Back in early 2021 I saw a travel deal on the Fiji Outrigger Resort. It was a risk, buying a future travel voucher in the middle of the COVID pandemic with Fiji & New Zealand completely shut-down to outside visitors. But we already had airline credits to New Zealand, let’s add Fiji! So I bought it, and in hindsight it was a good deal.
We can’t spend everyday by the pool so we do venture out. I tried to talk Terri into the “shark dive” that our new “diving” friends had been on and excitedly told us all about – Terri was having none of that: “feeding bull and tiger sharks without a cage? No Way!”
Our typical day at the Outrigger: up early-a little after 6am, coffee in the room while checking our email, a great buffet breakfast, find a pool chair with shade. Grab our books, IPads, cards, cribbage board and snorkel gear – cruise through the next few hours at our leisure. Back to the room by 4, I take my usual power nap and Terri gets ready for the evening. About 5pm our Talai butler (better sounding than it is) shows up with champagne & canapés then off to the “Look-out” bar to watch the sunset and enjoy a cocktail. All of these activities and benefits were included in our “package.” Throw in a spa massage each and it really was a good deal.
Terri pushed for the the village tour, I’m thinking, “That’s almost as exciting as a shark dive – NOT!”
It was actually a lot of fun. We took a jet boat up the Sigatoka River, the longest in Fiji at 65 kilometers. The villagers were very gracious and prepared lunch for us, sang songs and walked us through their village. At some point, I was chosen as the representative “chief” of our group, thereby, making Terri “Miss-Chief,” very fitting I think.
As we jetted up the river we passed many people: fishing, swimming, riding horses, tending crops, washing clothes, or just playing with kids, they all took time from activities to wave and give us a “Bula!” Shout-out.
I carried the “kava root” as a presentation to the village chief and acted as spokesperson. Simon, the village’s liaison, guided me through their customs: Women must wear sarongs and remain behind the men, men cannot wear hats, shoes off before entering all buildings, the procedure for meeting the chief and elders, the ritual in partaking in kava. Simon and I led the group, each asking questions of each other: family, spouses, schooling, work, kids, family functions. I really enjoyed Simon’s company and our time in the village.
Our last couple of days in Fiji were slow and easy. Then all too quickly, It was time time to pack😔. Actually, Terri calls it stuffing. Cramming everything we had back into our little backpacks plus what we had acquired along the way, for the trip home. No need to be neat, just get it in the bag.
A big thank you to everyone who tagged along on our blog. Until next time: Bula!
Asian Detour 