all flew back to Sydney but no chance, it was cloudy and no visibility.
We landed in Alice and Reg met us,We had our own coach and tour guide, lucky I hadn't gone AAT - Australian Arthritic Tours, or APT - Australian Pensioner Tours. we had some time in Alice, and then headed out towards Kings Canyon with two stops at waterholes along the way. I even took the plunge in this water to swim across the water to hug one of the ancient gum trees. It was interesting to see everything green, the road flooded in places, how high the water had been up the tree trunks before we got there and wildflowers everywhere. Too many photos to put on the blog allowance.
























I haven't got a photo of Kings Canyon as I had forgotten to bring my camera that morning, but I can prove I climbed the 384 steps to the top and walked around the ridge and back to base. We saw where they filmed parts of 'Priscilla' as we walked through a gap at the top of Kings Canyon, and saw a sign with the history of the Red Centre, where some 'crackpots' have erased the time that Aboriginal people have been in Australia because it doesn't fit in with their story of creation and two large waterfalls. We had camped in tents in the middle of nowhere, went to an Aboriginal School were our kids and the kids from Denmark and the Dads played footie with the school kids, We journeyed on past Table Top mountain and the salt lake, (with lots of water) and arrived at Uluru. Lucky we had a more solid cabin as that night it poured and we had to walk through water to get to our breakfast hut, Seeing the Olgas with rain pouring on them was something different

















Next morning when we got up early for our walk in the Olgas, I managed to see this amazing waterfall. I marvelled how the rocks making up the Olgas and Uluru is like a cake mix of red flour and red currents, (pebbles and larger stones)





In the afternoon some of us went for a Helicopter ride across the Olgas and Uluru, Oskar was in the front seat of our helicopter and Carlo scored the front seat in the other one, we were lucky enough to see some camels from the air, and later while the Danish friends and me went to view the sunset over Uluru, (not a good one as there was too much cloud) Chris Alex and the boys went for a camel ride, I did marvel at the number of tourists with AAT and APT who went to view the sunset on the rock and had their back turned to the view while they scoffed wine and savouries.
Next morning it was up before sunrise to start our walk around the rock, and we saw rain falling over Uluru, but that made a completely different colour range from the normal sunrise. I loved how the rock has markings, such as this 'frog'








We made it around to the waterhole and then I got a surprise birthday party, which will start my next blog.