Fiji

Our journey to the homeland started just before midnight. As we sat in Heathrow about to begin 30 hour ‘commute’ to the, what I consider, the jewel of the South Pacific. 

Heathrow > Singapore > Sydney > Fiji

It had a been a few years since I had visited last. My first real memory of air travel was when we went to Fiji at one point in my early years. As you disembark the wall of heat, sweltering tarmac and kerosene invading the nostrils with the happiest people on earth singing and smiling as you come to terms with where you are. It is a mix of sensations that has never escaped, and hopefully never will. Even with the nostalgia it was nice to see the country’s infrastructure had improved so much. 

Our trip was more than a holiday, it was to celebrate the Monita’s cousins wedding. The days leading into the ceremony was a mix of relaxing (read: sleeping - oh hey there jet-lag), catching up with family and wedding festivities. We stayed in Nadi, had an apartment room to ourselves and everything we needed and needed to be at was within an easy 20 minute drive. 

After the wedding the new bride and groom, cousins and friends headed to Mana Island for the ultimate in relaxation. Visiting the islands was never something we did going to Fiji as we grew up. It was after the first time going to Beachcomber over 20 years ago did I realise why my school mates would always be green with envy when I went to Fiji. The mainland is worlds apart, even though its the same country!

But, checking out the island with an awesome crew made me very excited knowing how close to New Zealand this paradise was. Europe withdrawals will be handled easily with beach time. 

We were slightly apprehensive about making the trip given the time we would need to take off work and the cost of going back to the literal other side of the world. But as we sat at the airport about to head back to London we both agreed making the trip was 100 percent worth it!

Thank you Fiji, we’ll be back soon.