Masons in Fiji - Day 2 (Port Shopping & Swim Bar)
Trip Start
Jan 15, 2012
1
3
14
Trip End
Jan 27, 2012
Where I stayed
Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji
Monday, January 16, 2012
Today was a massive day in Fiji. We all got up and headed down to breakfast. Malani and I had omlettes with the lot and a side serve of bacon. It was delish. Jamie found chocolate pancakes, and Jack had a slab of bacon. Zach arrived late and had some bacon too.
We went for a walk along the beach front and went though the Sofitel and Sheraton. Nice places like the Radisson, right on the water. We might have to go and have a swim in their pools.
We headed out the front of the Sheraton and checked out the small deli. Everyone was thirsty from our 2 kilometre walk about the resort. I used a Westpac ATM to get out some Fiji dollars and we were able to get a drink.
We were keen to check out the shops at the Port of Denarau and we discussed ways of getting into the Port; either by Bula Bus, WestBus or taxi. In the end we walked in. It only took 15 minutes, but the Fijian Sun is a blistering brute and is quite sapping for those not accustomed to walking in the hot humid climate; particularly when the sun blasts itself off the bitumen and concrete of the footpaths. The shade of a coconut tree becomes a meeting point.
We window shopped and checked menu prices of restaurants in the Port and did some shopping at the YEES supermarket. Wow the prices are expensive there. A big block of Cadburys Chocolate was F$12. Ouch. I bought a slab of Fiji babies (Fiji Gold) and they cost F$72. They scanned them wrong too and I got them for F$67. That is about F$2.70 each. Better than the F$6 each at Neptune's Pizza place from last night. So with our wine we brought ourselves and this slab of beer – from a grog point of view we should be adequately supplied.
I brought some Massaman Curry from home, and all the stuff I need to cook a good Thai Curry with; I even brought brown sugar, fish sauce and 2 Kaffir Lime Leaves; but I needed some chicken. The chicken looked fatty and was way overpriced. I did get the super lean chook at F$17 a kilo; that’s pretty expensive.
We caught a large taxi back from the Port; much to the children’s delight; and we muscled all our goods up 3 flights of stairs to our rooms; put it away and sampled some of those Fijian Babies – hmmm cold and crisp; quite a nice hot weather drinkable beer – highly recommended when you are in town.
I also had my IPod Dock with me and so we drank the babies and listened to some of my tunes on the dock.
Down to the pool the kids went; I let them go on their own; they are all Kings Graduates and can swim better than me; so ok off you go; however the rule is to stay together.
We went and walked about the resort and checked out the shops. I booked Jack and I into an Introductory dive in the resort pool which Jack has been hassling me about. I wouldn’t mind joining him because whilst I'm a certified Open Water Diver, my last dive was the Mananuca Islands here in Fiji – which was 5 years ago. 2 dives cost F$300 which is ok. That’s on Thursday.
Down to the beach and we caught up with the kids in the big pool. We had a go at the water slide (including Malani) and hung about all day enjoying our company and chilling out in the pool.
Malani and I tried a Strawberry Daiquiri at the Swim Up Bar; wow that was nice; cold crushed ice with a shit load of alcohol in it; the barmen used a measure but over poured it which I didn’t mind.
Later at happy hour (2 for 1 drinks) we tried a Toblerone Cocktail; it was like a chocolate milkshake with a bucket load of spirits in it. It was that good we had another one! It was full of Baileys; Kalhua, Frangelico and something else – it was sensational.
Back to the room after a big day in the pool and I cooked up some prawns I bought earlier at the Port Supermarket. 1kg of prawns for F$60 – yeah that was a bit expensive but gee the prawns were nice in butter and salt and pepper.
After dinner we had a couple more beers and watched the first half of the 2010 Grand Final (I brought the DVD with me) and had some Nobby’s Nuts. We decided to watch the 2nd half and stretch it out tomorrow night.
After lots of sun and swimming we are all pretty knackered, so an early night was the order of the day.
I struggle without the concept of an itinerary; I like the organized notes to understand what is happening and when; so I might just note a few things here:
Tuesday – Pool Day.
Wednesday – 11AM – Pool Scuba Dive;
Thursday – 0815AM – 2 Scuba Dives – Meet at the Sofitel
Friday – Visit the Islands Cruise
Saturday – Lomani Pool Dining night.
Sunday – Pool Day.
Ahhhhhh, that’s better.
