After an eleven-hour journey over the ocean, my family landed in Fiji for a much-needed vacation. As a family, we had never done anything like this before – it was going to be a new adventure! This included my parents getting their first passports, driving on the other side of the road for the first time, and my sister getting married in a small beach wedding! (Oh, and me officiating).
On our first couple days, we got settled in to our stay and explored a little bit. We caught the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple after it closed (woops), but during the start of the sunset and after a rain. I went back to visit on my own on our last day and a had a tour of the Hindu mythology depicted inside. We had dinner at Travellers Cafe at Wailoaloa, and witnessed a stunning sunset.
On our third day, we all went on an adventure to Beachcomber Island in the Mamanuca Island chain. This included some snorkeling and relaxing on the beach.
On Wednesday, we went on a mission at the Nadi market. Bags of kava, a special ceremonial drink, were on sale along with the half coconut shells that you drink kava from. We did a small kava ceremony for Lacy and Morgan. Someone from our hotel helped me prepare it in a bowl, and we all sipped it on the beach, in the light rain. It was perfect.
On our final days, Stéphane and I took a day trip to Suva, where we found these mangos for sale on the street – tarp after tarp of them! And, driving back from the Coral Coast, we drove up to Tavuni Hill Fort, where Tongan chief Maile Latumai built a settlement. As you can see, the spectacular view was also spectacular at knowing when an enemy was approaching. It was very peaceful at the top.
