Fiji Baby

 For a few weeks before we were due to fly to New Zealand, we were singing the first line from Goodshirt's 'Fiji Baby'.  It was our first trip to a Pacific Island, a huge thanks to my Mum and Dad for all the organisation and hard work getting us there for a mini reunion.  We met up with my sister and her boyfriend, Matt in Auckland before all boarding the connecting flight to Nadi.  Our hotel was the Anchorage Beach Resort near Lautoka, which boasted an infinity pool and the rarer features of a Vonu turtle sanctuary and a sugar cane railway running straight through the resort.

This track supports the transport of huge quantities of sugar cane cut from the field towards Lautoka's sugare refinery.

Our lovely bure, with a balcony jacuzzi.

Vonu turtles, which are released on Beachcomber Island once they're 20cm across the shell and able to survive in the ocean.

Weddings are held here.

Our timing wasn't good for the classic Pacific Island weather, unfortunately it was cold and rainy some of the time.  The morning we boarded the boat for Beachcomber Island was quite bleak.  It brightened up later in the day and we enjoyed a day of snorkelling, fish feeding, barbeque and beachcombing.

I loved feeding the zebra fish and got to dangle my legs from the side of the boat.  The fish are curious, and tickley as they nibble your toes.

Driving past the villages was an eye opener.  In one of the villages, there were a pair children holding up a large leg of goat each, which was likely freshly butchered.  Our rented white Toyota Hi-ace caused quite a stir as it looked like a local taxi bus, people would wave as we went by.

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes were a highlight, we walked through some interesting landscapes to reach the sand dunes themselves.

Strange plants.

A wild beach that reminded me of NZ's West Coast.

Exotic seeds as glossy as chestnuts, washed up on the shore.

Matt was determined to open a coconut.  He succeeded but the contents were rancid!

An eco-awareness project, Tree Huggers.  We didn't know what they were when we walked past and found them a little bit creepy!

Dave's panorama shot of the Dunes.