Fiji to Sleep? 3 days 2008 (with Photos)
In 2008, Alte Cocker took her first trip to Australia. She thought it would be her only trip. Alte Cocker has now been 3 times, so it did not turn out that way. Thinking she could break the journey in pleasant Fiji, she decided to spend 3 nights there to sleep and get over jet lag. It did not help and the island turned out to be no paradise. (Look below for the photos.)
In Fiji you stay either up market or down market. There is no mid level type of hotel. Traveling solo, I was not about to spend time at a resort with the honeymooners--most of whom come from Australia or New Zealand--definitely not a good fit for an Alte Cocker. So she stayed down market. The place was truly unmemorable. There were communal showers and toilets. The showers never had hot water but it was warm out so it did not matter much. I did know that I was staying down market, but I really did expect that the showers would be at least lukewarm. Well, we all make mistakes. Making the best of a bad deal, I did go snorkeling and visiting at the resort islands on one day. On the second full day I had I hired a private driver and car. He took me to the 3 main sites in Nadi: The Hindu Temple, the Orchid Garden and the market. At the outdoor market, I met a woman named "Merry New Year" (The Fijians got the holidays smushed together, I guess). I ended up buying a hat from her--which I still have. That encounter was the most memorable of my few days.
If you go to Fiji, take Alte Cocker's advice and stay in one of the resorts or skip it. Fiji is famous for its diving, if you are into that. The down market place I stayed was north of Nadi, Fiji's main town on the west of the main island. I found Fiji very poor and depressing although the people were very nice and seemed happy enough. I remember seeing some girls walk to school in their neat school uniforms but without shoes; except for town, people appear not to wear shoes in Fiji--would you if you lived on the beach? All and all, I am glad I went, but I will not be going back soon. Americans can do the same things people do in Fiji in the Caribbean and won't be as tired from jet lag getting there. Fiji did not, by the way, help me get over jet lag. That took about a week after I got to Australia to finally disappear. I do remember falling asleep in the middle of "Don Giovanni" in the Sydney Opera House. I could feel it happening and could do nothing about it. I was told later, very embarrassing, I was snoring! Into each trip a little embarrassment must fall!
Enjoy the photos and thanks for looking in.
In Fiji you stay either up market or down market. There is no mid level type of hotel. Traveling solo, I was not about to spend time at a resort with the honeymooners--most of whom come from Australia or New Zealand--definitely not a good fit for an Alte Cocker. So she stayed down market. The place was truly unmemorable. There were communal showers and toilets. The showers never had hot water but it was warm out so it did not matter much. I did know that I was staying down market, but I really did expect that the showers would be at least lukewarm. Well, we all make mistakes. Making the best of a bad deal, I did go snorkeling and visiting at the resort islands on one day. On the second full day I had I hired a private driver and car. He took me to the 3 main sites in Nadi: The Hindu Temple, the Orchid Garden and the market. At the outdoor market, I met a woman named "Merry New Year" (The Fijians got the holidays smushed together, I guess). I ended up buying a hat from her--which I still have. That encounter was the most memorable of my few days.
If you go to Fiji, take Alte Cocker's advice and stay in one of the resorts or skip it. Fiji is famous for its diving, if you are into that. The down market place I stayed was north of Nadi, Fiji's main town on the west of the main island. I found Fiji very poor and depressing although the people were very nice and seemed happy enough. I remember seeing some girls walk to school in their neat school uniforms but without shoes; except for town, people appear not to wear shoes in Fiji--would you if you lived on the beach? All and all, I am glad I went, but I will not be going back soon. Americans can do the same things people do in Fiji in the Caribbean and won't be as tired from jet lag getting there. Fiji did not, by the way, help me get over jet lag. That took about a week after I got to Australia to finally disappear. I do remember falling asleep in the middle of "Don Giovanni" in the Sydney Opera House. I could feel it happening and could do nothing about it. I was told later, very embarrassing, I was snoring! Into each trip a little embarrassment must fall!
Enjoy the photos and thanks for looking in.