Thursday 15 March 2012 - Suva, Fiji

Thursday 15 March 2012 – Suva, Fiji

Sunrise at 6:08 am --  I walked at 6:10 am for 30 minutes – breakfast at 7:30 am and we are off the ship by 9:00 am.   The dock area is commercial and busy – we go into the huge produce market and attempt to walk around town but it is difficult to figure out just where to go.  We abort our attempt – go back to dock and negotiate with one of the many tourist companies trying to get our business.

We end up with an air-conditioned van, a driver and a guide for two hours for $20 US per person.  Temo is our driver and Sunny is our guide.  They are both terrific – Temo takes us through the suburbs of Suva in the direction of  Nausari and the rain forest.  We stop at the President’s house for a photo op with the guard – and continue along the shoreline then into the hills where we drive through some beautiful neighborhoods and some very poverty-stricken areas as well.  

Sunny explains that most of the people who live around Suva work for the government since Suva is the capital of Fiji.   The government is currently in flux but not in a violent way.  They will have an election in 2014 to determine the President.

We pass a number of schools and learn that the Fiji people are well educated – going through their college (our high school level) and many on to a university level of education.   Sports are important here – Fiji will be represented in London this year at the Summer Olympics and they are big Rugby and Soccer fans.   The population of Fiji includes a large Indian community and a large Chinese community – in fact the Chinese have investments in Fiji.

Many of the professional males in Fiji wear skirts with oxford-type shirts – and closed sandals.  It is a very appealing look – and more comfortable in the hot humid atmosphere that prevails.

Temo and Sunny drop us at the pier about Noon – the tour was just right – giving us a good sense of the this part of the island of Fiji.

Phil and I go back to ship for lunch – the rest of our group go to the internet café on pier.

After lunch Phil and I go shopping to get him some sandals – his first pair ever.  I thought of taking a photo of this significant occasion but decided not to get carried away and just let the moment pass.   After our shopping spree --- I am at the internet café for about an hour posting the blog and photos.    It is brutally hot and I am so glad to get back on the ship.

After Trivia – Phil and I decide to eat in Terrace Café – while the rest of our group goes to the Grand Dining Room.   I think the heat has gotten to me – it is nice to take an evening off from big dinners and wine --- and we were able to get our laundry done.

A note about laundry on The Regatta – it is a big deal.  There is one laundry room with four washers and four dryers – there are 678 passengers on board.  So you can see why the competition for these machines is fierce.   I think Phil and I have figured out the best time to get a machine is  between 7:30 and 8:00 in the evening when people are preoccupied with eating and drinking.  

Thanks for Reading.

Pat