The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa, Fiji

Flying to Fiji, we are instantly in love with this island.  The people that we meet are so friendly from the Flight Attendants on South Pacific Airways to everyone we meet in the airport on our arrival, they all greet us with "Bula."  I think they are saying "Hola" and I respond in Spanish "Hola" to them.  They eventually correct me telling me a few of the words that they use when greeting people.  We learn "Bula" and "Vinaka."  Bula means Hello and Vinaka means "Thank You."  
I feel bad t...

We awoke in the Westin Heavenly Bed which was amazing.  Much more comfortable than our Camper Van, although the camper van was not bad.  Breakfast is included and we arrive to the breakfast restaurant amazed with the selection.  I get a couple berry smoothies, eggs benedict and yogurt.  Everything has been first class at this hotel so far and the staff has been overly friend.  We decide to do a walk and head to the local marina via the beach.  The other hotels are not that busy either with li...

On this day, we decided to go sailing.  My grandfather taught me how to sail a sailboat at an early age and eventually taught me how to sail a catamaran.  I had such great memories sailing with him off Tarpon Springs to Anclote Island and around Fred Howard Park.  I was about 14-15 when he taught me and I was all about getting the catamaran to go up on one pontoon.  My friends and I would lean out on the trapeze and try to sail with one pontoon as long as we could.  I would bring my dog saili...

We awoke this morning 8:10AM with our typical vacation fashion.  No alarm clock and no set plans for the day.  There is a 9:00AM ferry boat that goes to the remote Fiji islands and possibly one a 10:00AM too.  Kristin and I decide that we will grab some fruit for breakfast and take a cab to the marina to attempt to get on a 9:00AM ferry.  We get dressed quick and head out the door.  I head for the guest services to try and reserve a spot on the ferry while Kristin gets some fruit from the din...

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5 des signes que nous sommes au Paradis...

1- Passer de notre
tente au luxe et l'opulence de notre chambre d'hotel au Westin... la
tele cablee, un lit king, une douche a deux pommeaux, un frigo, un
bodum, une bouilloire et du vrai cafe, une bonne douzaine de
serviettes de toutes les grandeurs, chacun son lavabo... ah et lit et
les couvertures blanches!!! WOW!! Et que dire des piscines.....



2- Temperature...

Well, what can I say!?! This is paradise as always. Love getting off that plane, and feeling the heat hit you! You know you're in Fiji. This is extra special 'cause Mum & Dad are with us - didn't want to say good-bye at the Auckland airport, so thought we should all just chill out and spend some quality time together - only a couple of days, but it does not take any time to relax when you have sea breeze, sunshine, palm trees, and guitars playing softly in the background .... aaahhhh........

Day 48 - Day 53)

In this "vacation from a vacation", Hanna and I reflected on our travels and counted our blessings that we were able to do something like this. Since most of the time was spent reading on the beach, snorkeling, and taking in the beauty of a few of the 300 different islands... I have just posted some pictures to describe the country.


Day 54 - Day 58)
Some long flights that included a one day layover in New Zealand, a quick trip through China, a sleepless ...

nadi

By TONY ADAMS THE native chief invites me to sit before him, claps his giant hands three times slowly and passes me a bowl of what looks like muddy water. Unfortunately, the concoction also tastes like muddy water, but refusal is seen as an insult, and I swallow the mixture as quickly as possible. Within minutes, my tongue and lips are numb, before a feeling of relaxation and well-being takes over my entire being. Such are the effects of kava, traditional drink of the people of the Fiji isla...