1: So much luggage - let's blame the baby
Whatever the reason, we are off to Fiji - @Mindy and @Ian have flown in from Whistler - @Bekah and @Katarina have flown the DayCare coop and @Mac and I are rounding out the family va-cay numbers. Poor @Michael has been left at home to tot up the census data - a non starter because his leave is focussed on a trip to Alaska (with @Mindy and @Ian) and Las Vegas at the end of the month.
The Plan
@Mindy only needed a "whiff of an oily rag" to get the planning started. As soon as @Anth declared the destination, the adventure fell into place pretty quickly - definitelycappreciate her spreadsheet acumen. We have one night in Nadi (tonight,) then head out on the ferry services to Kuata Barefoot for three nights (for a true island experience) and will follow that with a return ferry ride and four nights at the Sheraton (for a bit more of a resort vibe and some golf.)
@Melinda and @Ian have already called dibs on the baby (I have counselled @Mac at length that he willl have to share - and I'm not talking about the chicken twisties), and with some over zealous use of AI @Mindy has kept us laughing at the prospect of the holiday ahead. The general consensus is that we probably don't even have to go - we could just pretend! Mind you, no-one was prepared to forego the 🍸 cocktails!
The Meet Up at Brisbane International
An early start saw us meet up at 6.15 am for our 9.30 flight and honestly, cannot begin to describe the chaos at Brisbane International. It was packed! And everyone seemed to be heading to Bali or Nadi with luggage and children. According to the staff member who helped us, there were 8 prams on this flight and we did chat with one group who were flying with 8 adults and 12 children!
As an aside. Have to compliment staff and processes around families- you are well looked after and ushered through checkin, security and boarding. @Aunty Gail, almost better than the treatment we got when transporting @Mindy's wedding dress.
The Flight
Acknowledging I was a little concerned about "a baby and a flight. " Can park those concerns as a non event. There was plenty of kid drama around us, but our little girl loved the window, played with her toys, snacked and slept. Arrived fresh as a daisy.
Found in Fiji
Thanks to the APP, Life 360 and our "circle " (go @Ian, it's the company he works for) we can get live updates on everyone's location - no secrets here!
The Canadians arrived in the early morning and set themselves up poolside soaking up the sun. Apparently the got a good taste of the "family influx" to Nadi and had their ears ringing with poolside screams and calls of "Dad" "Mum" "Dad" and "Hey Dad" from a particular energetic 10 year old who was clocking up his PBs one half lap at a time.
Do think we could pull up stakes and head home already because @Katarina has had her highlight of the trip. Forget the airplane or her first stamp in her passport... n I thing can beat her first forward facing car ride. Perched on @Bekah's lap she could see all the action outside the window. Every time the poor cabbie had to stop at a red light, he was prompted from the back seat with calls for MORE. No pressure.
Think @Anth was in his boardies, sunnies and thongs within 10 minutes of arrival - @Katarina was a little bit longer because of the dilemma around outfit choice! But, the priority was outside time and our 4 pm arrival at The Terraces did mean we only had limited time in sunlight.
Accommodation setup is perfect - a ground floor poolside and garden apartment and a first floor apartment with balcony (and stairs) - we've got the best of both worlds.
Not really an afternoon for swimming - the water was cold under a cloudy sky.
Prepping for Tomorrow
Sunset saw us over at the Port terminal taking care of rescheduled ferry crossings (thank goodness @Mindy reads email) and a little bit of shopping for snacks for the upcoming island adventure.
Ordered dinner from The Terraces, which they delivered to the balcony, cracked the bundy supplies (to be fair, that happened with @Ian and @Mac faster than @Anthony changed into his boardies) toasted to good times with the first umbrella drinks and collectively had to pinch ourselves that we were here.
First Impressions
1. It is not hot
2. We seem to be ringed by mountains - I wasn't expecting that
3. There might be a secret law here - if you don't have children, you can't enter the country - this is definitely a family destination
4. So far, could easily think we are at home - a hotel overlooking a pool and a golf course. Key difference, there are loads of coconut palms
5. Feeling we are much better off than that big family we met this morning - grateful that our adult to child ratio is 6:1! No joke, we had to do baton relay hand off to keep up with @Katarina scaling the internal apartment steps!
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