Fantastic Fiji-Part 2

We have spent an incredible month in Fiji. At the end of the last blog Fiji part 1 I said I wanted to spend the rest of the time diving some of the most beautiful waters in the world and spending time with the sweetest kindest people I’ve ever met. Ever person from young to old greeted us with a smile and a hearty Bula(welcome). Please enjoy a quick glimpse of the wonderful Faces of Fiji with some Fijian music.

It’s been wonderful going to the different churches as we’ve travelled around the world. The services are totally different yet very similar in other ways. It was always said the sea will make a believer out of an atheist in 48 hours and high seas and it’s very true! People were always so happy to see us and would comment all week long that” we saw you in church”. I guess we stood out as we were typically the only non locals. In Denerau we had our first english speaking mass in 6 months. It was great but also it was equally nice to just watch the people and experience their passion and faith.

Dive, Siesta, Fiesta

We had many great dives. After a 2 tank morning dive Cullen was ready to go but Mike and I were typically bushed. so sometimes we’d find a place for a nappy nap before happy hour and then head for dinner.

Fiji Waterfalls

We had been told to get inland and explore the hills and waterfalls of Fiji and we weren’t disappointed. We swam in the freshwater ponds after hiking in 90 degree heat up the side of a mountain and the cool water felt incredible. Luckily there were 3 waterfalls so every time you got hot and exhausted you could hop in another one and cool off.

Diving Highlights

Just a few more highlights of the incredible diving.

Random act of kindness award

I could give the award to 50 people I met in Fiji the people were so wonderful! However there was a wonderful women we met at the Garden Island dive resort that made our stay very special and introduced us to the rainbow reef area in the Somo Some pass on an island called Taveuni.

Meeting the Chief

When you visit an island you are supposed to bring a gift of Kava which is a bit of an hallucinogenic root for the chief and he will allow you to anchor and visit his island. out of respect you are supposed to dress in the native sulu(dress). We met the chief and he was wonderful . He went thru the welcome ceremony and then took us on a tour of his island and explained the history of the island and hospital which was a leper colony up until 1911.

Heading to Australia

It’s hard to believe we’ve been traveling for almost 7 months. We have arrived in New Caledonia, a french territory 1200 miles from Australia. We will be here a week and then look for a weather window to head to Aussie land. We then look forward to seeing Vanessa, Cecelia, Camille and Schaefer for a quick Australia tour before Cullen heads home with Mom for college. I will miss him dearly! Next blog we will be having an Australian beer…Cheers! John, Cullen and Mike