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...

It's Friday. Today I went snorkeling right outside our room. There were a ton of small silver fish near the beach but when we go out not too much. I did see a couple of medium sized fish, plus crabs and a lot of coral. Plus the most amazing thing - bright blue starfish!! Later it was time for Trick 'n Treating. They don't celebrate in Fiji but for the wedding all the bures (beach huts on the water where we were staying) gave out candy and all the kids went door to door. Kerry & Kevin had a cocktail Halloween party with the wedding party. I'm sitting outside our room just listening. The boys are sound asleep inside and the waves are crashing right in front of me. I can faintly hear the band from the pre wedding cocktail party just down the beach. There is a frog (toad???) looking at me and it is the biggest one I have ever seen. (about the size of my foot!). And our house gecko is making his presence known as well. This is such a tropical paradise. I can't be...

Malolo Lailai Island Plantation Island Resort So this morning I had a breakfaat of fruits, fish , black currant juice and champagne. It was wonderful! Then we packed up and checked out. We took the Bula Bus to the marina to catch our ferry. It was just under an hour to get here and along the way we passed Castaway Island (where they filmed the Tom Hanks movie). Sofitel was very nice but it felt like it could have been anywhere. Plantation Island is soooo Fiji!!! When our boat docked the entire staff was singing traditional music and greeted us with shell necklaces. Watch for falling coconuts. Literally. They fall out of the trees onto the beach. One landed not too far away when we were sitting outside. It made a huge THUD when it landed. You really have to look up and see if you are in hitting distance. FYI Just in case you didn't know... Fiji bottled water really IS from Fiji!

Today for breakfast I decided to try vegimite. I've been curious ever since I learned about it from the Men At Work song in the 80s. Even though I heard it was terrible I had to taste for myself. Yep. It's nasty stuff. We swam in the pool for a couple of hours. It was early - 9-10 AM - but so hot. No need for towels here, you dry off in minutes of getting out! In fact it gets unbearable so and you have to jump back in. Later we went to a christening at local church. The church had a school and a group of schoolchildren sat through the service singing at both the beginning and the end. It was really nice. After we went back to the babys grandmother's house which was walking distance. (Though it was a bit of a rough walk, especially with strollers - like 4 wheeling). They were preparing a traditional Fijian feast. There were musicians playing music, they served kava, and the food was cooking in the ground. They dug a hole and cooked a pig, fish, and veggies. Everything was ...

The boys were absolutely perfect on the flight. I think we were all afraid to say anything because we didn't want to jinx it but they made it through better than we even hoped. And they slept most of the way so they were ready to start their day in Fiji when we landed at 5AM. When the plane landed the turned all the lights off and local island music was playing. Walking outside was like going into a sauna! Baggage claim and customs seemed to take forever but then it was the biggest plane i have ever been on. We were actually on the second floor. They call it the bubble. When we exited customs, we were greeted and given shell necklaces (like leis in Hawaii). We took a shuttle to Denarau Marina to the hotel. Our room not ready since it was 7AM. We got another room meanwhile to change and went to the pool. Kids adjusted perfectly to Fiji time with no jet lag. Meanwhile Kerry & I was exhausted!! We went to see the show at the hotel of traditional Fijian dancers. It was so good. ...

We made it to LA!! We left the house dark and early yesterday morning and got to the airport. We checked our luggage (you need a lot of stuff with twins!) The first flight was the longest -5+ hours. The boys were mostly (well, kind of) good. One was sleeping or quiet all the time (meaning one was sad a lot of the time). At the end Tommy was ready to get off the plane but so were we! The next flight was great. About an hour and a half. Oh and we were all seated in one row which helped. Our plan was for Kevin to change with someone but that person couldn't move because he had a dog. What are the chances? So we got to the hotel and went to the pool, had lunch, then we all took a nap. This morning we are meeting some twins from Kerrys message board for a playdate. We are getting out late and heading to the airport tonight for our next flight. When we get off the next plane we'll be in Fiji!!!

