by Krista | May 29, 2012 | Compatriot Wednesday
I love how when I’m down or discouraged, a few words can come out of nowhere to settle, calm and restore.
Such a thing happened today when I was so very, very tired.
The inspiring women over at the Brave Girls Club sent through their daily email and this is what it said:
“You have plenty of time to figure it out….don’t put so much pressure on yourself.
Remember that most of us are alive for nearly 100 years…
and in those 100 years, we will have lots and lots of opportunities to get things right.
It is never too late……
and you can start over again every single day, for the rest of your life if that’s what it takes.
So sweet friend, cut yourself some slack…do better tomorrow….
count the victories you HAVE had….look how far you have come…..
and especially, look deep into that pure and beautiful heart of yours and see that THAT is who you are.
You are not your mistakes or your wrong turns or the weaknesses that you are STILL working on overcoming……
that is your human part……
you are the BIG BEAUTIFUL spirit part….
the one who keeps trying, every day.
So…keep it up…kiss yourself in the mirror
and tell your cute self that you are doing just fine.”
from the Brave Girls Club
I felt my whole being give a sigh of relief, even as tears of gratefulness sprang up. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to not have to go through hard times alone? Even if in that moment you can’t BE with a person who understands your heart and cheers you up, you can be with them in spirit through their words. I love that.
Having been given much needed permission to rest a bit, I thought we’d head to the peace and tranquility of a tropical island for a hearty breakfast and a wander through the rain.
Sonaisali Island, Fiji.
The lush greenery of this place never fails to settle my anxious thoughts, and listening to the patter of raindrops on the lily pads made it perfect.
Although I wouldn’t normally choose to eat breakfast at 5:30 a.m., a cheap red-eye flight landed me in Fiji at 5 a.m., long before my room was ready, so an outrageously early breakfast it was.
The nice thing about being up so early is that you’re the ONLY one up that early, save for the cooks who are clattering away in the hidden kitchens, emerging in their immaculate uniforms wearing huge smiles and carrying platters filled with luscious tropical fruits and steaming sausages, bacon, and hashbrowned potatoes.
It made me smile that I got to have a full English breakfast on this tiny island in Fiji. Right down to the beans in tomato sauce and roasted tomatoes. Delicious.
The fruit was so ripe and juicy it was nearly falling apart: sweet paw-paw, tart passionfruit, and crisp watermelon drizzled with lime juice.
It was lovely to sit by myself on the veranda next to the pool and overlooking the sea. I sat just out of touch of the rain, but close enough to hear it dripping through the palm trees and spattering quietly on my table.
I lingered long over my coffee and returned for a second bowl of fruit. You just can’t get pawpaw that fresh and delicious in North America.
The stress of my achingly long red-eye flight eased away and I felt so peaceful and so very, very grateful.
When the rain eased up a bit I thanked my hosts and went for a stroll around the property of the Sonaisali Island Resort.
Somehow the rain enhanced the vivid colors of the numerous tropical flowers blooming profusely overhead and underfoot. I didn’t know what half of them were but that didn’t bother me in the least. Such beauty does not need a name to be appreciated.
Everywhere I looked were flowers, each species so stunningly intricate and beautifully exotic.
I heard the rumble of thunder and decided it was time to head to the deserted beach to watch the storm roll in.
Yes, I got drenched. Absolutely soaked to the skin. And it was worth it. 🙂
Have you read any soul-strengthening words this week? If so, please share them in the comments. I’d love to read them too. 🙂
XO
by Krista | Feb 10, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
Normally I hate a long layover. It doesn’t matter what airport it’s in, there are few things more tedious than wiling away hours on uncomfortable seats, eating terrible food, and wishing more than anything to be tucked into a nice warm bed or taking a hot shower.
For my recent trip to Australia, I didn’t discover until after I had purchased my steal-of-a-deal ticket that I had two long layovers at the Nadi, Fiji airport: one for 15.5 hours, the other for 17.5 hours.
Now I love many things about Fiji – the people, the climate, the beauty – but the airport is definitely not one of them. There is one waiting area surrounded by the ubiquitous duty free and souvenir shops that at best can occupy about an hour of your time. The few places to eat may or may not be open and if you request anything hot, be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes while it is cooked elsewhere and brought bound tightly in plastic wrap by frazzled but smiling women.
It is not the place to spend 17.5 hours.
Thankfully that is not the only option.
When you exit any international flight in Nadi you are greeted by a jolly group of Fijian men in flamboyant shirts singing their hearts out in joyous welcome. At this point you can take a left to transit to your next flight or hang a right and get in line for Customs. Take the right. As the musicians serenade you, make sure you have your passport and Customs card handy. Once your passport is stamped simply pick up your luggage, get some Fiji dollars from the handy bank machine near the luggage carousel, head through Customs and grab a taxi. You’re all set for a mini-Fiji adventure.
Fiji has numerous 3 and 4 star resorts a short taxi ride from the airport. Many of them have day rooms available for a reduced rate. This will allow you full use of a room and the resort facilities (including beaches, swimming pools, and restaurants) during your stay. Since most international flights to Nadi are red-eyes arriving around 5 a.m., the use of a day room is pure bliss, giving you a chance to sleep, shower, eat real food, and explore the beaches and countryside of Fiji before continuing your journey. Make sure you call ahead to specifically reserve a day room since availability is limited.
I stayed at two resorts on my layovers.
The first was Sonaisali Island Resort, about a 30 minute drive from the airport. I stayed in an Oceanview Bure for $252.00 Fiji dollars, which works out to about $138.60 US. The taxi ride from the airport was about $35 Fiji dollars ($20 US) each way. The short boat ride to the island was free and made a crossing every 15 minutes.
