3-17 to 3-19 Fiji Time

3/17 We flew from Aukland, NZ to Fiji and arrived at dinner time (absolutely beautiful resort 4 1/2 stars - the Shangri-La) and great group dinner. No St. Patrick's Day celebration although there are quite a few Irish from Cape Cod, MA. Fiji is beautiful (we are only seeing one island)...the water is very clear and the foliage very dense. We have noticed that there are not all the indiginous flowers that grow wild in Hawaii. There are not alot of hybiscus, etc, which is surprising. Possibly some of the other islands have more flowers. The place we are staying is an actual resort, so there are 5 restaurants, 3 pools, etc. The grounds are beautiful.

3/18 - Group went on a day's tour to visit the town and a local Fijian village. We attended a welcome ceremony by the Chief of the village and several of the "houses" hosted us for a Fijian lunch. We had one of our tour members (of course a man in this society) chosen as our Chief and he drank Kava (a powder ground from the Kava plant roots and mixed with water by the Chief) along with the Chief. The villagers chanted and then anyone wanting to share in drinking the Kava was able to...I was not one of them as I had heard it tasted like pepper, was hallucinogenic, and numbed your mouth. Those drinking it said it only was peppery tasting and not very good.

The lunch would have been great except there are so many flies and ants (Fiji is extremely humid). Of course in the village there is no air conditioning. The houses are one room and there is a communal village kitchen, where all the women cook. This is a very paternal society. One of the tour members was putting on lipstick and all the women in the house wanted some, since they did not have any. She proceeded to put lipstick on all of them, to their squealing delight! She has promised to send 13 lipsticks to the village. Can imagine what their husbands think!

We then went to a school and were given a presentation by the 1st, 2nd, and 7th grade school children. They sang for us and we saw the school. We then sang God Bless America and Old McDonald Had a Farm (which they joined in to sing). One of the 7th graders wanted my email and for me to be her penpal. The children are absolutely adorable. It was an extraordinary and humbling experience.

This afternoon we attended a Fijian cooking demonstration. She made a type of serviche, which I hope to make when I get home. Absolutely delicious!

Last night we had drinks at the outside bar looking at the beautiful water and then dinner at an open restaurant. The sunset was something to behold and the environment very soothing to say the least! What a life...you are definitely on Fijian time from the time you get here to the time you leave...senganalega (no worries, no problems).

3/19 - Had a wonderful breakfast out by the water...a massage (1 hr $45 US$) and am now on my way to the "adult" pool. The group is attending the "firedancing show" tonight and will also attend the extensive buffet. I am really looking forward to it.

We leave tomorrow and it has certainly been all and more than I expected...absoltutely thrilling scenery, new friends, great food... This may be my last blog until France in April (can't wait!) with my dear friend, Nancy. It will be a totally different experience from any I have ever had. We plan to fly to Paris, take a train to Avignon... stay for a couple of days to trounce around Provence...rent a car and set out on our own for the coast...Great fun...hope all of you are well..

Unfortunately, I heard a dear friend, Christy Gibbons,from Laguna has died. It is very sad..I hope to go to her funeral while I am in California....stay healthy and happy..Each day is a gift from God!