I'm testing a remote posting to make it a little easier to update the blog during my trip. Just 3 more days to go. I'm mostly packed and starting to get excited!!!!!!!!!!

Friday we left in the morning and drove to the Pacific coast. We saw a couple of properties, had lunch, and then drove back to Managua. Checked into the conference and got to the hotel at 6:00 PM. Then left at 6:30 PM for the opening presentation. There was a panel of speakers (yes, in Spanish) for the first hour. But then each of the 7 countries represented each had a traditional dance performance. It was excellent. Saturday was a full day at the show and back to Granada for dinner. I have met so many people and even found people here that we work with but I had never met so that was fun. Today was sooooo hot. I'm looking forward to enjoying a little fall went I get home!! (And I'm also looking forward to an American meal. Sadly the food here is not my favorite)

This has been the longest day! Of course the howler monkeys woke me during the night but it was the geese that really kept me up. (HONK HONK HONK) We left after breakfast, today joined by a guide, Fredder. He was great loves his country and full of facts. We drove to the National Park Masaya Volcano (this time the only interruption on the road was waiting for a cow to decide he would move out of the way). We drove to the edge where you have to back into the parking spaces. It is an active volcano and just in case they want an easy exit. We climbed the steps to a cross put there centuries ago by a priest who believed the volcano was the devils home. Then we drove to the marketplace where local artisians sell their crafts. We walked through quickly and had lunch. Then we drove to Mombacho Volcano Reserve. Oh but we stopped en route to watch a man making clay pots in his home. We drove up the steepest road I think in the country. Our driver Lino is fantastic. We did a 2 hour hike in 1 ho...

I'm getting ready to depart with Andrea who of course is cute & tiny just like Sole! Last night we had a traditional Nicaraguan dinner. Which meant no menus. We walked up to a table with large clay pots and they served different meats and beans on a corn tortilla. Then it was presented on a banana leaf. This morning we drove to Matagalpa it was about 2 1/2 hours including the extra time to turn around since the school was having a celebration in the middle of the pan-American highway. The roads are pretty good here though. No carsickness. Only the last 20 minutes or so were windy. And there are some roads that need repair (which the country is working on). There are significant potholes so you have to go very slowly and around the holes. We went to a property in the mountains with incredible views. It is surrounded by coffee plants and also they are growing poinsettas for the holidays. I learned how to make corn tortillas, but unfortunately mine did not pass inspection. ...

today I woke up to the sound of a rooster cock-a-doodle-doo-ing. That was 4 am. It is a beautiful morning. Sunny and warm. Had breakfast with Luigi Chelo & Adri. Gallo pinto (yummers) Then went to the guide training. At first I had to sit through an hour long presentation in Spanish where once again I was embarrassed I don't speak it. Then I did the powerpoint for the guides. It was so great to meet them all. Especially after I've heard so much about them. After it turned into a general discussion and they had some good feedback. In total there were over 30 I think. Then there was a presentation in Spanish of course, on panama. Lunch. And now I'm at the airport. Just so you know you do have to pay the departure tax even if you've been in country less than 24 hours. I have a layover in el Salvador then nicaragua!

left Boston early and it was the easiest checkin ever. The flight was less than half full and yet I still managed to be between two rows of very sad little people. But they quieted down once we got in the air as I'm sure the boys will on our big trip! A few hours in Newark and on the flight to costa rica. I was hungry so went to the lounge quickly before they closed and had the most interesting vegetarian sandwich. Avocado, pickle, tomato, cabbage, & tomato. And there was one other person there- a nice old man who spoke about as much english as I do Spanish. It was painful and embarrassing trying to talk but I think we managed the basics. I'm going to try and post this and a picture. Meeting Chelo and Adri at 7 for breakfast then all the guides. Already got an earful from danny on the way here so it should be interesting...

Just a few more days until I return to Central America!!! Looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll be able to update regularly.