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Christmas - No worries
So on Christmas eve there is only one thing to do on the Island of Fiji if you are hanging for an Ice Cold Fiji Bitter ... yes, you go to the Ice Bar and then to Eds. Before you head off, you already know that it’s going to be a long night.
As I am still waiting to take delivery of my new car, I have to head on in by taxi as Lautoka is about 25km from Nadi, Nadi being the tourist centre and party town. I learned a valuable lesson the other day about making sure that when you catch the normal taxi, not the minibus, you must make sure they run the meter. Up until now I have been paying between $25 and $35 for a one way ride depending on the time of night. I ask the driver to run the meter rather and it only cost me $15. I no longer consider myself a tourist here.
Its a good night out and I meet a bunch of people from New Zealand, Dubai and Fiji. A very pretty girl called Zara and her side kick whose birthday it is become my new best friends. They then introduce me to some friends of their, some Fijian locals. Cool guys man. One of the ways they drink beer here in a group is to buy a jug, pour a small glass and each person has to down it until that jug is finished. They call it “Taki”. Three jugs later, a couple of Jagerbombs and a whole lot of Fiji Bitters, I make my way home at about 4.30am.
I eventually wake up on Christmas morning at around 10.30 and have a really cool chat to my son Yorke on Skype. It’s funny how we guys are as we find ourselves comparing muscle sizes on the cameras. I said muscle sizes, not dick! Was pretty cool though chatting to him. He reminded me that this is the first time we have not been together on Christmas for 16 years. Thats how life goes. One thing that I suggest to everyone and I said it on my Facebook status, “try something different”. Spending my first week here in Fiji with no hot water, no car, no aircon, catching taxis, old busses and doing a lot of walking on a sore knee, makes you realise just how easily we can adapt and life is simply what you make of it. Challenge yourselves to getting out of your comfort zone, it will improve you outlook on life in general.
Anyway, Christmas away from friends and family on your own is something that is pretty hard when you think about it, but when you just carry on with the day and make the most of it, without thinking about the actual day, it is like any other day on the island – no worries.
I take a walk, about 3km to get to the taxi rank and find a minibus taxi to take me to Nadi town. I arrive at the main rank in Nadi half an hour later and then find another taxi cab to get me to a place called Denarau Island. Now this is the side of Fiji that the tourists see. It is a major contrast from 3rd world to 1st. An island full of hotels, big boats, golf course, names like Sheraton are amongst the many.
I get dropped off at the Sheraton and walk through to the pool and oh yes, the ocean. I go and find a deck chair and like the many tourists, lie down and begin to bake.
The wind starts to blow at a steady 15 to 20 knots and oh do I wish I could kitesurf. The conditions are perfect and there is not a soul out there. Just open ocean calling.
I relax by the pool and then eventually at 5pm I decide to head back to my world. Hey I am not complaining. I get a couple of taxis home and decide it is now time to make my Christmas dinner. Two minute noodles with a dash of chilli sauce and 3 pieces of French toast with some jam. Damn I can wait for that first pay cheque. Oh well, I won’t be complaining about having eaten too much and feeling bloated after that third piece of roast. Look past all of that and you will see, I am living in paradise. Soon I will have my car, this week they are coming to fix my water heater, my TV and aircon will be repaired and my kite equipment all arrives tomorrow. I will eventually be able to use it as soon as my knee starts to get back to normal and I get a new bar and lines. This is Fiji after all and they did say things don’t happen very fast in Fiji. I love it man, I am pushing it to the limit and experiencing life. It is so cool talking to strangers and it makes me realise that a lot that we take for granted. I urge all of you to try something ... go in a taxi one day and talk to the stranger next to you. Ask them questions about who they are. You will be amazed at how it humbles you. Walk a few kilometres in the humidity to get somewhere. Visit one of the Indian people who you kind of know at their home and have a meal with them using your hands to eat and try all their different foods and get to know about them. I have lunch at least twice a week at the home of one of my colleagues and it is really good. I have now been invited to a Fijian families home on one of the Islands to experience their tradition. I am smiling to myself thinking about it as I am dying to try their drink that they call “Grog”. Just the name of it makes my head spin.
