Playing the tourist

Today was a big day for yours truly…after last nights thunderstorm…

Which Luka really enjoyed, dancing in the rain!

After breakfast today, I joined Jax, Steph and the kids for an excursion to Nadi….the others had already experienced this town, we had not! So our $30 taxi ride dropped us at 8.30am at the markets….

Open air undercover fruit and veges for miles…

Volcanic soil and spring time producing abundant growth!

We wandered the Main Street ( diving in and out of airconditioned stores) as we were waiting for the Fijian craft market to open, and trying to locate it….finally a local (Fijian) sent us in the right direction!

After last evenings rain, the humidity was through the roof, and having bought a couple of trinkets for Tyler…we were wet from head to toe! And more than ready for a dip in the pool! We hailed the nearest taxi and for half the price $15 came back to the hotel…to cool off, re dress and get ready for the afternoons excursion to the botanical gardens at the foot of the Sleeping giant (mountain) on the other side of Nadi…

Steph opted out, as she had thrown her back and kept hot and bothered Henry for a long afternoon nap in the air conditioning.

The rest of the team including George, who is now recovered from his Fiji belly episode, gathered at reception at midday for our afternoon tour with Dans new Taxi driver mate, who was ready and waiting!

Tyler looking exceptionally unimpressed … but that was all an act as he was having the time of his life with his favorite Auntie Jess!

The tropical gardens after the rain…

A lot of green and Red…

A snapshot of the orchids- which obviously grow well here too..,

At this point the path turned to gravel and a few steps…so Lexi ditched the pushchair and Luka took off on foot!

Fish ponds and lily pads….and green everywhere… we continued to follow the track to the lookout, which our driver had informed me was a few minutes….he lied….

Luka tackled the uphill steps like a little mountain goat…

I tackled the steps….and more steps until we opened out to the final uphill climb…in the open sunshine, as the sweat pores opened up once again….for the final climb! Gran’ma bearing up the rear!

The look out, thankfully had a roof and a couple of wooden benches….. where we swallowed the last of our water supplies…

George and Jess leading the charge and still looking remarkably refreshed…

Dan, Lexi and Luka framed by the sleeping giant….thank goodness the track ended here…as the energy levels had run out for the arvo!

Gran’ma catching her breath but still managing a smile!

Luka determined to walk until it got too steep

Taking it easy so as not to slip…

There’s always the bunch of tree huggers

Green spaces…

And lily pads…. Back to base camp where we were rewarded with a fresh (sweet) mango and pineapple juice!

Back into the air conditioned van and the next stop was a Fijian village….where we were charged $10 each to enter and dragged around the village from souvenir table to souvenir table….rather a stitch up..,, but resisting the temptations of tacky momentoes we once again sweated our way around the village showing due respect!

Chickens and babies, Fijian toddlers shouting bula (hello) run down shacks, apart from the chiefs house…. Where George and Jess were jumping for joy!

Then a quick visit to the Methodist church – seems this is one of the main religions of choice….

Evidently it is ok to show shoulders but not legs, Lexi, Jess and I were wrapped in lava lavas as we all had shorts on….another reason to escape – this extra wrap was extremely hot!

By now it was around 3.30pm and our driver suggested the boat shed at Vula Marina for lunch( on the north side of Nadi..

The view from the garden restaurant…

Which also looks back at the marina!

And the dining Bures…. We all had lunch/Snacks and decided with two very hot little humans and 6 hot big humans it was time to head back for a swim! The girls had planned a sparkly dress night but with sore backs and tired legs, a couple of cold beers, kids to bed and booking reading were the order of the night!

We have one more glorious day of summer to soak up before all head back to reality!