posted on December 17, 2000 12:41:58 AM new
Bula! (Fijian for "hello." And "welcome," too) Got back from Fiji this afternoon--OK, it's now yesterday afteroon. Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that. We lost a day *going* there (left on Thursday night & landed the next day--Saturday). Coming back, we gained a day back. I spent Saturday Dec. 16 in the capital city, Suva, doing some shopping and we flew out of Fiji at 10:30 pm. We landed at LAX around noon of--Saturday Dec. 16. So I got Saturday twice this weekend.
Fiji was absolutely wonderful!!! We stayed at a very nice hotel called the Lagoon Resort. Dive boats picked us up early every morning from the hotel's own dock to take us out to dive sites. And every night we simply left our gear on the boats & the crew cleaned it all for us and had it ready every day! I've been completely spoiled...
I used my new underwater camera for the very first time on this trip (actually the first time I've ever taken pictures underwater & years since I've handled a camera, not counting my Mavica for auctions). I burned up 11 rolls of film & I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least a few of the pictures came out OK. If they did, I'll post a few.
The marine life there is out of this world! Blue Ribbon Eels, Lionfish, Triggerfish, Puffers, Pipe Fish, Barracuda, sharks of various types, corals, anemomes, and on & on & on! We went on three shark dives. The first two were a bit disappointing as the visibility was poor (there had been a cyclone a few miles away). On Friday though, the visibility was great & the sharks were out in force--bull sharks, lemon sharks, white tips, nurse sharks,etc. To my dismay, the batteries died on my camera! #$%@!$%# I have asked that others give me copies of *their* photos. I was so mad at myself for not checking the batteries before I went down that I could have spit nails! I did my deepest dive ever on that one, too: 100 feet.
Had one mishap on the entire trip: on my second dive on Friday, the zipper on my BC (bouyancy control vest) somehow opened and went I went back to the surface & enflated the BC one side of the the bladder popped out of the cover. This made it almost impossible for me to keep my face above water, so I couldn't use my snorkle & my air was running very low as this had been a long dive. I had surfaced at the bow of the boat & the seas were very rough. I used my emergency whistle ("screamer" ) and got the attention of the crew. They threw me a boat bumper & I held it under my arm to stay above the surface while the dragged me back to the boat's ladders. Let me tell you--that got my adrenaline pumping!!
Coming home was very hard. This was one trip I didn't want to end--the place is beautiful, the people friendly & welcoming. ANd we were thoroughly spoiled by the service we got at the hotel, on the boats, and everywhere else we went in the country.
Had a lot to do this afternoon (and this afternoon, too ), but I just had to pop in here and say "hi."
posted on December 17, 2000 04:18:30 AM new
Well...Bula to you too.
Glad you had such a wonderful time, Bunnicula. Will look forward to the pics when you are able to share them.
It's 6.6 degrees here this morning, so the warm waters of Fiji are sounding really great right now. My inlaws just returned from Fiji and loved it too.
posted on December 17, 2000 11:28:12 AM new
Hi, all!
Just so you guys can be *totally* envious, the water temps there varied all week between 79 & 80 degrees
I'm going to see about getting my photos developed today. eleven rolls! Whoa, there goes my budget for the month
snowyegret: yes, not only am I spoiled for cold water diving, but also for dive boat service! California boat crews & dive masters just don't offer the service these guys did.
posted on December 18, 2000 05:51:44 AM new
I hate people who tell us about their great vacations while we have to work. Bah Humbug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. Sound great!
Humanity I love; it's people I can't stand
), but I just had to pop in here and say "hi."
