Around the same time we landed to Tonga, tsunami warning was lifted from Fiji. About two hours on the ground and we we're back in the air, now it was another 1,5hrs to Nadi. Finally we landed, about 3hrs later than the original schedule was and darkness was already surrounding Fiji while we we're taxiing. Stepping out of the plane and onto open second storey walkway, humidity hit me pretty heavily. At first it was a bit of nasty feeling but yet again, this was something I had been missing ever since I left Brisbane. Even thou it has been getting fairly hot in Christchurch, there hasn't really been much at all of humidity, just a dry heat.
As my accomodation I had chosen 5star Hilton in Denarau Island, just a short drive west from Nadi. After all, I didn't really plan of doing much at all in Fiji, just relaxing and I chose to pamper myself with my accomodation and especially since I got a really good deal for it. Denarau Island is a manmade island and has been built pretty much for wealthy western tourists. Apparently my resort had one of the best beaches on the area, each and every villa facing towards the sea. I had chosen beachfront studio for myself and for once, it was exactly like the photos on adverts. My studio was on second floor so I had a balcony instead direct access towards beach but I actually preferred it that way.
For my first days I did nothing but just relaxed, either on the beach chairs right in front of my villa or mattresses next to pool area and restaurant. After all, my plan was not have any plans. On Friday I took a wee walk to Denarau Marina but it was way too hot walk back, even for that 15mins. Humidity was totally killing me, it was about 95%.. I couldn't stay more than two hours at a time relaxing on the beach until I had to go back to my room to chill down. Even after sunset it was still way too humid just to sit on the restaurant deck. On Saturday I rented a car and took a wee drive towards south and capital, Suva. I stopped quite often to take photos and especially when you get down to southern coast the scenery was something just short of amazing. My first stop was Kula Eco Park, as usual, I always gotta get to local zoo's. This was just a small place but still nice and I had a chance to relax with different birds in the park. Even held a small iguana in my hand for awhile. Still kept my distance from a wee snake, just can't stand 'em.
I didn't drive all the way to Suva, instead I turned around in Korolevu, about 150km from Nadi. On my way back I just enjoyed the drive and stopped quite often taking photos. I even took a wee detour on smaller, extremely bumpy gravel roads just to get better feeling from the place. Once back at my resort I took few photos from sunset, amazingly warm sea water, almost as warm as being in the bath. After sunset we had a beachfront movie theater set up, amazing feeling facing towards the ocean and watching a movie from a big screen in front of you. Early next morning it was time to head back home to Christcurch. This was just a short visit to Fiji and didn't really do much at all but after all that wasn't even the plan. For my next visit I want to visit some island and even stay in one of them. Fiji, what a beautiful place.
