Suva, Fiji

Fiji is the land of “If in doubt, honk”!  Traffic is interesting if not quite on the chaotic scale.  There are parts of the main island which are very scenic while other parts are fairly dull.

We took an excursion called “Nasouri Farmers’ Market and Scenic Drive”.  The drive to the market was fairly ordinary and the market itself was a dead loss.  We couldn’t buy any fresh produce, even if we wanted to, as neither the ship nor the Australian authorities would not allow it to be imported.  So there were coach loads of us all milling about the market, clearly not willing or able to buy anything and the stall holders must have known that, plus the fact it was a full one hour stop!

We found some Australians to talk to and that helped to pass the time.  We realised that the bus was at the stop so climbed aboard to sit in the stifling heat waiting for the others to return.  The bus had no air conditioning until we moved forward and then it kicked in through the open windows!  And it was so hot in there.

Each day has been hotter than the previous one and the temperatures are now in the mid to high 80s in old currency or in the late 20s to early 30s Celsius each day.  Today has been glorious and the seascapes from the ship are beautiful.

Our guide never really fully engaged with the travellers in his charge.  We were at the back of the bus and found his accent difficult and the PA system on board less than ideal.  He spoke of the history of Fiji and times when the chiefs on the islands had 80+ wives, but only one ‘married’ wife who was either “killed unto death” or buried alive when her husband died.  It was at that time too that the Fijians had this tendency to eat one another or any strangers who landed.

After the Farmers’ Market the scenery picked up noticeably and we stopped at a viewing point overlooking Suva harbour and our ship.  Some were then dropped off at the shopping mall, such as it was, but the rest of us returned to the ship and we were soon at the back of the ship outdoors in the shade drinking free Heineken and rosé wine!

Outside the Fiji police headquarters

We saw lots of lovely parklands

How on earth can it be that the EU can share the funding with the Fiji Government for the building of this bridge thousands of miles from Europe?

The Farmers' Market

Ship is still there!

Our guide

They do seem to get everywhere!

Our welcome back on to the ship ....

Worrying that both these ships - which look like a cross between a freighter and a coastguard vessel - have the flag of the People's Republic of China.  Is nowhere in the Pacific safe from them?

Views from the back of the ship

The ship is registered in Malta

Reefs everywhere, a problem for early explorers in ships who could become trapped inside them and unable to get away.

The food here is fantastic.  I walk round the servery and marvel at the range and variety of what's on offer.  There's also a lot of gluten-free food available.