Fiji Lautoka

We arrived in Fiji to be greeted by a warm sunny day. After breakfast we boarded a catamaran for a fast trip to a tiny island called Beachcomber island. Looked great from the moment we came in sight of it.

On the beach leading up to the guest facility a group of welcoming singers greeted us. Bula Bula is the cry of welcome in Fiji. The boat crew on the catamaran and the small flat bottomed boats that ferried us ashore are highly skilled and very pleasant, big strong brown men with flashing smiles of white teeth.

The large facility of tropical palm leaved halls, kitchen, bars, shops and dinning rooms are already set up with a band playing music and food being set out on tables as we settle down in our chosen spots. A happy looking lady announces that we can buy beer, wine or soft drinks with our tour tickets, hire snorkel equipment or both.

All afternoon we were continually entertained by music and dancing with a break for a lavish lunch, a mixture of curry dishes, cooked meats, fish, tropical fruit and pastries.

We walked around the island which took fifteen minutes. We discovered small as it was there were holiday villas with beach access all around the shore.

I went out on one of the tenders for a snorkel session around the reef. Clouds of small fish and a turtle were the main creatures that I spotted.

We packed up after a great day and sailed back to the ship. As we rounded the corner the Fijian Police band were lined up and playing the ship off. They looked very smart in buttoned up tunics and traditional native white skirts with spear pointed edges. There must have been fifty musicians and the music was excellent. The Brits left some good skills here when it was a British colony. We were left with a very good impression of Fiji.

　

　

Saw a great show on the ship to top off a really pleasing day.