Go to places where you can drink the tap water
Taveuni!! Where the tap water tastes like Fiji Water😂
Taveuni is the garden island, and I’m in love with it.
The plane ride was not for the weak-hearted. But it was really cool to see the views from the lower altitude.
Shaky landing and everything
View from the twin-prop plane from Nadi to Taveuni😁
I’m staying at a place called Maravu Lodge, just up the hill from the beach.
At the hotel
View from my room – can you see the water??
Breakfast (unique bacon)
As I’m checking in, I get an ominous warning about the falling coconuts. Him: “Beware of the falling coconuts.” Me: “What am I supposed to do to avoid them?” Him: “Just beware.” Me: “Gee, thanks.”
falling coconuts ain’t no joke
this is how far they drop, before they land on your head
Have you ever been asked: ‘What was your best day ever?’ This morning, on my walk, was one of my best days ever. I felt sheer joy because of the amazing beauty around me. I went about 5 miles down the road from the hotel, through a few little villages, along the ocean.
❤️
💜
village
beach
I also met a boy named Zachary, a Fijian Catholic who was eternally late for church. He wanted to pose with Flat Stanley:) He also busted open some kind of fruit, and I ate the seed inside (I made him eat one first, so I could assure myself that it wouldn’t be poisonous😏). I gave him a sucker for his troubles. The people here are amazingly friendly.
Zachary (the bigger one) & Flat Stanley (the smaller one)
Beach Horse
I checked out this Meat Bird place, and when I got to the house, no one was home. HOW’S A GIRL SUPPOSED TO GET HER MEAT BIRDS IF Y’ALL AREN’T HOME???????
The other, other, other white meat??
Paradise found face
Next up: Taveuni Waterfalls
Hello, Fiji
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
wordsmakesentences 
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