Hot stuff comin' through!

Hello y'all!

It just seems to be getting hotter and hotter here in Fiji. Yesterday I wasn't able to do anything but sit beside the pool and bake, cooling off every fifteen minutes with a dip. Yeah I know, it's tough.

The one thing I wanted to comment on is the buses here. They are absolutely crazy! Most haven't got any windows, and if it rains they just slap down these tarpauline windows that get rolled away when it isn't raining. There is absolutely no way that they would be road worthy in just about every other country in the world. Most of the drivers are Indo-Fijians that never talk, which is understandable because speaking creates heat and the last thing you need on these buses is more heat.

On the plus side they are dirt cheap. I can take a bus all around the main island (about a seven or eight hour trip) for about $25. And that's FIJIAN dollars, remember. For me to get into town from where I'm staying costs me $.65!

Oh, and while I remember, I'm now living on less than $15/day, accomodation included. Not too bad. I haven't been to too many places where you can claim that. Now, if I was in South-East Asia, you could cut that down to about $5/day, but I'm not there so I am pretty happy with my daily costs. Anyone want a genuine Fijian necklace for Xmas? Not a problem. I can afford the $.95, don't worry about it...

Golden Sand and Shimmering Water: A Heady Mix

I'm happy and exciting to say that during my time on the Outer Islands of Fiji I did not get drunk once. Considering that many people do this, what with the copious amounts of sun, sand, sea, and cocktails that are served up day after day, I didn't give in to the voices telling me to "have another". It didn't help that the local (and cheap) beer tasted like feet.

So if I had more time, or more money to afford more time, I would have included your typical "palm tree lazily leaning over crystal clear water" photo in this post as well. But since I don't it will have to wait for another time. Instead I will run through some of the things I have seen and done whilst in Fiji thus far.

-Snorkelling and seeing exotic fish of all shapes and sizes, notably clown fish (I found him! I found Nemo!), a puffer fish, a deadly lion fish, and a ray of some kind. Also brilliant coral that you can't even imagine.
-Lived on a boat for two days, which was brilliant.
-Eating amazing food, stuffing my face with seconds, thirds, and on one occassion, fourths.
-Visiting local villages and villagers, seeing a way of life that is unique and beautiful, but also sad and hard to stomach considering what us Westerners have, such as constant electricity, which many here still don't.
-Sunsets and sunrises to shame anything Disney or Pixar could imagine.

I could go on, and I wish I could, but time is running short. So for now, I'd like to wish all my friends back in New Zealand and big hello. Tam, I'll see you in Canada. Mel, I hope to see you there too, one day. Emjay, keep doing what you do best (my door is always open for you). Sarah, I love and cherish you and will always be indebted to you, even though you may not know why. To everyone else that I haven't got time to mention, all my thoughts and love.

Now I'm off to sit and read (is there anything ELSE to do in Fiji, you might ask? Not at the moment, it's pissing down with rain!), maybe even try and stomach one more can of Fiji Bitter. Probably not, actually...