The first night we spend more by chance Lonely Planet because "Our Pick" in the Aquarius Fiji near the airport and live in our own 6-bed dormitory. Locally it turns out that all parties already own this place is fun because the pool 100m from the beach and ocean away. Both can be good food in the evening, wrapped in cozy colors of the bar watching beautiful. The next day we will rent a car for the trip to the capital Suva. Typically, the majority of tourists fly immediately to their ministries on one of the 330 islands and is the main island of Viti Levu. This complaint, we want to expose us and have provided extra three days for it. Matching the heat we get a black car and make our the way along the southern coast, the so-called Coral Coast to the East. Whether the warning of rough driving style in mind, we meander the sloping mountain road up and down.
The first stop is Fiji's first national park, established in 1989. The Sigatoka National Park with its 5km long dunes corresponds completely and not even our expectations. The 1-hour march through gray-brown sand, forest and dunes, ending on a rough beach, which is so different than we expected in Fiji. Full of driftwood in stormy seas, appropriately enough, the harsh climate and the first drops of rain are felt.
return trip is through the mahogany forest planted in 1960. The girls beat bravely in the sweltering heat, but they're happy as we sit in our air-cooled cars and drive on.
The remaining route in pouring rain brings us to the Nudel-/Pizzastopp Pacific Harbour on a pond, the lilies Ariane's photographic talent to challenge fully. And Erik is thinking: "Let's recognize a photo in which the viewer is only partly true that it was recorded in Fiji".
more than a small closed "Art Village, Pacific Harbour, not to bid. In the pouring rain We drive on to Suva, with about 194 000 inhabitants, by far the largest city of the island kingdom. By the military government that has repeatedly taken over the leadership of the country in a coup, nothing to see. Generally, this issue seems to interest quite a few here. It should stop a government that do but for the individual islands and their damage after the recent cyclone enough . So at least the statement of our interlocutors. Interestingly, Australia and New Zealand issued a travel warning for Fiji to keep apparently little travelers. We stay at the Raintree Lodge just outside Suvas, a nice lake located in the rainforest eco-lodge. Today, the villa "California" ours. It's still raining, so are confronted with the question of whether it really was the right decision to go in the rainy season to Fiji. We'll see. Suva Municipal Market, which offers us the most beautiful flowers and fruit decorations, Erik a hairdresser and all a nice little tour of the center.
Very few tourists and Mediterranean music from the shops dominate the picture, otherwise the city more manageable. Around 14.00, we make our way back, this time in bright sunshine. Everything will be fine.
stay back in Nadi in Aquarius, we again have a nice evening with a Dutch / Saxon family, waiting for their daily "work visa for Australia. Years ago they made the request for immigration - interestingly enough, without knowing the country - are now living several months in Adelaide, and just have these days to get the info, the visa can be picked up. Home sells all the parents do with 2 almost grown daughters in the new world.
The next morning it's off to the port on time. Fast nor a cappuccino and two cocoa for the three girls in and it is according to "Fiji time" about 50 minutes after the official departure "Ready for Boarding". We do not take the speed boat, but still pretty fast on the road. Waya, a small island in the south of the Yasawas group is on the west coast of Viti Levu our goal. Best dream ship backdrop slides past us - fortunately without Sascha Hehn. Light blue water, bright green islands with white beach. Time and again our view slides forward toward the pilot. What is probably from our island? And when we get there? But the wide cross and the strong neck of coxswain blocking the road. The eyes remain on the words "Octopus Resort" hang and get let our curiosity about the next few days. And again, flying a small framed by a white beach island past us. Fortunately, there's no high waves, since Alexia is not really sehfest. After about 1 ½ hours throttles our sovereign mate the pace. Before us steel blue water and a 1.5 km long white beach. Between small groups of thatched palm are located log cabin, by the Water shimmers one or the other coral. Here we will spend the next 6 days. For starters, not bad - that can withstand the humid tropical heat. As it is, receive our native songs and guitar playing on the beach, a first taste of the highly acclaimed Fijian choirs.
A nice, straightforward and open-minded team welcomes visitors with the welcoming "kava" - a drink of the locals, which is consumed on special occasions. For our mouth is this from the roots of pepper trees obtained drink is not really suitable. But the ceremony fits the mood and lifts the mood with a light "anesthetic effect. The audience is a muddle, because for every budget, there are appropriate accommodation deals Dormitory with fan / AC, no fan, cottage with ocean view, beach view with fan / AC. Then come back packers with well-off elderly and families with children. The girls are not the luck so besieged by India, including those on the run almost constantly mentioned exuberant children is fortunately much more relaxed than expected.
belong We quickly our cabin overlooking the beach and supporter for 5 20sqm us is our choice. Sensation is the outdoor shower.
The next day we hang around on the beach, pool or water. The coral reef directly in front of "the street" is explored in several snorkeling and provides for us inexperienced snorkelers have good stuff. Nicoletta is totally fascinated by the underwater world and it is regularly in the wake of Ariane or Erik into the waters, discovers Nemo and other Underwater creatures. Alexia also dares to carefully approach the snorkeling.
