Fuđi

Second part of my trip is here. I reached Sydney from Ayers Rock and stayed there for a day. I must admit, I like Sydney better than Melbourne. Oops. But when I was strolling down the Rocks neighborhood and being caught in the buzz of the Sunday market, I actually felt a coolness to the city I haven't really felt in Melly. And yes, I saw the opera, botanical gardens and the Governor's house. All cool.

After another night at the airport I finally boarded the plane for Fiji. Fiji, like Samoa, has been my dream since those Australia and Oceania lectures at university. I absolutely wanted to see how a state of coup d'etat and a country of deep ethnic divide functions in everyday life. And try it's famous beaches, I won't lie.

I landed in Nadi and got one of the harshest immigration scans yet. Even Armenia was better than this! They wanted my return boarding pass (which I didn't have yet, because I am flying with low-cost Jetstar) and they wanted to know my financial status. I suspect it's because they've literally never heard of Slovenia before. They also double, triple checked with me if I'm sure I don't mean Slovakia. I was sure.

Still I managed to get to Bamboo Backpackers, which is a truly nice place and would recommend it to everyone. Lying in a hammock, overlooking the sea and reading a good book finally soothed my nerves. The evening finished with kava party, which is a Fijian specialty. Kava is a root of kadava plant, which is finely ground and made into a drink. They say you need to get used to the taste and right they are! It is bitter and looks like dirt. But so does coffee, so who am I to judge?  :)

Next morning I was whizzed off to Mana island in the Mamanuca group. I was told it's beautiful. Well it surely is nice, but as an avid ecologist I can't get past the trash that everybody seems to simply discard wherever. Like Samoa. I am frustrated as hell. These guys have a true paradise at their disposal and they're treating it like it doesn't matter. Grrrrhhhh!

Still, the Ratu Kini Resort was ok. Food was not too bad, rooms were fairly basic, but the staff was nice. As the tides are quite extreme, you can't really swim in the afternoon with the low tide. So Nathan, the chef, offered to show me his favourite spot where you can swim at any time of the day. It was a great spot! The next day I visited it again with proper snorkeling gear and it was even more spectacular! What a coral reef! Such colours! White, pink, yellow, blue, orange! And fish! What a variety! And colours and patterns! I even saw an actual turtle. Turtle. Swimming. In front of me. Sweet mother of....
Yeah, definitely go snorkeling or scuba diving in Fiji! A must!
Naturally things can't be too great for too long, so I got severe sunburns despite my many layers of sunscreen.

Now I am back in Nadi, where I just got back from the town. Nadi is not really spectacular in any way, but I did see the biggest Hindu temple in the country and local market, which was obviously amazing. I bought passion fruit and quawa to try. Yum! Pacific fruits just can't be beaten.

That's it folks. Tomorrow I am heading towards the capital Suva and then even further to Taveuni island.

Yours truly,

Ajda