Let the wild rumpus start!!!

My trip has begun. After spending some time staying with friends in LA (💜love you guys💜☺️), I went to LAX for my 11 hour flight on Fiji Airways to Nadi. I have the Priority Pass, which gives me free access to airport lounges all over the world, so I used it to get into the KAL Lounge. It was really nice decor, comfortable, and has a balcony with seating overlooking the rest of the terminal (Tom Bradley Intl Terminal is beauuutiful). The food was lackluster… but, can’t complain if it’s free!

KAL Lounge – LAX

I had an economy seat on the Airbus 330-200. It had a touchscreen with movies and TV shows on each seat and a power outlet beneath the seat. No wifi available. It was relatively roomie and comfortable… and the guy next to me didn’t talk to me much (whew!).

fiji airways

Colorful, happy money😂

cash

Because I crossed the International Date Line on the flight, I lost a day. But, because the time is 21 hours ahead of L.A., it’s actually been easy to get acclimatized to the time change (morning feels like morning, night feels like night). Hopefully I can ride that wave the whole trip! I checked into my hostel Thursday morning. I’m staying in a women’s dorm with bathrooms inside. The place is inexpensive ($11/night), small, nice, and the people who work here are great.

smugglers cove hostel

Today I took a tour with a guide group to Nadi town, and I saw the beautiful temple, market, Viseisei village, and an orchid garden back in the mountains called Garden of the Sleeping Giant that Raymond Burr used to own.

Sri Suva Subramaniya Hindu temple

cows

dressing right for the temple

market

word.

tiny chilis

DURIAN stink fruit!

sleeping giant

Viseisei village

This is a backyard to some of the houses… can you imagine if this was your backyard!?????

Viseisei backyard

Viseisei

garden of the sleeping giant – ballerina orchid

Next up:  Checking out another island in Fiji – Taveuni Island