But only beach and sea is but then not at home and so we join some time in the tightly organized weekly program of the resort. Octopus Resort was founded in the early 90s and is now owned by a New Zealander. The land is owned by the Village People by Nalauwaki, the other directly on the side of the mountain and live mostly in the resort also find their work.
Time and again we face in our journey with the slogan "Ecotourism". No matter where we were until now whether India, Laos or even in Australia, ecotourism - sometimes more, sometimes less lived - now appears in the tourism industry an important marketing tool to belong. Erik can not hear more and Ariane always jumps back to it. The constellation of Waya with Nalauwaki seems to work: To to protect villagers from permanent Tourism flows are three times a week, village visits with different priorities, such as nursery school, church or visit the Craft Market with participation in the kava session and local dance unit. The rules of decorum are listed the otherwise scantily clad hordes of visitors again and again, "no sunglasses in the village", "Women your shoulders and knees covered," "sell hats", so well prepared we fall to our short 20 minute walk into the a village community. By far, the group is "alien" to the black to identify the neck-wielding camera well without a digital camera seems to be no more tourists on the road. In all, the lens is focused, even at the herd quite boringly normal pigs. We take part twice in this group excursion to visit the nursery and the service. In worship, we are brave and think about what the pastor of his church about two hours so intense, sometimes preaches in your face ". A welcome break, the chants of the choir and the outlook from the church window: "sea view".
Although the visits are exciting and interesting, we think sometimes nostalgic for our visits to the Indian villages along the lines of "Alone among locals back.
In talking with the locals, however, clear that this symbiosis between tourism and community life works well and gives the village its independence. Octopus Resort has contributed to most of the villagers have an income (on average about 3 € per hour) through the sale of manufactured products is more money washed into the village fund and, of course, all attendees at each church or preschool attendance encouraged to donate properly. Sure, we personally prefer the solitary visit to the Indian village, but those are permanent in the classroom bursting tourists in Laos also not the best solution to the formation rate of the country to increase, then perhaps this tight weekly schedule of the "locals" can parallel her own life and gives us insight into the tourist traditions of the country? In any case, it will be interesting to see how the Eco-Tourism development in the countries further.
Enough of the tourist future thoughts ... Anyway, we enjoy the island life, sand with dazzling colors between crystal clear ocean, tropical bright green, and white blossoms heavy vegetation. Alexia is our absolute flower specialist, she always comes with self-collected flowers, but also many wonderful, she collected shells find their place in our luggage.
Nicoletta other hand, is responsible for the communication part. With a sure eye, the newly arriving guests scanned and picked the child-friendly backpacker. With their rough English, she takes on in the blink of contact and has someone on the hook again, roaring with her through the water. Antonia is actually completely no matter what is done, the main thing, "Toni Hunger" and "with Toni."
There
course or evening's program: dance "From Limbustick (20 years ago Ariane has spent several evenings dancing as a backpacker with Limbustick), quiz nights and cancer race are also included. One or the other is sipped cocktails with new friends and acquaintances. Others we meet Eva and Sander from Holland, who, with their daughter Julia (3 years) for 10 months traveling the world. Alex decides that Juliet will be from now on her first pen pal.
Nicoletta and Alexia close friendship with "Eilena," a New Zealand kindergarten teacher, who always seems open to new adventures and hear everything, is that we can always use help at home. Rounding out the stay in paradise with a Lomi-Lomi massage. The next day we store everything back into our two backpacks, the Krackser and your day pack. The children were again backpacks are hardly touched. was a need for toys is not that day.
Excessive Friends of Ariane will be allocated for the return trip by speed boat. With 400 hp and 80 km / h, we sweep over the water, is experienced the happiness of the pilot, and sent to the drive shaft to the spine of all the passengers to save a little. Alexia Antonia and fall shortly after the departure in a nap, Erik has bravely, Nicoletta and Ariane enjoy the fast ride over the waves.
drive after just 55 minutes, we again entered the port of Nadi. In the "Aquarius" We are happy the staff and our Dutch emigrants with a "Bula Bula" welcomes. After the last night in a 6 bed dormitory the next day you go directly to the airport in the morning. Erik wants to satisfy his sense or tourist documentation and asked the taxi driver just before the entrance to the airport at the roadside to stop, so a recording can be carried out of the airport sign. Unfortunately, this photographic tour ended quite unsatisfactory: the image is blurred and the equivalent of 50 € penalty we had the poor taxi driver who has a dressing is prohibited is whether keeping the local police press into the hand.
What we do not know is whether the taxi driver who argued smart enough has, so that at the end the fee was recorded extraordinary income itself. "as if this were so, that is we should be right, we have enjoyed the time in his country very much. not believe a place in the world of the Ariane has a dream that they would ever here some more to spend such a wonderful days.
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