Fiji 2008

I went to the most awesome place at the end of February: Fiji! Specifically Shangri La's Fijian Resort, on its own island on the south side of the main island (Viti Levu?). It's on what's called the coral coast, so the waves break 100-200 yards off the beach, making a lagoon that is easy for snorkelling. I had never snorkelled before, but all you really have to do when the water is three feet deep is float. It was so rad I don't have words. So there are lots of pictures instead:

First a few of some of the property:

On the one Saturday we were there there were two (or more) weddings going on. It looked like the chapel was being set up for a wedding, but we saw one ceremony on the lawn by the rooms. So maybe it was on the lawn because the chapel was booked. Anyway, one bride I saw had on a real gown, like the kind you don't want to get dirty. Who does that for a freakin wedding in Fiji? That's dumb. The other party looked a little more beach-themed.

Kava is a native drink that they say "one makes your tongue numb, two takes it away, three puts you to sleep". I only had one, and my tongue went numb. Apparently it's a mild narcotic.

I took lots of sunset pictures, and it was finally when we were getting on buses for the airport did it get real colorful with pink and other colors.

The place is beautifully landscaped, and when you walk around the island you see some of their facilities: green/hothouses growing areas, etc. The place it pretty much self contained in all ways except electricity. That I think comes from the main isalnd, but water and sewer are all taken care of on site.

Spent lots of time on the beach. The snorkelling pictures are all film, so they need to be scanned.

You can pay for excursions off the property, like zip line through the jungle, or visit a village for lunch and kava ceremony, or a dinner or all day cruise. We didn't do any of those, but our group was treated to a fire walking ceremony (followed by dinner and more fire-themed entertainment, of course)on the resort property.

From "Beach Bar and Grill":

From the cabana at Takali Bar:

The next two are when we drove to the capitol, Suva. Sometimes the road is near the water, other parts it is in the mountains.

Sunset on the beach:

It was an awesome trip. I plan on going again, to this resort, again. We spent a week there, and that seemed about the right amount of time. There's really not much to do, so you'll get bored if there too long.

Bula Fiji!