First Day - Fiji

As I paddled in the Pacific I reflected on my day’s journey. It started 11 hours previously with a chilly start from Stratford, New Zealand with only single digits on the temperature gauge. By the time I boarded the Auckland bound plane I was thankful I was wearing my trusty puffer jacket. The windchill made it feel like 5 degrees.

This felt almost tropical to me compared to the sub-zero temperatures I had experienced for the last eight months working on the Homer Tunnel at Milford Sound.

Flying in to Nadi

A far cry from the caressing breeze I felt as I exited Nadi International Airport in Fiji.

The staff there were really helpful with directions to the hotel shuttles, even describing it down to the green flowers on the side of van. I hadn’t organised any transport as I was advised to get a taxi but so I guessed the hotel might have a shuttle. As I waited outside a nice guy asked me why I was waiting. He told me where to wait and even pointed out the shuttle as it went past the domestic terminal a couple of hundred meters away.

After a short ride to the hotel and checking in I had the whole afternoon left for exploring.

I opted for a walk to Naisoso Island about 3km west. My goal was to touch the Pacific Ocean. Living in Stratford is about 45 minutes to the cold dark green Tasman Sea. It might be great surfing but it’s not friendly to swimmers unlike the more sedate blue Pacific. If you’ve even been to Cape Reinga at the northen tip of New Zealand's North Island, you could observe the almost thin line of the green Tasman Sea and crashing into the blue Pacific Ocean.

I followed the only road to the exclusive island which was littered with potholes. The locals driving sedately around them, attempting to find a smoother ride. Reminded me a lot of Taranaki’s roads.

I passed a group of guys installing roof purlins on a steel framed structure. One guy was straddling a beam touching up the paintwork while two guys stood on a stack of pallets held in the air by a forklift. No harness or mancage, just the firm belief of their own infallability.

Worksafe would have a field day

Along my 40 minute walk to the ocean I encountered many smiling locals who greeted me with “Bula” and broad grins.

I made it to a white sand beach and a small man made jetty extending out to sea. Incongruously it was adorned with two large palm trees one each side on a beach devoid of anything more than a shrub. I couldn’t help but smirk at the cynicism of the image. Probably designed to provide some sort of legitimacy to the whole affair. Ironically I was inspired to take a selfie with the scene in the background.

The palms and me

Having taken the prerequisite photo of the beach I headed back to the hotel. As I neared the playground I could hear the raucous laughter of people having fun.

The source of the noise was a group of young men playing with tyres. They had devised a game where they each rolled a tyre into the middle ground and it appeared the winner was the last tyre standing. The sheer act of triumph was cause for load hoops and hollers. I marvelled at their ingenuity and excitment while enjoying life with other people’s cast offs. Maybe they called their game 'Bridgestone bustup' or 'Pirelli push over.' It didn’t matter what they called it, they kept playing as I continued my homeward journey until I was out of earshot.

In the silence that I caught the faint whiff of curries on the cooker. Have you walked around the houses at dinner time? It’s great for the senses, all those fantastic aromas just make you want to walk up to their houses and ask them what they’re cooking.

As I completed my journey a large field hosted several games of touch rugby. Chanting and the repeated cries of Viti Levu increased in volume as a truck full of people yelling and shouting trundled past me and screeched to a halt at the field. Having disgorged it's load of chanters the truck sped off while the group quickly joined the fray on the field.

Back at the resort, a quick dip in the pool followed by a couple of beers rounded out a pleasant day.



Location: Nadi International Airport, 6FX2+377, Nadi, Fiji

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