2: A windy welcome to Barefoot Kuata
A moving day. Needed to rise and shine nice and early to join the massive queue for the catamaran ride to the island of Kuata.
Again, so many people to start the day and we weren't the only one pulling luggage along the street and corralling children safely along the dockyard. Although near to last on board, @Mindy managed to grab us front row seats - they were the best in the house - up front with great window views, easy access to the outside deck and plenty of carpet space for play (@Liz, add that to your criteria check list.)
It all looked promising with some blue skies to welcome us at the harbour but after about 30 minutes out the conditions did seem to whip up a bit. The best position for the ride was definitely inside, until you pulled up beside one of the islands and could get outside on deck to enjoy the views of the white sand, turquiose water, island palms and the huts that dotted the shoreline.
Approximately 90 minutes to deliver us to our island. And then it was into the tender boats - small speed boats really with wooden planks across for seats. A bit rocky to get in (plenty of staff to help) and somehow we had managed to separate from @Bekah and @Anthony.
Wow.
What a ride.
The photo before the wild ride
@Mindy and @Ian had the baby and were in the middle row - @Mac and I were behind them. @Katarina was all laughs with the up and down bucking ride of the boat .... until the wave spray started breaking over us. It was a pitching, lunging affair. @Mac's little whelps and "whoas" reminded me of him on the kid's roller coaster all those years ago in Disneyland.
Big news though ... at least our seat held up. There were only three rows available - we were occupying two of the. What were the odds? (I bet @Mac and @Anth quantify that!) The two ladies in the front were "turtled" in the bottom as their seat collapsed. Yep, collapsed. Mother and teenage daughter tossed! I had all sorts of sympathy for the "mature" woman flat on her back waving her arms and legs frantically in the air trying to regain a sitting position. @Mindy just clung onto the baby even tighter - she was murmuring calming words of encouragement to the women whose head was literally wedged in the bottom of the boat and between @Mindy's feet. Even the women's husband who was on the seat beside @Mindy, didn't budge to help - it was every turtle for themselves!
I did suggest that @Mindy hand the baby to me and was met with the reply "If I stand up, we will fall overboard." That definitely blew that suggestion to the wind.
At this stage, accompanied by a rendition of the totally irrelevant to the situation BaaBaaBlack Sheep, @ Katarina was still doing ok, eyes squeezed shut, absolutely drenched , and holding on tighter than a limpid.
This whole drama of the boat ride lasted just 10 minutes! And four minutes of that was taken up with the boat crew member reassembing the seat and trying to fork lift the "mature" woman out of bottom of the boat.
We were literally within spitting distance of the shore and with one final rise and surge of a wave we were there. Wet, safe, stunned.
After all that, the best scream was saved for arrival. It was a wet landing. - the boat nudges to the sand in the shallows and you swing your legs over the side and into the water. Plenty of staff to help. And lots of smiles and a welcoming chorus of "Bula, bula, bula."
The quiet of the island was shattered as @Mindy handed @Katarina to the gentleman onshore who was welcoming everyone with his cheery greeting and smile. All hell broke loose! It was a quick game of pass the parcel. She was having none of that stranger and went into soaking wet limpid mode on me. Staff were there with warm towels to soak up that first unwelcome meeting with sea water, and we found a seat in the checkin conference room where our little boat girl instantly fell asleep!
You can imagine the concern of @Bekah and @Anth - they were dripping wet and literally shaken by their boat ride - all eyes peeled for the baby and prepared for all possibilities - a relief that she was a little brown bundle snoozing away, seemingly no worse for the experience.
Not so lucky for @Anth, he'd managed to stubborn his toe on some coral on his wet landing and trailed a little track of blood behind him. Some from their boat were very loud in the complaints expressing their annoyance at being drenched (@Mindy and @Bekah, both mouthed silently to our group, at the same time, "You're on an ISLAND."
Staff were running around, preparing ginger tea for a number of the "sailors" who got sea sick. No-one in our group - I think we need to make a note for the future that singing BaaBaaBlackSheep at volume is a 💯 % winner for avoiding motion sickness.
Checkin and instructions were given and then it was just a "wait" until the rooms were ready. I was happy to pose as the "baby bed" as the recovery nap took hold and settled in talking with the staff who were in and out. Our little blond girl was an absolute draw card for attention and service!
The rest of the gang went out for the first island exploration, checking beach nooks and crannies, pathways and hikes, the snorkelling and paddle boarding options and the hits. All interspersed with frequent visits back with photos and updates.
We have three bures- the young ones are side by side - sturdy typical Fijian Huts - ours is five doors down - bigger living space, closer to the amenities. All three absolute beach front views.
Probably everyone we know has already been to Fiji and so won't be surprised. But a first for us. And it is beautiful. I'm guessing most of these setups are similar. The bures are wow factor alluring - balconies and beds that give soaking views of the sea and outdoor bathrooms that open to the sky. Seats in every shape, size and configuration tempt you to slow down and relax, organised activities and lectures, pools, food, bars, coconuts and coral. You take in the views from the comfort of your room, or beaching or take a pathway for views above.
And, right on queue as the rooms became available, our little girl woke up and emerged from her brown cocoon of warm towels, smiled up at me and then pointed to the door and said "boat." We were literally launched!
My guess is that every day is going to be the same. Water, sand, food. Let's hope it is covered in sunshine and with a little less windswept. The 🌴 have had their tops blowing over.
Everyone has been on sand, shell and rock duty with @Katarina. Her energy is boundless. She literally goes non stop until she drops and the action and activity today have combined to bowl her over for a second long snooze in the afternoon (accompanied in equal enthusiasm by @Anth.)
@Mindy and @Ian the only ones in the water so far. They did their refresher scuba diving course today in preparation for a swim with the sharks tomorrow.
So far, Fiji life doesn't present any problems - your only concerns are what time do we eat (truly a major focus), what will I wear (@Katarina wins- so many outfit changes) and what chair will I sit in (or which hammock to swing in) .... that's it! Oh, actually, probably should add, who is going to sort shells or rocks with @Katarina ... that is the most important.
All fingers and toes are crossed tomorrow for the winds to ease - mind you, what does it matter, we can tuck up in some protected corner.
PS Still laughing - @Mindy and @Ian had woven a relaxed even romantic twist into that little tender boat ride ashore - we were primed and camera ready. On their previous visit it was all calm seas, blue water, turtles and fish visible below. We've already checked the weather for departure .... might get that experience on the way back.
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