It is Monday the 28th now, a public holiday here. I spent yesterday at the Northern Club, a place that was started in the Colonial days that has a lot of European and expat members. I sat by the pool for most of the day and then joined a group of guys and consumed more ice cold ones. The one old man is 79 and was born in Fiji. His father was a boat builder and was from the UK, but ended up in Fiji back in the 1930’s. Although white, he speaks with the broadest Fijian accent and has the most unbelievable stories to tell. I met his two sons, the one is the president of the club and the other lives in Suva which is down south of Viti Levu. Their mother is Tongan, so they have a slightly mixed look about them. Cool guys. They call themselves fruit salad. I also met a two really beautiful girls, the one was Miss Germany about 10 years ago. She married a Fijian who has since died. She decided to stay in Fiji and the other girl, Liz Scott whose father is a high court judge living in Fiji and very English and her mother is Fijian. Unfortunately Liz is living in Suva and is going to spend some time in Oz. You just have to hear the accent here man, it is so cool. Just what you would imagine on an island.
Okay people, enough said. The adventures will continue and I am documenting everything as one day I will read and reflect. I am going to do some washing and cleaning of my flat and then maybe go back to the club later for a swim.
Until next time.
Live to Fly. Peace!
Bruce
As I am still waiting to take delivery of my new car, I have to head on in by taxi as Lautoka is about 25km from Nadi, Nadi being the tourist centre and party town. I learned a valuable lesson the other day about making sure that when you catch the normal taxi, not the minibus, you must make sure they run the meter. Up until now I have been paying between $25 and $35 for a one way ride depending on the time of night. I ask the driver to run the meter rather and it only cost me $15. I no longer consider myself a tourist here.
Its a good night out and I meet a bunch of people from New Zealand, Dubai and Fiji. A very pretty girl called Zara and her side kick whose birthday it is become my new best friends. They then introduce me to some friends of their, some Fijian locals. Cool guys man. One of the ways they drink beer here in a group is to buy a jug, pour a small glass and each person has to down it until that jug is finished. They call it “Taki”. Three jugs later, a couple of Jagerbombs and a whole lot of Fiji Bitters, I make my way home at about 4.30am.
I eventually wake up on Christmas morning at around 10.30 and have a really cool chat to my son Yorke on Skype. It’s funny how we guys are as we find ourselves comparing muscle sizes on the cameras. I said muscle sizes, not dick! Was pretty cool though chatting to him. He reminded me that this is the first time we have not been together on Christmas for 16 years. Thats how life goes. One thing that I suggest to everyone and I said it on my Facebook status, “try something different”. Spending my first week here in Fiji with no hot water, no car, no aircon, catching taxis, old busses and doing a lot of walking on a sore knee, makes you realise just how easily we can adapt and life is simply what you make of it. Challenge yourselves to getting out of your comfort zone, it will improve you outlook on life in general.
Anyway, Christmas away from friends and family on your own is something that is pretty hard when you think about it, but when you just carry on with the day and make the most of it, without thinking about the actual day, it is like any other day on the island – no worries.
I take a walk, about 3km to get to the taxi rank and find a minibus taxi to take me to Nadi town. I arrive at the main rank in Nadi half an hour later and then find another taxi cab to get me to a place called Denarau Island. Now this is the side of Fiji that the tourists see. It is a major contrast from 3rd world to 1st. An island full of hotels, big boats, golf course, names like Sheraton are amongst the many.
I get dropped off at the Sheraton and walk through to the pool and oh yes, the ocean. I go and find a deck chair and like the many tourists, lie down and begin to bake.
The wind starts to blow at a steady 15 to 20 knots and oh do I wish I could kitesurf. The conditions are perfect and there is not a soul out there. Just open ocean calling.
