Fiji - Day 228

What a pleasant change staying with friends rather than in hotels! I feel almost as if I have lost the power of speech after talking just to the family for what seems like ages. Margaret, Kefle and Senai opened their home to us and Zac and Maxi sank immediately into homely bliss and yet again refused to move anywhere for the first day.

Maxi was pleased that there was a kitchen in the house as he seems to get very confused in hotels where the kitchens are invisible to him -between an obsession for kitchens and his ever growing collection of plastic vegetables and tea sets I truely wonder where he is heading. There was extra excitement in discovering all 10 year old Senai's toys - a complete Lion King collection for Maxi and Bionicles and lego for Zac. Happiness indeed.


We just happened to catch Marg in between jobs so she was free to take us sight-seeing so we headed off to rain tree forest cafe, a waterfall walk that was a bush walk along a river with about 20 pools and waterfalls - beautifully landscaped and manicured - apparently very advanced on the Fiji scale of things.

Other delights included a trip to Pacific Harbour and an in-town experience to see the best that Suva had to offer. Marg had convinced us by email that we needed to go to a back packers resort half way between Nadi and Suva for our last few days. They managed to come with us as well which was fantastic. The resort was basic but fun with lots to do from coconut jewellry-making, massage in the bula hut (yes I did have more than one!) and ultimately for me horse riding on the beach.

The riding was great, fast and furious gallops along stretches of white sand, past little villages sitting on the beach complete with villagers passing the time under shady trees watchihg the mad white foreigner trying desperately not to fall off - or lose her bikini top for that matter! Zac took to the riding as well and managed a few trots and canters, even Maxi stayed on board riding with the guy who owned the horse, who managed to turn Maxi over his shoulder before galloping down the beach (at least that way Maxi couldn't see how fast he was going and kicking up a fuss!) Afterwards Maxi said he didn't like all the bouncing and regaled us with reliving the horse riding experience on land - for hours!

Martin chose a more sedate life lounging around in hammocks that were strung between palm trees at the top of the beach or taking snorkelling trips out to channels in the reef to look at the amazing fish.

Finally, we said good bye to Marg, Kefle and Senai and spent our last night in Raffles a stopover hotel by the airport which has a fabulous pool which the kids loved. And so we head for Auckland, in some ways relieved to be on the last journey, and looking forward to seeing everyone and everything again (I have been amazed at how much I have missed my garden and house!). But at the same time we were trying frantically to hold onto all the good things about our holiday and really reluctant to go back to 'normality'. And so with mixed feelings our trip is over and we head home.