View from the front porch of my room at the Sonaisali Island Resort
(it was pouring rain at the time, but you really could see the ocean when it stopped).
The second was The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa, about a 25 minute drive from the airport. I stayed in a Tropical Garden View Room for $200 Fiji dollars, equaling about $110 US. The taxi ride to and from the airport was also $35 Fiji dollars (about $20 US) each way.
The view from my room at The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa.
Both resorts were beautiful and graciously let me into my room around 7 a.m. (normal check-in time is 10 a.m.) and let me stay until 6 p.m.
Eating out at Fiji resorts is really expensive. I made sure to eat on the airplane beforehand and get a cheap bite at the airport after, only splurging on one good meal.
I settled on breakfast at the Sonaisali Island Resort. For $38 Fiji dollars ($21 US) I had unlimited trips to a buffet breakfast that included fresh fruits, cereals, made-to-order omelets, and a large hot food section with items such as baked tomatoes, baked beans, potato cakes, and ham, plus chutneys, sauces, and lots of juice and coffee. The dining room faces the ocean with beautiful views of the pool, palm trees and rolling waves.
At The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa I opted for lunch, ordering room service for the first time in my life. 🙂 I had succulent ahi tuna with Fijian green beans, rice with crispy shallots, and a smidge of lettuce for around $80 Fiji dollars ($44 US). My dining room was my patio where I could eat in happy solitude with views of the ocean and tropical plants.
The grand total for two full days in Fiji was about $400. That may seem like a lot, but it was worth every penny, worth every restaurant dinner, movie ticket, and shopping trip I gave up in order to save enough. It was much better than two days in an airport, spending nearly $200 on crummy food, feeling exhausted and dirty with nothing to do but wander the same halls for over 30 hours.
Instead I had two glorious days in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In addition to comfy beds, hot showers, delicious food, and first class treatment, I also got to stroll gorgeous beaches, walk through the exquisitely beautiful Fijian countryside, swim in the South Pacific, snooze in a hammock, and meet some of the loveliest people imaginable.
What would be your ideal way to spend a one day layover?
by Krista | Jan 13, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
Some of my favorite things about Fiji are the incredible flowers: hibiscus, bougainvillea, and all manner of beauties I don’t even know the names of. In between downpours I wandered through the Sonaisali Island Resort, scarcely meeting a soul on my sojourns since most folks were sensible enough to stay in out of the rain.
The blossoms looked especially vivid during this rainy season, their leaves thriving and glossy, each little petal and bud glistening with rain drops.
Rain is a funny thing. When I’m at home I try to get out of it as soon as possible. Not in Fiji. There I lingered in it, letting it soak my hair and trickle down my face. It is warm and healing there, soothing to body and spirit, leaving the skin soft, clean and hydrated – a blissful feeling after nearly 20 hours of travel.
What are your favorite tropical flowers?
by Krista | Jan 11, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
Good morning, luvs! I’m writing to you from sopping wet Australia. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much rain in my life – and I live in Washington! In a few minutes I’m going to go hiking in spite of the wet and hope to get some pictures for you. 🙂
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After a scrumptious breakfast my first morning in Fiji, I decided a ramble was in order. I only had one day there and wanted to make the most of it, so I grabbed my camera and walked out to the beach, keeping a wary eye on the black storm clouds rolling ever closer.
I love the beach at Sonaisali Island Resort. While there are portions of white sand (see below) the real beach is a gorgeous, silky soft black sand with ribbons of gold that glisten as the waves roll in and out. I walked up and down the beach, the warm salt water and soft sand pure therapy to my feet still sore from tramping all over the Netherlands and Germany.
It was such a peaceful outing and I felt the stress ease out of me with each crash of the waves and gust of warm, salty air. Soon the rain arrived, falling gently at first, more like a fine mist than a downpour, but then the heavens opened and it fell in sheets, drenching me to the skin. It was so warm I didn’t mind a bit, and continued to wander through palm groves, eventually making my way back to my cabin where I sat on the porch and enjoyed the torrent.
A bit later I went for another walk and tomorrow I’ll tell you all about my discoveries. 🙂
by Krista | Jan 10, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
Hello dear ones! How I’ve missed you these past few days.
I arrived in Fiji in the wee hours of the morning, groggy but smiling as I wandered through Customs to the sound of four jolly Fijian chaps singing their hearts out in welcome. It was gloriously warm and humid and I basked in the weather so very different from the snow and ice I’d left behind.
The day started off right with the airline losing my luggage then finding it ten minutes later! Hooray! I stopped by the ATM for some Fiji dollars, found a cab and headed out through the countryside to my hotel. It was a gorgeous morning, the sun rising over lush green hills and fields of sugar cane. My taxi driver was a delightful Indian man who told me all sorts of stories from the area and even pulled over by the side of the road so I could capture the sunrise.
Much to my surprise, instead of driving me to my hotel, he dropped me off at a small dock and informed me that a boat would be by shortly to pick me up. I was thrilled to discover that I had inadvertently chosen a hotel on an island, one reachable only by boat. 🙂
Sure enough, within a few minutes this beaming fellow welcomed me aboard and soon I was grinning happily as brisk sea breezes tossed my hair wildly and awakened my oh-so-tired self. I was greeted at the dock by another beamy chap. I LOVE the genuine smiles and loving natures of the Fijians. They make you feel like long-lost friends coming for a visit.
I arrived at the Sonaisali Island Resort in time to get an early morning breakfast, and found the perfect perch beside the pool, mere yards away from the ocean. Fresh passion fruit, watermelon, and red papaya with lime juice made me a happy camper.
At last my room was ready and I hurriedly showered, changed and headed out for some treks around the island. More on that next time… 🙂
