Day 8, Fiji to E-ville

 

Day 8 to Day 7.5: THB, DB and LB have the run of LikuLiku until 4pm. Together we take the 9am snorkel with an Ausssie and two Italians from Milan. Return to the resort, pack up our suitcases and DB and THB take anoteher short snorkel in front of the resort. 

Lunch includes chcolate domes for THB and DB, arranged yesterday by LB. As good as the first ones. 

DB goes for a massage, much enjoyed. LB goes for another long snorkel out front, much  enjoyed. THB sits by the pool listening to book 2 of the Ibis trilogy, River  and Smoke. New narrator, takes a few chapters to get used to his performance, then it settles down and THB is back in 1838 in and around Singapore on his way to Canton, not enjoying it as much as Sea Of Poppes.

At 4pm we head out to meet the catamaran shuttle to Nadi. The stop is literally about a half mile off shore and at this  spot a number of riders are ferried out from a number of close-by resorts. The catamaran shuttle then makes a number of stops, once or twice at docks, the rest mostly out in the ocean.

At a little after 6pm we are greeted at the Nadi boat terminal, a jumping strip mall of shops and restaurants. A Rosie's Holiday person takes us to the airport, a 25-30 minute drive. DB had arranged a private boat ride out to the Likuliku resort and that shuttle had been 2-3 minute ride from the airport. Amazing, we thought the ride bsck to the airport was a lot longer, and it was. 

Unlike at SFO, we speed through the Nadi Fiji Airways check-in, customs, immigration and are in the lounge in no time. Snack at the lounge, repack our stuff so the items needed on the plane are handy.

Finally, home and the weather if also perfect: mid-60s and breezy

another great chocolate dessert

champagne on last night 

another resort near Likuliku

and another resort nearby

more than a few times a day a helicopter dropped off and picked up resorters

K from NZ snorkeled with us and then got up close and personal with an iguana

a "bus" stop in the middle of the ocean?

yep! and the jitneys arrive from various island sites to unload and load 

one last sunset on way to Nadi airport

and one last sunrise as we near Bay Area

Observations:

• Likuliku was a great choice: casual, friendly and attentive staff, and access to excellent snorkeling (shout-outs to AM for guidancce on selecting Fiji and AB/SB for loans of snorkels and masks)
• Well-timed non-stop flights to and from Fiji made the travel relatively painless, as did flying in biz class
• Just the right options at the resort to make sure THB, DB and LB had plenty of space to find togetheness and privacy
• THB stopped taking his propanolol and it seemed to keep his "fever" down in the heat. THB also drank a lot more water. THB did not take naps, except if he closed his eyes while listening to his audio book.
• All three of us agreed that this was a great week of celebrating LB's 40th!