Fiji is gorgeous. Beautiful flowers, azure waters, palm trees waving in the breeze, everything you pictured in the guide book. Somehow they neglected to include you sun-burned, sweat rolling down your back, contemplating the air conditioning in your hotel room. Somehow, when I picture tropical paradise, I left out the tropical.
My friend Jaymi offered to meet me half way for a celebratory vacation. (Celebrating her MBA completion, and our moving). Since her timeshare has lots of room, Nathan's mom agreed to meet us here to celebrate her 60th birthday as well. The 4 of us have been traipsing around Fiji in a rental car with no shocks (maybe at one time, but the rough roads finished them off a long time ago).We visited a village where the women's primary income are the few tourists that stop by to buy pottery. We bought a lot (not a lot of it was attactive, but most souveniers aren't!). The tourist trade is really important income for everyone here, but it is hard to enjoy it because of the disparity between the customer and producer sometimes.
Nathan and I went to our running club, and got to meet quite a few locals. They really understood the tourist industry as part of the economy, and nobody seemed eager for it to change. Of course they were talking to a tourist so maybe they are too polite. We will need to post more about the HASH club when we can post pictures.
Anyway, need to head out of the air conditioning soon. We are planning a snorkelling trip tonight, and a sail to some of the uninhabited islands on Friday. Then back to reality. It has to happen sooner or later.
4 comments:
So glad to hear you are having a great time. I just returned to my Alaska home on Saturday. I had been gone about a month. I visited homes in Washington, Montana, and Minnesota. On Friday afternoon Sara and I locked the door to the apartment at WestView for the last time. It was empty and cleaned. What a good feeling. It was a busy week in Minnesota,but a good one. I spent time with the Rinkes inbetween time with Grandma, Knutsons, and Sara. We are so glad Gretchen can be with you and enjoy a new part of our world. Fall is coming soon to Petersburg.
Love, Mary Ann and Al
If you are interested in keeping up with Sara's new business you can check into her blog.
smontgomeryphot.blogspot.com
She is trying to get her photography business up and running.
Mary Ann
Kristin, Nathan, Hi it's me Jack - of Leeds and formerly of London fame. How the devil are you? Sounds as if you are having a great time in Oz (and everywhere else by the looks of it.) Email me at jackdarrenhunt 'at' the hotmail.domain and we can catch up.
Jacky, Ethan, Finlay and I are all really well. I am studying to become an acupuncturist, but thats another story...
Hi Nathan and Kris, I just found this site, thanks Mary Ann. SOunds like a beautiful vacation, and celebration of Gretchen's 60th.
We had a good time in MN. moving out the rest of mom's stuff. Good visit with Marty and Dick and Mary Ann and mom. She's tired but doing well in new assisted living spot.
Todd and Michell's wedding was great, they are in Seattle in 2nd year of med. school for him, and she's working as an EMT for an ambulance service. We miss them though.
ENjoy your home in Perth. Sara J.
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