I relax by the pool and then eventually at 5pm I decide to head back to my world. Hey I am not complaining. I get a couple of taxis home and decide it is now time to make my Christmas dinner. Two minute noodles with a dash of chilli sauce and 3 pieces of French toast with some jam. Damn I can wait for that first pay cheque. Oh well, I won’t be complaining about having eaten too much and feeling bloated after that third piece of roast. Look past all of that and you will see, I am living in paradise. Soon I will have my car, this week they are coming to fix my water heater, my TV and aircon will be repaired and my kite equipment all arrives tomorrow. I will eventually be able to use it as soon as my knee starts to get back to normal and I get a new bar and lines. This is Fiji after all and they did say things don’t happen very fast in Fiji. I love it man, I am pushing it to the limit and experiencing life. It is so cool talking to strangers and it makes me realise that a lot that we take for granted. I urge all of you to try something ... go in a taxi one day and talk to the stranger next to you. Ask them questions about who they are. You will be amazed at how it humbles you. Walk a few kilometres in the humidity to get somewhere. Visit one of the Indian people who you kind of know at their home and have a meal with them using your hands to eat and try all their different foods and get to know about them. I have lunch at least twice a week at the home of one of my colleagues and it is really good. I have now been invited to a Fijian families home on one of the Islands to experience their tradition. I am smiling to myself thinking about it as I am dying to try their drink that they call “Grog”. Just the name of it makes my head spin.
It is Monday the 28th now, a public holiday here. I spent yesterday at the Northern Club, a place that was started in the Colonial days that has a lot of European and expat members. I sat by the pool for most of the day and then joined a group of guys and consumed more ice cold ones. The one old man is 79 and was born in Fiji. His father was a boat builder and was from the UK, but ended up in Fiji back in the 1930’s. Although white, he speaks with the broadest Fijian accent and has the most unbelievable stories to tell. I met his two sons, the one is the president of the club and the other lives in Suva which is down south of Viti Levu. Their mother is Tongan, so they have a slightly mixed look about them. Cool guys. They call themselves fruit salad. I also met a two really beautiful girls, the one was Miss Germany about 10 years ago. She married a Fijian who has since died. She decided to stay in Fiji and the other girl, Liz Scott whose father is a high court judge living in Fiji and very English and her mother is Fijian. Unfortunately Liz is living in Suva and is going to spend some time in Oz. You just have to hear the accent here man, it is so cool. Just what you would imagine on an island.
Okay people, enough said. The adventures will continue and I am documenting everything as one day I will read and reflect. I am going to do some washing and cleaning of my flat and then maybe go back to the club later for a swim.
Until next time.
Live to Fly. Peace!
Bruce
Add a Comment
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Comment by Warren Davidson on January 3, 2010 at 6:27pm -
Bruce!! Merry Xmas China - sounds like you are having a jol and once all your ameneties are fixed and the car arrives it should be even better. Keep the stories coming in s well as the photo's - I laughed hard when I heard you went through a car window on your kite - don;'t you know they made for use on water?????
Cheers boet
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Comment by Craig Allsopp on January 2, 2010 at 10:00pm -
China...are those your legs in the last photo? If they are, it looks like your wounds have healed and that you should be aching to get out there? I am pretty sure you are going to be quite a hit when you bring out the kites.
Anyway, we are all really loving the posts. Many of us at the lagoon chat about your adventures. Please keep the "newsfeed" happening.
Cheerz bud!
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Comment by Bruce Gaynham on December 30, 2009 at 9:47am - Bula! I haven't had a chance to read your posts before today as we've either been closed for Christmas, etc. or I've been teaching solidly for the last two days - have lost my voice in the process from shouting "bar out!, bar out!" Anyway, it's great to catch up on your adventure and wonderful to hear your positive attitude in what is probably a more trying experience than you're letting on. It brings back memories of my own travels in less-developed countries and also reminds me that to get out of one's comfort zone is a good thing - as you say 'it puts life into perspective.' Keep well 'Big Bruce' - 'Live to Fly'
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