Bula Bula!

So sad that it is our last day in Fiji. At least we have a full day and do not leave the hotel until 4PM. After another delicious breakfast we go back to the hotel. I do one last snorkel in the ocean and then get packed. Kerry & I take the shuttle into town and visit the Arts Village for a little local shopping and to see the Cultural Center. We spent more time in the post office buying postcard stamps than anywhere. (And we noticed that we were the only people inside that were wearing shoes!). As we depart the hotel, the entire housekeeping staff and some other employees as well send us off with a song! It was incredible. And Sue, our house attendant, was actually crying. She is really going to miss Cole & Tommy! We transfer with Ian, the same driver who brought us to Taunovo Bay early this week. This time the drive is during daylight though which is so much more enjoyable. We passed the turnoff for our rafting trip, drove by the warehouse for Pacific Green (where a

Today was the day we went White Water Rafting. Kevin stayed at the hotel to watch the boys. Kerry and I left at 6:30AM for our full day excursion. It turned out to be both the best and most crazy day of all! We were picked up at our hotel and met the rafting company at a nearby hotel. It was about a 2 hour transfer to the river, mostly traveling through winding roads high into the mountain. Our guide was Moses Batirua - he is from the village near the Upper Navua River and has been with them since they started 10 years ago. The company (Rivers Fiji) was started by an American. He came to Fiji in search of a place to start the company. When he found it he asked the government for permission to raft. The government said he needed to ask the village. So he went to the chief and presented kava. When he explained what he wanted to do and the entire village called a meeting. Everyone attended (all 450 people). They agreed and he picked some of the locals to be rafting guides. At first Mos

"NO WORRIES" this is kind of the motto of Fiji. And today we are experiencing it. We are making full use of the villa. We get up early, go to breakfast overlooking the ocean. The food is fantastic. So far I've had banana pancakes and waffles with Fijian fruit. After breakfast the boys take a 2 hour nap and we just hang by the pool. Sunbathing, reading, and some snorkeling in the ocean. This afternoon Kerry & I went for Fijian massages. We are eating fish at least two meals a day and completely relaxed. Seganaleqa!!!

Photos of pool & beach at our villa. Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa is a boutique 5 star property. We were upgraded from what was already an incredible beachfront suite to an entire beachfront villa. We had a luxurious home with our own private pool and private beach. There was a chef's kitchen, huge dining room table for 8, living room, upstairs balcony and bedroom, and a separate master bedroom unit. Each day we had a full time house attendant to assist us. She also loved the boys and played with them any chance she had.

This morning we woke to rain! The weather has been so amazing we were all a little surprised. We went to breakfast with our raingear but it cleared up by the time we were finished. It was our last morning on Plantation Island so we spent it relaxing by the beach and snorkeling right in our beach. We took the 3:30 ferry (well maybe 3:45... it's Fiji and they say everything is on "Fijian Time"). We arrive back to the Denarau Port for our transfer, which is delayed so we wait at the Hard Rock. They boys had chicken fingers and we had a beer. Eventually we depart for our 2 1/2 hour transfer to the other side of the island. The Pacific Harbour is the "adventure capital of Fiji". It is 2+ hours from Nadi, and about 30 minutes from Suva. There is lush rainforest here, excellent diving opportunities, incredible snorkeling, rafting & kayaking, shark feeding (yikes!), so much more. It's also home to the most amazing sunsets & beaches. We arrived at