Irith and Roger's Travel Blog

We love Fiji.  Indeed, we are staying at the Lomani Island Resort and “lomani” in Fijian means “love.”  All of the staff here are friendly and caring.  They know everyone’s first name and always want to help.  A smiling “Bula” comes from (and is extended by us to) every staffer here, from the manager to the grass-cutter.  This is even more amazing considering that there is no tipping in this culture.  You can make a donation to the staff “Christmas fund” upon leaving, but nothing is expected.  It is sad that we have to leave tomorrow on the 12:15 boat to catch a plane to Aukland, New Zealand.  We thought we would be bored after a few days and ready to leave, but the slow pace here is extremely relaxing and we could do with a few more days.  Besides, the internet happens to be very fast and I can keep up with what is going on in the office (to Irith’s dismay).

I went snorkeling yesterday afternoon and again today.  The boat (a dinghy with a good motor) takes us out to the reef and we snorkel around for about an hour and then come back.  Today we went to the back edge of the reef where it drops into the deepness.  When I first got in, I saw a white reef shark.  When I got back in again, he was gone.  You wouldn’t believe how fast I was able to move.  Anyway, there were every color and type of tropical fish.  I saw a clownfish that looked just like Nemo (except both fins seemed fine).  Some were small and swam in schools of hundreds, and some were larger and multicolored.

My digital camera doesn’t work underwater.  I found an underwater camera of Jonathan’s before we left and I brought it for just this occasion.  It s ancient, from another era, and – how many of you are old enough to remember this – actually used something we used to call “film.”  There was film loaded in the camera, but it must have been 15 years old.  When we got here, I remembered that I should replace that film, so I went to the little stores on the adjacent Plantation resort.  None of them stocked film except for one.  So I bought a roll of good 400 ASA film and opened the camera to change the film.  Is anybody here old enough to remember something called a “film cartridge”?  Yes, the camera required a cartridge, not a roll of film.  None of the stores on this little island had anything so retro.  So I put the old film back in and gave it a try (even though I exposed at least the first picture by opening the camera – and probably the next two as well.  I’ll have them developed when I get home and see if anything appears.

The restaurant here serves at little tables spread about their outdoor patio deck.  Tonga torches are lit and candles on each table for two and strings of light adorning the trees.  There are also three table spread out along the beach for a romantic dinner if you reserve them in advance.  We booked one of the tables tonight for a sunset romantic dinner on our last night in Fiji.  The picture below was taken last night from our table on the patio, across the lawn to the table on the beach with a pair of newlyweds, as a sailboat passed by.  They loved the picture and I emailed it to them.

Roger

Our Gourmet Restaurant

Romantic Dinner on the Beach

Today is our 3rd day in Fiji and I am happy to report that the skies are still blue and the water is calm and inviting.  We took today a trip to a village in one of the islands around ours.  It was a great ride in the speed boat there.  I did not get sea sick which is a bonus.  The purpose of the trip was to see how the natives live.  Though from their point of view the purpose was to sell some of their crafts.  It was a nice, hot experience and now we are back on our island.  Roger just left to go snorkeling and I am on my way to get my massage (again, yes thank you!).
The food at our resort is a true gourmet cooking.  Lots of fresh fish and wonderful veggies that we do not get at home.
By the way, they pick up every morning our laundry and return it in the afternoon washed and folded.  No extra charge.  Part of the pampering that is going on here.
Now, we have our official “Gossip Girl” here.  An Aussie who can tell you (and she does) every thing about anyone.  She makes sure you hear that she knows everyone’s name and that includes all the workers in the resort.  She is an amusing creature who takes herself very seriously.  Just another entertainment here in Lomani.

Irith

Never Ending Pool

Seashell Village

Our first evening was a communal meal with all of the guests here.  At the moment, only seven of the guest houses are occupied, so it was a cozy dinner.  Free hors d’ouvres and rum punch and then a buffet of food cooked that afternoon in a Lovo oven (dug in the earth).  It included a delicious barrimundi.  The other guests are all Australian, except for one mixed Aussie/Canuck couple who presently live in Toronto.

Today we woke up too late to do the snorkeling trip, which left at 9:30.  I’ll go tomorrow.  Irith is not a snorkeler.  Today, we walked along the beach and checked out our sister resort adjacent to us (Plantation Island Resort).  It is owned by the same people, but it is for families and ours is adults only.  It was a mob scene over there, being much larger and obviously more greatly occupied.  Irith bought a sun dress in their boutique and as they had a grocery store of sorts, we got some snacks for between meals.  Then just swimming and relaxing (and now napping).

Here are some more pics.

Roger

Al Fresco Dining under the Stars

Roger Checking Out the Hammock

View of Lomani from the Water

What is the Beach without a Cocktail?

Little Fishies Near the Shore

Bula.  That is Hello in Fijian, and everyone here will say it to you all the time.  It is a friendly country where the sun shines all the time and temps are just perfect in the 80’s.  We took a boat ride to our resort from Nadi.  The South Pacific sea is as beautiful as my imagination of it was.  Calm, deep blue water, cool breeze and a beautiful Island where Lomani Resort is. After the official welcome, including a coc0nut drink we were escorted to our beautiful room.  Except that it is really a 3 room suite.  A bedroom and 2 living rooms adjacent to it.  Flowers were everywhere.  On our bed, on every table and even in the bathroom.  Roger and I had a wonderful lunch on the balcony of the restaurant and then I was off to a 2 hour massage and facial and Roger went to swim and read by the water.  The massage was unreal, and relaxing.  My face looks 20 years younger (or so I hope) and all the dimples in my body disappeared (wishful).  Now we are getting ready for the cocktail hour and dinner outdoors.

Irith

Music and Shell Necklaces Awaited us at the Dock

Our Four-Posted King Size Bed with Flowers

Typical View at Lomani Resort

Just to let you know we arrived safely in Nadi, Fiji, and went to our hotel near the airport to overnight before taking the boat to the island where our resort is in the morning.  This is what we woke up to.  Off now to Lomani Island Resort.

Roger