gardenofwine.com

To all our friends of the tribe of Moses, a happy new year, filled with peace and laughter.

Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau, Viti Levu Island, Fiji

Click here for pictures

Our 3 week vacation in paradise is almost over. We spent the last 2 days at the Sheraton Resort with a short visit to downtown Nadi yesterday morning. The downtown is one street with many stores and shops, bustling, busy and hot. The main attraction for us lay at the start of the street, where we visited a Hindu temple.

Sri Siva Subrahmanya Swami Temple is a colorful and busy little temple serving the Indo-Fijians living in the area. Read the rest of this entry »

Oarsman’s Bay Resort, Nacula Island, Fiji

Click here for pictures

This is the last of 4 nights we have spent on Nacula (pronounced Nathula) at this laid back resort with the most amazing turquoise water just 10 steps away from our bure (hut). After spending a delightful day and a half at the Sheraton we woke up bright and early on Wednesday morning and got on the Yasawa Flyer, a large yellow catamaran that sped us over the waves of a not so sunny day to our island getaway. Read the rest of this entry »

Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau, Viti Levu Island, Fiji

No pictures.

Today started off with 3^rd world Fiji popping its head up. We got up at 5am to prepare ourselves and the children for the bus pickup at 6:30. The hotel manager told me that Air-Fiji called and there is a 30 minute delay in our flight because yesterday’s flight was canceled due to the plane having a flat tire. From here to there, our pickup came only at 7am and when we reached the airstrip at 7:40 we were told that our flight had already left.

“What the ?$#?&!!!” I asked the ground crew. Read the rest of this entry »

Royal Levuka Hotel, Levuka, Ovalau Island, Fiji

Click here for pictures

Don’t let the name of this hotel fool you. It is more a backpacker hostel then a royal residence. True, it is the oldest hotel in Fiji, over 100 years old, but it also seems that some of the rooms have not been upgraded in the last few decades. The kids are happy, we got a little apartment that is very spacious, and the girls are sleeping on a mattress next to Ron’s bed. The jumpfest from the bed to the mattress on the floor is a daily ritual before going to sleep. Read the rest of this entry »

Tanoa Plaza Hotel, Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji

Click here for pictures

We are on Fiji’s “mainland” island called Viti Levu having arrived yesterday from the resort. We were sad to leave Tokoriki island, it was really peaceful and fun to stay in one place for 6 days doing nothing.

We left in the morning with the same catamaran cruise ship that brought us in. The return trip was longer, as we stopped at several other islands to pick up passengers. In Nadi, we checked into a hotel we had reserved (Mercure), and did not leave the room for several hours due to the oppressive heat and humidity outside. Only in the evening did it finally cool down a bit. Read the rest of this entry »

Amunuca Resort, Tokoriki Island, Fiji

Click here for pictures

Fiji has created a huge change in our trip’s tempo, style, and activities since we arrived almost a week ago. For one thing, the lack of communication channels has severely impacted this blog’s postings on the web. As a result, there will be less blogging in the next few weeks. The heat and the sun also have to do with it. The pampering conditions of the resort we chose to begin our Fiji adventure certainly help as well. Read the rest of this entry »