Hard to leave Sydney but Happy People in Fiji
Trip Start
Aug 30, 2009
1
162
244
Trip End
Dec 25, 2009
Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Into Fiji today. Leaving Sydney was a bit of a hassle. We had come into Australia with electronic visas which you can get online. It doesn't seem to be a problem when you arrive as they just look it up and there you are, paid your money already, have your information and stamp your passport and tada! Leaving was not as easy. We got to the counter of Pacific Blue airlines (one of Sir Richard’s airlines with Virgin) and she asks us, where is your visa? We said it was an ETA visa and she says she has to go check a different computer and sign us out of the country. Isn’t this what immigration officials do?
Their computer wasn’t working correctly or wasn’t up and running yet so we had to stand to one side while they checked in some other people. Then our lady just left and said her supervisor would come and check us in but in the meantime, could we continue to stand to one side and wait while they checked in more people. Finally our passports come back and we are given our boarding passes and are able to go to the departure lounge. We have been checked out with our visa but we still had to go through a process with immigration and get a stamp in our visa and get officially checked out of the country. How very odd to have to "get a visa" to get out of the country as well.
We had just enough time to stop for a bit of breakfast before going to the gate. Once at the gate and once on board, we were set for our flight and knew that anything extra, like watching movies, getting a drink, having anything to eat, would cost us money. While Virgin Airlines has a pretty good price on tickets, I think they have taken the “charge for everything” a bit too far. I am fairly certain I heard the flight attendant in charge say that you couldn’t drink or eat anything that you had brought on board by yourself and had to buy from them. Come on – really!!!??? And then once you land in Fiji, you cannot take any food or drink into the airport so if you brought any food with you, can’t eat it, can’t take it with you then what a waste. I think Virgin could cough up with some water for people for free. At least they haven’t started charging to use the lavatory yet or for toilet paper and I think I did read that one airline was going to charge 1 pound to use the toilet. I’m getting old enough where I think I could just manage to pee on the floor if they try this on me! (well, not really, yet)
So nice flight actually as we didn’t need food or entertainment or water then a quick walk to immigration and we are in Fiji. Going into the baggage area, it was the first country I have visited where they have local singers serenading you as you walk out of baggage into the arrival lounge. I had arranged for a transfer to our hotel and they found us rather quickly. Don’t know how. Guess we looked like people going to a mid range hotel on the other side of the island.
So today and tonight we are a bit tired but looking forward to tomorrow to see what a magical place this is. Everyone is so friendly. People on the street, people in the hotel, people at the pool, everyone is greeting and smiling. Going to be nice.
