18 days in Fiji (#13) From Denarau Island to Nadi International Airport

Bula! Welcome!  We've been in Fiji now for 18 days. And sadly it is almost time to say good bye to this beautiful tropical isle with its fabulous people.

Bula! It's a cava ceremony (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

I hope you've enjoyed hanging out with me and picked up a few tips and tricks as well as saved yourself some bucks for a smoother holiday.

Deep fried crispy fish (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Today I'm going to be talking about the journey from our resort to Nadi (pronounced Nandee) International Airport.

From Denarau Island to Nadi International Airport 

Our flight with Qantas Airways was scheduled for a 18:50 departure. We planned to be there at least 2.5 hours before departure and the taxi ride from the resort was estimated to take about 30 minutes. We allowed ourselves even extra time in case of possible delays and as it turned out, that was quite unnecessary.

The taxi that the hotel ordered for us turned up promptly at 3.30 pm and it was a smooth ride all the way to the airport. The four of us with our luggage fit comfortably in the air conditioned sedan which was well cared for.

Taxi ride to the airport 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

It was with mixed emotions as we said goodbye in our hearts to Fiji. The first part of the trip took us through familiar roads. I admired the bright orangey blooms of the Fijian Christmas tree as we drove along.

The driver then veered off onto a main highway which was as well formed and well made as any you'd find in an Australian city. It was quite pleasing to see how clean the roads were too. Traffic flowed in an orderly fashion and no one seemed rushed in any way.

Forests punctuated with large bill boards along the road side soon gave way to double storeyed concrete buildings housing various businesses and accommodation places.

We noticed that Burger King had made it over here!

It's Burger King! (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Soon we saw the sign that announced that we were at our destination. We paid FJ$45 for the trip. No tips are necessary but cash is the preferred option.

Nadi International Airport (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

The check in area was clean, well organised and spacious. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of open counters and lack of queues. Baggage check in was completely uneventful and hassle free.

Spacious well organised check-in area (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Next, security check point. We had all our liquids and gels in their appropriate zip lock bags and they presented no problem. A couple in front of me had not thought to pack any of their items into zip lock bags and got held up until someone (namely I) gave them a couple of spares. In fact, it was a helpful staff who 'negotiated' this transfer of handy zip lock bags. Lesson here - always pack spare zip lock bags.

In fact, my zip lock bags had already come in rather handy earlier at the duty free shop before security check. The shop wanted to charge me FJ$1 for the pleasure of supplying me a small zip lock bag for some dilo oil I had purchased.

Duty-free shopping (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

With all that time to spare, I wondered how we were going to occupy ourselves. Built almost around the departure lounge was more duty free shopping - souvenirs, gifts, personal care, shoes, jewellery, books, toys and more awaited us. Dining options includes a pizza outlet, Burger King and the familiar Gloria Jeans. For more information on the airport, check out Fiji airport's website.

Pick up a bargain? (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Regarding shopping, as was common among most retail outlets in Fiji, credit cards incurred a surcharge. I also found that the retailers at the airport were happy to accept Australian currency and to my surprise, I found that some were even open to negotiating the right price when they saw that I was out of Fijian currency but still had Australian notes to work with.

Money changers in the departure lounge (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Departure Lounge (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

There is a drinking fountain near the very well maintained modern toilet facilities in this waiting lounge. It is quite useless to fill up your water bottle here though because there is another check of your carry on luggage just before you board the plane after the boarding ticket process. This was something I found rather unusual.

It was also here, after this last check of our carry on luggage, that we were able to collect our duty free shopping from one of the waiting staff lined up along the boarding tunnel.

Except another surprise awaited us. We had to walk down the boarding tunnel down to the tarmac. Just as well it was a clear day.

Once the plane got moving, we were just five hours and fifty minutes away from our destination. Incidentally, Fiji Airways and Qantas use a code sharing service and rather well used planes. I would recommend that you bring your own entertainment. While food was included in the flight, I think I would have found Burger King more palatable.

Touch down went as scheduled and our car was still where we had left it in long-term parking 18 days ago. We were pleased that we did not even need the photos we had taken of the car's location and its nearest shuttle bus stop to guide us.

Oh, and Fiji is two hours ahead of Australian EST. But even at that hour, we were able to find a drive through twenty four hour burger joint on the way home.

Vinaka! And thank you so much for joining me on my Fijian holiday. Hope to see you when I next travel to South Australia.

Fresh coconut 

(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

18 days in Fiji (#11) Robinson Crusoe Island tour

Bula! Hello and welcome to my series on Fiji. This is the 11th post and it's going to be about the last of the five full day cruises that we went on during our 18 days in Fiji.

I hope that what I share will be helpful to you in making wiser choices for a smoother more enjoyable vacation and helpful in getting better value for your bucks.

Visit to Vusama Village
 (Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Robinson Crusoe Island Combo Tour 

We had not actually planned to go on this tour. But because I had won a dance competition at the resort that we were staying at which gave us a good discount, we decided to splurge on this tour for the rest of the family.

And boy! I'm glad we did because it was jam packed with cultural sights and experiences plus a good feed. This tour is actually a combination of their day and night tour.

First off, we were picked up from our resort on Denarau Island and taken to the jetty meeting point some 30 minutes drive away.

Boat ride
 (Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

We then went by two boats to Vusama Village. This is a genuine living and breathing Fijian village. As such we had to respect their customs. Women were instructed to wear clothes that covered their shoulders and skirts that extended to their knees. A long sarong was acceptable.

The village was organised around a central field with homes built around its edges.

A home on Vusama Village
 (Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

We were welcomed to the village with singing and taken to their community hall where we were welcomed with a kava ceremony.

