Fiji

A Quick Bula and Goodbye to Fiji
By Dana Kenney, Freelance Writer

More than a year had passed since my first attempt at living overseas had failed miserably due to a series of unfortunate events. When I had saved up the money again, I went back to Australia. This time I landed a temp job and kept my bank account afloat, as well as backpacked around the whole of New Zealand. Both turned out as successful and rewarding experiences. Making my way back to the United States, I decided to extend my layover in Fiji for two days as a little reward for myself. One last adventure before coming home. And what an adventure it was.

I had already boarded the shuttle van to the Sydney airport when Air Pacific called me on my mobile phone to inform me my flight had been delayed - by ten hours. My two days in paradise had been cut down to almost one. Fortunately, the driver turned around for me and dropped me back off at the hostel, where I spent the next 10 hours killing time until it was once again time to go. I arrived in Nadi, Fiji at five in the morning. I hadn't booked a place to stay, so I used the airport's hostel guide and free phone to call one. The man on the other end of the line said he had a private double available, and the free shuttle was ready to take me. Perfect, I thought. I hadn't been able to fall asleep on the plane, and I was just about ready to pass out.

I found the shuttle where he said I would, and got on board. However, I didn't get very far. The driver explained that he wanted to wait for the next flight to come in before leaving the airport for the hostel. The next flight came in an hour and a half later. When we finally left and arrived at the hostel, I was informed my room was not going to be available until noon. It was 8 am and I had been up for 24 hours - this was news I could have used when I booked the room. Oh, and one other surprise - the island had shut off all running water for the entire time I would be there. Fiji was having a drought, and to conserve fresh water, showers and flushing toilets were a luxury I would not enjoy.

I spent the next four hours on the lobby couch altering between various state of consciousness until my room was ready. I then proceeded to spend most of the day passed out in my room, cutting my time in Fiji even shorter. I woke up hungry and ready for dinner, so I made my way down to the restaurant. While I was enjoying my meal, a British girl named Kate came over and introduced herself. I was excited to meet someone to hang out with, as I wasn't sure what to do with myself on my own that night. I came to find out later she was something of the resident whack job. She had a reputation at the hostel, where she had spent the last month, of freaking out on anyone and everyone for no reason and being a compulsive liar, causing everyone to stay clear away from her. She invited me to go out with her that night to a local bar, and unwittingly, I agreed.

I thought we would be taking a taxi, but Kate insisted it wasn't a very far walk. "We're almost there", she told me about twenty times. Three miles later, we finally were. The bar was next to a property where Kate claimed she trained wild horses, and she asked me if I wanted to go take a look at them. Why not? Under the moonlit Fijian sky, we trekked across land full of creepy crawlies and thorny bushes in skirts and sandals, but I couldn't see any horses. “Oh, can you hear them?” she asked. “They’re right over here, follow me”. I couldn’t see much of anything but I began walking towards her direction when I stepped right into a thigh high puddle of mud and water. Kate had to pull me out, laughing hysterically. I was definitely not amused.

As showers didn’t exist in Fiji that evening, I was forced to take a dip in the ocean to clean off. I insisted on taking a cab back to the hostel. By this time I was totally disenchanted with my visit and just wanted to bide my time until it was time to go. I spent the remainder of my time locked in my room with a good book. I left Fiji the next morning, not looking forward to another 11 hours on the plane but definitely looking forward to a nice shower when I arrived stateside. I never did see any wild horses, but I came home with a memory of Fiji I’d not soon forget.