4: From ocean depths to mountain tops

B-I-N-G-O - forget pool bouys it's pool GIRLS
Make hay while the sun shines - or in the case of island life - make for the water when the wind doesn't blow.
Plenty to love in Fiji

You can use the equipment here any time - but there are guided experiences scheduled at various times during the day. @Katarina and I had an alternate schedule today but the other five were up for an early breakfast and then off through the channel kitted up for snorkeling.

Ready for their guided reef experience 
 They were fortunate to score the same instructor/guide that @Mindy and @Ian had on their previous visit to Fiji and definitely benefited preferential treatment including extra dive time.

The GoPro was on hand to capture all the under water action and as the staff had promised, the water was crystal clear. Video evidence suggests the reef was teeming with fish and encouraged by a little feeding, swarms of fish assembled on queue. There was plenty of ocean life to sea but @Mac commented that the coral was a brown colourless forest - nothing like our Queensland reef. It was rated as a thumbs up for another great experience. 
Underwater fun

Meanwhile on shore, we did the rounds of water play from the comfort of the balcony saving our excitement for the sand, the ocean and the pool for the others' return. We did manage to squeeze in a second breakfast for @Katarina and again, the staff are so wonderful looking after us.
We may have had a little bit of fun on our own
Getting familiar with the pink boat, already in love with the banana boat
Finger licking good!

Reassembled, and topped up with an icecream treat (@Katarina in icecream stick heaven) it was around the corner to the rock pool for a dip in the rock pool, followed by pool time. Big success in launching @Katarina in the pink pool seat a special gift fom @Aunty and @Uncle.
Exploring the rock pools under the watchful eye of the axe weilding warrior perched on the rock above the chanel ... and @Mac dod some perching as well

From the ocean to the pool. Tucked away in the shade, it was the perfect launch pad for the pink boat. Lots of watering can action and singing combined with some splashing and @Katarina proved herself to be a speed demon in the pink boat. She was in, mission accomplished.

 All activities were perfectly timed to be in the right spot at the right time for the call to lunch. 

Can't believe how hungry everyone is - I guess it is the water activity. But plates are constantly piled high with the hot and cold buffet offerings and somehow, cocktails find their way to the table as well.
Lunch, a nap and even some shopping

A recovery nap was the prep for a hike - a rocky, steep ascent 45 minutes out and then maybe 35 minutes return. It was slow and steady on the way up and those views came with a lot of sweat for everyone and a little more huffing and puffing by some. The return reward was more ocean time and some "special drinks" from the room stash.
It was an effort - but another mission accomplished

Again @Katarina and I had a separate schedule. The banana boat is always a hit and that includes a bit of water and shells. We threw in a play in her blow up pool in the comfort of the shower (which doubled as bath time) and all spruced up, we could visit our new friends around the island. The music crew, welcoming new visitors ashore, blew the conch shell on queue for her and pulled out "If you're happy and you know it" for her personal clapping pleasure.

Getting messy and dirty

Yep, time for dinner. While we were all loving the delights of the prawn and pork belly offerings, @Mindy had used her charm to order an adult serving of the "kids meal" and joined @Katarina for the chicken nuggets and chips!
Dinner at Table 17 - close to the music

 There's plenty of chat and entertainment at meal times but somehow tonight we found ourselves down the Guy Pernod rabbit hole. Think it was prompted by the band ( three people - two guitarists one drummer - all singing) performance of "When the saints go marching in." They kept glancing at @Ian hoping he'd join them! Anyway, Dr Google delivered and @Ian looks more like Guy than any of his 8 children. And when @Mindy did the "let's use AI to age @Ian to 63" - (that's @Guy's current age, the laughter just grew even louder.
Oh my goodness, @Ian AI aged and compated

And that's another say on rinse and repeat. Only 9.30 pm as we push the stroller towards home but no kidding, the enthusiasm to get to bed and sleep is almost on par with the enthusiasm for the calls to meal time.

We head back to Nadi tomorrow but are on the afternoon catamaran which equates to a full day of island fun ahead. 
@Nanny was knackered!

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