Welcome in song by village women
  (Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Preparing the kava for the ceremony
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

This was followed by a tour of the village including a visit to their Methodist church that was built with money from the sale of coconuts by the villagers. This had taken them several years to achieve.

At the Methodist church
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

We were shown the chief's home where we met in the 'meeting lounge'. There our guide told us many interesting things about their village and answered our questions. And yes, they do have TV and internet in the village.

The chief's burre 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

After that we were given the opportunity to purchase souvenirs at a reasonable price.

Local handicrafts and carvings for sale 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Fresh coconuts were also available for sale. After this lady expertly opened a coconut, the young boy in the green t-shirt had a go at opening one too. He was not as proficient as the lady, but his elders encouraged him to have a go. There is only one way to master a skill.

This is the way to cut a coconut
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Freshness epitomised 
(Photo by Maria and copyright Maria Ngo)

When that part of the tour was completed we were led back to the river bank. There the staff hauled up some mud crabs that would form part of our 'afternoon tea' before we took another boat ride, this time to Robinson Crusoe Island.

The welcoming party to Robinson Crusoe Island 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Welcome to Robinson Crusoe Island 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Robinson Crusoe island is about 25 acres. By the time we arrive, it's time for lunch.

Instructions and welcome to the island 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

A well catered buffet lunch 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Lunch was buffet style with plenty to choose from with a range of vegetables, meat and fish and fruit. Tea and coffee is free flowing while water, soft drinks and other alcoholic beverages have to be purchased. If you are like us, if we had known that fresh water was not included, we would have brought our own supply.

No complaints here 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Staying healthy with tropical fruit 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Over lunch we were entertained to a Fijian meke (cultural dances and performance).

A Fijian meke 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

A slow meke 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

For those who want to go snorkelling, there is a short boat ride involved to get to where the coral and fish are. You won't see much from the beach but sea weed and some not very colourful fish.

Kayaks are available for you to use any time you like.

In the afternoon there was a hermit crab race and medicine walk.

A medicine walk is basically a guided walk of plants with medicinal properties that the locals have relied on for generations to treat ulcers, tooth aches, cuts, wounds, insect bites, coughs etc. Some of these are taken from the bark and others from the leaves, fruit or root. Sometimes the remedy is drunk and other times it is applied like a poultice.

Local eye infection treatment 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

We did visit an ancient pottery site but unfortunately for us, that day was the potter's day off, so we didn't see that.

While all that was going on, the staff was busy cooking up the mud crab as well as preparing our lovo feast. It was the most beautifully flavoured curried crab - I think she'd have given the contestants on Master Chef a good run for their money.

Mud crab curry cooked over hot coals with fresh ingredients 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Served in a coconut husk 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

For those who wish to purchase more souvenirs, you can do so around this time. With hindsight, I should have purchased a dolphin or shark carving then. It was beautifully crafted and quite a reasonable price. But then I might have had to bring another bag with me.

Local carvings 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

A little before dinner time we were treated to a fire walk and the opening of the lovo feast.

A lovo 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Uncovering the lovo  
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Walking on hot coals 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The hot coals 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The lovo is like a New Zealand hangi where the food is cooked in a pit oven in the ground with super heated stones. The food that evening all had a smoky flavour.

A delicious Fijian dinner 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The evening party joins us just before dinner and is welcomed like us with singing to the island and followed by a kava ceremony.

The evening party joins us 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

There is another high energy meke in the evening followed by spectacular fire dancing.

Evening performance 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

High energy evening performance 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

The hut housing the toilet and showers are kept very clean and continuously being swept up. If you are here for the full day, you might like to consider bringing some toiletries and a towel with you for the shower if you like freshening up before dinner.

The shower block 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

After the entertainment we return the way we came. The river cruise in the day time is rather different at night in the rain. It added to our sense of adventure and we arrive safely at the jetty we departed from earlier in the morning.

We are taken back to our accommodation in comfortable coaches - tired, happy and most satisfied with the many memories and experiences that we'd acquired.

I was most impressed with the hard working cheerful talented and energetic staff who had looked after and entertained us so well the whole day.

If I had to rate the tour, I would have given it a 5 out of 5 stars. We contributed to their staff appreciation fund quite willingly. They more than deserved it.

I felt at the end of this tour that I had fully experienced a kava ceremony (two in fact) and was full bottle with Fijian cultural performances.

Tips and advice 

So, if you get an opportunity to participate in their dance competition at your resort, I'd encourage you to do so. You never know if you might just win a prize for a discounted tour ticket. (I was glad for all the zumba classes that I'd been taking!)

This combo tour is rather full on - if you want to participate in all that they have to offer. But if you just want to chill out in the hammock or rest in the shade all afternoon, that's also an alternative.

Swinging on a hammock
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Shaded lounges by the beach  
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

If you intend to stay hydrated, consider bringing some bottled water with you (although there is tea/coffee running all day). Sun screen and insect repellant is always recommended but we didn't see or hear any mosquitoes the whole time we were there.

As mentioned, there are shower facilities. Bring what you need to be comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, I was glad I had thought to pack a raincoat. This came in useful on our return trip. December is known for its tropical thunderstorms. And in fact, it also rained in the afternoon - almost right after the curried crabs were served.

This cruise only operates on two days of the week. This was one cruise that we had not considered while we were home so we had not booked it earlier. Knowing what I know now, I'd have checked the on-line cost before departing.

If you're not in the habit of tucking a spoon into your day bag, if you plan to purchase a fresh coconut, bring a spoon.

Our cheeky medicine walk guide cum performer 
(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)

Thank you and vinaka for reading. Next post will be about our time on Mantaray Island Resort. I hope you'll join me there.

Vinaka!(Photo by and copyright Maria Ngo)