BULA FIJI!!!
Welcome to Fiji, indeed!! The names in the title of this blog are the names of my Fijian angels :) But first, we'll start at the very beginning....
After stepping off the Air Pacific plane and out of the Fiji airport, I was almost physically smacked with humidity! But I was oh too happy to be alive and in Fiji. I waddled under the weight of my backpack to the bus stop to catch a local bus over to Lautoka, where I would change buses and then head to RakiRaki at the north end of the big island of Fiji, and then a 15 minute taxi to the tip of VoliVoli beach (gotta love the names, eh?). I was enchanted by the local bus with its bike bells instead of stop bells, an open door policy (literally) at all times, pop music or Indian music blasting through the speakers (for those of you who don't know, Fiji had many migrants from India early on and now I would suspect that the population is almost half of Indian descent), and the pretty much invisible bus stops (not to mention that the local bus doubles as a school bus....I can't imagine the stares I was getting, being the only white person on the bus and NOT in a school uniform!). The white clouds and the lush, green landscape flash by the window and the only thing you can do through the heat is smile. I will never forget the look on a little girl's face as she walked aimlessly along some train tracks beside the road. As the bus drove by, we made eye contact, and her eyes lit up, her smile grew broad on her face, and her hand started waving wildly as she ran her little legs just trying to keep up with the bus. It was all I could do to not jump out the window and start running with her! When I was in China, I realized (while playing hide and seek with a little Chinese boy) that a smile transcends language; but here in Fiji, I realized just how much a smile can cut through tension. The first thing that stikes you about the Fijian people is their smiles, and next on the list is their willingness to help you....no price, no hassle, and no problem. When I glanced around the bus, I realized that a few young faces would continue staring back at me; but as I flashed them a broad grin, I was greeted with giggles and brilliant white teeth. I first spoke with Vina who sat beside me, hesitatingly at first. I leaned over and asked, above the wind of the open window, "How was school today?", she lit up and replied, "Fine, thank-you. How was school for you today?" I was instantly charmed. As we continued along I made small-talk with her and her two friends Una and Raji. Suddenly I realized that we were stopped alongside a sign which read 'Lautoka' and rushed to get up. The girls put there hands up for me to stop and asked me where I was headed. I told them that I had to change buses in Lautoka to get to RakiRaki. The girls ushered me to sit down again and told me that this was not the correct stop. As we rumbled on towards my actual stop, I realized what a situation it would have been to have gotten of the bus at the first Lautoka stop: an industrial district mostly comprised of hardened looking men and about a half hour walk from the true Lautoka bus station. My three little angels then told me that they'd help me find the correct bus (which was much appreciated at the busy bus station). It was not until I had safely stowed my bag and got on the bus that these three little girls (maybe 10 years old, at that) waved an enthusiastic good-bye and disappeared into the crowd. I was already amazed at this country. But the next angel took the cake. About halfway to RakiRaki, an older Fijian man named Thomas sat next to me. Even though it was extremely difficult to understand him (what? sorry? pardon me? ohhhh! [and nod head even though i still don't understand]), we managed to talk about our families and my trip to Fiji, etc... He then asked me if I had planned to get a taxi in RakiRaki when the bus stopped. When I replied yes, he informed me that the taxi services generally stop at 6 pm in RakiRaki! I balked at this and sputtered pure nothings because, well, what could I say? But immediately Thomas asked the bus attendant to get a taxi on the phone, which prompts the attendant to call his best friend and ask him to be waiting for me. I could not express my appreciation!! The sun had already gone down and it was a 15 minute car ride to where I needed to be! Thomas made sure all was ready for me and then got off the bus before rakiraki, waving farewell and smiling a huge squinty smile at me. I flashed him one back.
The taxi was definitely waiting in town and swiftly brought me to volivoli beach resort. It was dark at the time, but the next morning i was to awaken to a masterpiece of nature and R & R.
[stay tuned for my next Fiji post!!]
After stepping off the Air Pacific plane and out of the Fiji airport, I was almost physically smacked with humidity! But I was oh too happy to be alive and in Fiji. I waddled under the weight of my backpack to the bus stop to catch a local bus over to Lautoka, where I would change buses and then head to RakiRaki at the north end of the big island of Fiji, and then a 15 minute taxi to the tip of VoliVoli beach (gotta love the names, eh?). I was enchanted by the local bus with its bike bells instead of stop bells, an open door policy (literally) at all times, pop music or Indian music blasting through the speakers (for those of you who don't know, Fiji had many migrants from India early on and now I would suspect that the population is almost half of Indian descent), and the pretty much invisible bus stops (not to mention that the local bus doubles as a school bus....I can't imagine the stares I was getting, being the only white person on the bus and NOT in a school uniform!). The white clouds and the lush, green landscape flash by the window and the only thing you can do through the heat is smile. I will never forget the look on a little girl's face as she walked aimlessly along some train tracks beside the road. As the bus drove by, we made eye contact, and her eyes lit up, her smile grew broad on her face, and her hand started waving wildly as she ran her little legs just trying to keep up with the bus. It was all I could do to not jump out the window and start running with her! When I was in China, I realized (while playing hide and seek with a little Chinese boy) that a smile transcends language; but here in Fiji, I realized just how much a smile can cut through tension. The first thing that stikes you about the Fijian people is their smiles, and next on the list is their willingness to help you....no price, no hassle, and no problem. When I glanced around the bus, I realized that a few young faces would continue staring back at me; but as I flashed them a broad grin, I was greeted with giggles and brilliant white teeth. I first spoke with Vina who sat beside me, hesitatingly at first. I leaned over and asked, above the wind of the open window, "How was school today?", she lit up and replied, "Fine, thank-you. How was school for you today?" I was instantly charmed. As we continued along I made small-talk with her and her two friends Una and Raji. Suddenly I realized that we were stopped alongside a sign which read 'Lautoka' and rushed to get up. The girls put there hands up for me to stop and asked me where I was headed. I told them that I had to change buses in Lautoka to get to RakiRaki. The girls ushered me to sit down again and told me that this was not the correct stop. As we rumbled on towards my actual stop, I realized what a situation it would have been to have gotten of the bus at the first Lautoka stop: an industrial district mostly comprised of hardened looking men and about a half hour walk from the true Lautoka bus station. My three little angels then told me that they'd help me find the correct bus (which was much appreciated at the busy bus station). It was not until I had safely stowed my bag and got on the bus that these three little girls (maybe 10 years old, at that) waved an enthusiastic good-bye and disappeared into the crowd. I was already amazed at this country. But the next angel took the cake. About halfway to RakiRaki, an older Fijian man named Thomas sat next to me. Even though it was extremely difficult to understand him (what? sorry? pardon me? ohhhh! [and nod head even though i still don't understand]), we managed to talk about our families and my trip to Fiji, etc... He then asked me if I had planned to get a taxi in RakiRaki when the bus stopped. When I replied yes, he informed me that the taxi services generally stop at 6 pm in RakiRaki! I balked at this and sputtered pure nothings because, well, what could I say? But immediately Thomas asked the bus attendant to get a taxi on the phone, which prompts the attendant to call his best friend and ask him to be waiting for me. I could not express my appreciation!! The sun had already gone down and it was a 15 minute car ride to where I needed to be! Thomas made sure all was ready for me and then got off the bus before rakiraki, waving farewell and smiling a huge squinty smile at me. I flashed him one back.
The taxi was definitely waiting in town and swiftly brought me to volivoli beach resort. It was dark at the time, but the next morning i was to awaken to a masterpiece of nature and R & R.
[stay tuned for my next Fiji post!!]
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