Fiji Day Twelve

Tonight is our last night in Fiji. It's always hard to leave. It's been raining intermittently through the day, but we were able to get some sun between the showers.

Fiji Day Eleven

We spent a couple of hour’s poolside, soaking up the sun. Tomorrow is our last full day in Fiji.

We went back to Blu restaurant. It’s the lazy man’s buffet – they bring succulent meat to you on skewers and then carve off delicious pieces.

After dinner we had a walk along the beach to the other resorts on Denarau Island, marvelling at how bright the stars are here.

Fiji Day Ten

It rained heavily today, but we managed to get a walk in before the downpour.

We had dinner at the Blu restaurant at the Radisson Resort, where there was a Fijian dancing and singing show. Louise loves the Fijian farewell song.

Fiji Day Nine

Yet another day in paradise. You guessed it; lazed around the pool, and had an afternoon nap.

It rained pretty heavily at night here, but hopefully it should be clear tomorrow.

Fiji Day Eight

Yet another in paradise. Nice and sunny today. Lazed by the pool.

Room service for dinner.

Fiji Day Seven

Housekeeping must have noticed Louise's birthday cards and put these nice flowers in our room.

It was an overcast day. We went for a walk to Port Denarau to go to the supermarket. Then caught a taxi back for only five Fijian dollars, which is a better price than the Bula Bus that is seven dollars fifty each, albeit you can ride it all day.

We had room service for dinner, whilst I watched the Canterbury Crusaders beat the NSW Waratahs on television. I love Fiji they love Rugby here and always have it on TV.

Fiji Day Six

Another day in paradise. We lounged around the pool, plunging in when we got too hot.

Everyday around 3.30pm it rains. You can set your clock to it. It doesn't last too long, but it buckets down.

For dinner we went to the Blu restaurant at the Radisson Resort. It's a Brazilian BBQ with abit of Fijian. It was really good. We listened to live music, and watched the sun set gently over the horizon.

Fiji Day Five

The grounds at the Radisson Resort are quite spectacular. This is the Coco Beach family pool (pictured above).


The children's pool has a water slide (pictured above).

The Waterfall (pictured above) is opposite the reception and The Water Court (pictured below) where I took Louise for dinner.

The restuarant specialises in Asian cusine. We had some very good Nasi Goreng, Singapore noodles and some of the best spring rolls we have tasted.

Fiji Day Four

Another day in paradise. Unfortunately, Louise cut her toe negotiating the rocks between the Adult's pool and the kiddie's pool, and she said later the true meaning of pain was having nail polish remover seep into the cut whilst she was getting a pedicure (apparently the Fijian beautician didn't understand when she asked her to be careful).


A clock radio with an IPOD player has been installed in our room, so Louise can play her music from her phone.


The Bula Bus (pictured above) collects people from the hotels on Denarau Island and takes them to Port Denarau. For seven Fijian dollars you can ride the bus all day. We caught the bus to Port Denarau and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (pictured below).

The Hard rock is good value with the whole meal coming to 55 Fijian dollars compared to two hundred Fijian dollars for the Sheraton buffet we had last night.

Louise had a rush of energy after dinner and decided to walk home. However at the halfway mark realised it was a bad idea in thongs and a injured toe.

The footpath is well lit, and security patrol in golf carts. There is only one road in and out of the private island, which is guarded by a checkpoint.

Tomorrow is a very special day, because it Louise's birthday. She says it doesn't count when she is overseas.

Fiji Day Three

Today was almost a repeat of yesterday. A beautiful day by the pool in the morning, and a nap in the afternoon. We had lunch at Neptune's at the Radisson, which must have the best view of any fish and chip shop.

Tonight we are watching the Oscars, and thinking we will have to see the King's Speech.

Fiji Day Two

It was a beautiful sunny day in Fiji, and we went to the Adult's only pool, bordered by a sandy beach and tropical gardens. There are two spas set into the rocks on the other side. I've noticed they have a sign now to stop people reserving all the lounges in the morning by laying their towels over them, which is a good idea.


The morning was spent lounging, then a dip in the pool, more lounging, then a dip in the pool to cool off. You can see we are doing it tough.


Then it was a nap in the afternoon, and a return to the Sheraton for their international buffet.

Traveller's Tip: We bought cereal and milk from the supermarket to make our own breakfast to save money, and to avoid putting on too much weight from the many temptations at the lavish breakfast buffet.

Radisson Resort on Denarau Island, Fiji

We were up early for our 8am Pacific Blue flight to Fiji. It's only a short three and a half hour flight to Nadi International Airport, and a fifteen minute drive by taxi to the Radisson Resort on Denarau Island. The taxi fare was 25 Fiji dollars in contrast to the 66 Australian dollars it cost to get to Sydney airport. However if you ride in a Fijian taxi you will never have to prove your courage in any other way. They seem to be held together with some baling wire and sticky tape.

The sun is shining, the palm trees slightly sway in the breeze, the lawns are freshly mown, and everything is peaceful and quiet on Denarau Island. It's good to back.

We have a one bedroom Lagoon apartment that we were able to lock in for a special deal of every second night free that Louise saw on the Radisson website listed below.

We had dinner at the next resort over, The Sheraton, where it was seafood buffet night. That's what we like about Denarau Island; the food choice. Unlike being stuck on a little Island, you can wander across to the other resorts; the Sheraton, the Westin, and Sofitel, or you head into Port Denarau for more food choices like The Hardrock.

It's so relaxing here, and just think we have twelve nights here in paradise.

FACTS SHEET:
Radisson Resort Denarau Island
www.radisson.com/denarau-island-hotel

Reflections on the United Kingdom trip

I hope you enjoyed following us on our United Kingdom road trip. Unfortunately I got sick and we were unable to make it to Scotland and some other destinations we had planned on visiting.

Looking back at the trip there are a few recommendations; pre-book the London accomodation, any West End show you want to see, and the rental car.

The purchase of the TomTom GPS unit was invaluable in navigating our way around, and warning us of the numerous speed cameras.

Research the places you want to stay at on Tripadvisor.com and you can't go wrong. Most places have wireless or cable internet nowdays.

I used a small Netbook computer instead of a cumbersome laptop computer that could fit easily in my day pack. I would also recommend the Kindle electronic book reader. It stores hundreds of books, so you will always have something to read at the airport, on the plane, or any dull moment.

Our favourite hotels:
- Base2Stay – Kensington London
- The Whitehouse B&B in Hastings– how a B&B should be should be run.
- Tre-Ysgawen Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, Anglessy, Wales.
- Fairmont Hotel, Singapore

Given all that our next holiday will be spent lying around the pool in Fiji in March. Ahhh the serenity.