Nadi - Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Woke up to a beautiful sunny day in Fiji. We (Barbara, Charles, Earle, Sharon, and I) opted for an optional excursion today so we were ready to go by 8:30 for an all day trip to Tivua Island. Some of us still tried to get a snooze in under the guise of a wide-brimmed hat, while others were giving instructions for the day.

It was about a 20 minute coach ride to the port of Denarau Island, where a number of very nice resorts are located as well as a beautiful golf course and plenty of shops. There was also a Hard Rock Cafe there. 

We had a bit of time before our cruise set sail so picked up some suntan lotion and enjoyed the sights of the water. 

We sailed to Tivua on a tall ship, where we were welcomed aboard with a glass of tropical juice. 

It took about an hour and a half to reach the island and right before the ship arrived there was a Kava ceremony on board. Charles had had a bit of the dirty water the day before in Nadi, but the rest of us passed on partaking today. It is a welcoming ceremony that relaxes the participants, sometimes even to the point of feeling a bit of numbness on their lips or extremities.

Once we arrived on the island we stashed our stuff in one of the bures (small cottage with bed and bath) and headed to the beach. We staked out one of the small tiki huts that dotted the beach before heading to the water. The tide was out so we really could walk out far (no pictures from water!). Barbara and Charles decided to do the glass bottom boat ride first. 

After a time in the water, we got thirsty and so headed to the bar. All drinks on the island were included with the cruise. A cold beer quenched our thirst. By that time Barbara and Charles had returned and had some fun with a coconut.

At 1:00 lunch was served. It was some of the best buffet food that we had eaten during the entire trip. There was a nice selection of salads including a slaw, a jungle spinach salad, potato salad, green salad, and an eggplant salad. The hot foods were lamb sausage, roasted chicken, and snapper that was absolutely wonderful. And, as always, there was fruit AND wine.

After lunch Sharon, Earle, and I took the glass bottom boat excursion. We saw some spectacular fish, blue sea stars, and coral. We all agreed this was better than what we had seen at the Great Barrier Reef. 

By then it was nearly time to reboard our ship and so grabbed a beer to go!

On the way back we were entertained by some of the crew who knew more American songs that many of us do. It seems that John Denver is a big hit in the South Pacific and his Take Me Home Country Roads is sung everywhere. 

We got back to the resort around 5:30 and decided that we would change and return to Kah for some good Thai. After dinner there was a fire show around the pool that was an interesting watch.

Back to the room to get organized for our journey home tomorrow. Everyone seems a bit nervous about the weight of their suitcases and some have even bought another one.