Los Angeles

Saturday 3 August

We were due to be flying from Fiji straight home, but we quaked at the idea of two 10-hour flights back to back.  Luckily we managed to beg an 80-hour layover in Los Angeles.  Just about enough time to recover and get us used to having people around again.

We fly out of Fiji at about 10pm on Saturday, but we’re once again crossing the dateline, so it’s about 2pm on Saturday afternoon when we arrive in a very busy LAX.  It takes us a full 3 hours (yes, 3) to clear the airport and pick up our car.  By the time we get to our hotel we’re about ready to collapse.  We manage to drag ourselves out (via a few wrong turns) for some food and then hit the sack.

Sunday 4 August

We’re a little zombified today, but decide to try to rectify that with some fresh air and exercise.  We’re staying at the Marina del Rey, with miles of beach in both directions.  We start off wandering south with what is left of the morning.  After a quick pit-stop for lunch we head north, walking up through Venice Beach and Santa Monica.

On the way back we stop off in Venice Beach for some Mexican food before dragging our weary legs the last couple of miles.  We’ve clocked up about 16 walking miles today and our flip-flopped feet are feeling it.

Janet adds: there were a lot of news vans on Venice beach this afternoon, but we couldn’t figure out why.  When we got back to the hotel a google search quickly gave us the answer.  Yesterday some dude plowed his car down the walkway, purposefully hitting as many people as he could and killing a young Italian woman on her honeymoon L

Monday 5 August

We’re getting old and slow to shake the jetlag, so it’s another sleepy start for us today.  Still, it’s a bright, sunny LA morning and the views over the marina are lovely. 

We could do with replacing some of our ratty old clothes, so we drive over to a big outlet mall for some retail therapy.  We’re back mid-afternoon and I drag myself out for a run.  It’s the first in a while and it’s hard going.  I more than make up for it with some more huge portions of Mexican food in the evening – but with sunset views over the marina and $3 margaritas, who’s complaining?

Tuesday 6 August

Our stopover is at its end and we can’t delay coming home anymore.  We’re not flying until this evening though, so we decide on some more fresh air and exercise to try to see us through.  We’re staying slap bang on the Melvin Braude bike trail – a beach-side cycle path approximately 22 miles long.  We walk round the marina to a bike rental place and grab some wheels.  As we’ve walked most of the northern section of the track we decide to head south.  It’s a beautiful, breezy, sunny day and the miles melt away.  We take in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach before running out of track at Torrance Beach.

4 hours (with a few stops for lunch and shopping) and 25 miles later we return the bikes, only to be rewarded with free ice-creams (and how can you say no to free ice-creams?).  We’ve just got enough time for a quick spin around a nearby shopping mall before dropping off our car and heading to the airport.

And that’s it: our whirlwind South Pacific tour has ended.  In 4 months we’ve taken 31 flights, visited 10 countries and crossed the dateline 4 times.  We’ve done so many amazing things and been to so many beautiful places that I’m still pinching myself.  We’ve sunbathed and skied, swum with manta rays, jellyfish, stingrays and humpback whales.  Heck, we’ve even poked lava with a stick.

Janet adds: The End (for now).

Navini, Fiji

Sunday 28 July

We visited Navini in Fiji last time we travelled.  We loved it so much that we’ve been looking for a way to get back here, and here we are.  For all of our concerns about Real Tonga, our flight from Vava’u down to Tongatapu left on time, arrived on time and flew smoothly in the middle.  We connected without hiccups to the Fiji flight and on arriving in Nadi we’re transferred down to the marina.  A blast out on a motorboat gets us into Navini at about 10pm.  We find our bure, dump our bags and crash out.

At 8 this morning the drumbeat summons us to breakfast.  Not much has changed since we were last here and we like that.

There’s a boat trip out this morning so we jump on it.  It takes us out to a little sandbar where we’re dropped off to spend an hour or so snorkeling and beach combing. 

We’re back in time for lunch and afterwards I’m contemplating what to do with my afternoon when I spot that the watersports hut has 2 SUPs.  I’ve been dying to try supping and since all the equipment is complimentary, this seems like a good time to give it a go.  I’m hooked straight away.  It’s brilliant fun and hard work too. 

Nick takes a little longer to warm to it – probably because he gets a couple of dunkings whereas I manage to remain upright.

We while away the rest of the afternoon sunbathing and snorkeling.  After dinner we join the local lads in a quick game of vidi vidi – it’s a bit like pool but played with plastic discs that you flick across the table. 

Janet adds: this is the first (and only) day that I’ve beaten Nick at 2 things: supping and vidi vidi (although my teammate can take all the credit for that).

Monday 29 July

We don’t fancy the trip out this morning, so we have the whole day at our leisure.  Nick is looking to develop a sailing obsession to match his golfing one and as the wind is up a little he grabs the chance to go out on the Hobie Cat. 

We have another go on the SUPs too – this time managing to get all the way round the island without either of us falling off.  Some kayaking, snorkeling and sunbathing later, it’s time for the 4.30 volleyball game.

 Janet adds: I’ve got to get me one of these SUP boards – and a convenient body of water to use it on.

Tuesday 30 July

The trip this morning is for fishing.  I don’t fancy it, but Nick goes.  He has a lovely morning snorkeling the outer reef and fishing – he manages to catch 2 fish but they’re tiddlers and have to be thrown back.  Still, he does better than anyone else on board.

I spend my morning on my new favourite hobby – supping.  Unfortunately I’m not as good as I think I am.  It takes 2 circuits round the island to work out I’m on the thing backwards.  No wonder it’s been such hard work.  I do one more circuit the right way round just in case.  I’m just cooling off with a snorkel when Nick gets back.

In the afternoon we head out for another snorkel and hit the jackpot: in the space of 5 minutes we see 2 reef sharks, a turtle and three spotted eagle rays.  The rays are beautiful and as they don’t see us for a while they hang below us in formation.  Of course we haven’t thought to bring the camera with us.  Back on dry land Nick decides on a doze in the hammock whilst I grab the camera and head back out to document the rays.  Sods law: they’re nowhere to be found.  There are sharks at every turn though and they’re a lot more interested in me when Nick isn’t around – some even look as though they’re contemplating a nibble.

In the evening we’re treated to a spectacular sunset.

Wednesday 31 July

There is no trip this morning, so we spend the day much like the others: supping, sailing, snorkeling and playing volleyball.  We even manage to snap a shot of the elusive eagle rays.

In the evening the staff prepare us a traditional Fijian feast followed by a kava ceremony, dancing and singing.

Thursday 1 August

There’s a fishing trip again this morning, which Nick heads out on.  I’ve warned him that anything he catches he’s going to have to eat.  He comes back with this whopper:

I’m looking forward to watching him try to eat that.

In the afternoon we’re both indulging our new obsessions (Nick on his Hobie Cat, me on my SUP board) when we’re treated to a fantastic sight: there’s a whale out in the bay.  He puts on a great show, throwing himself up into the air and coming down with an almighty splash over and over again.  The last time they had a whale here was 5 or 6 years ago, so it’s a real treat.

Friday 2 August

We wake up to pouring rain.  It’s not a promising start to the day, but by 9.30 the sun is back out and it’s a beautiful day.  We fall into our usual routine of snorkeling, sunbathing and supping.  Before we know it another day is gone. 

Janet adds: sea lice – proof the devil exists

Saturday 3 August

We’re leaving today, but as we’re only flying in the evening we’ve still got all day on Navini.  There’s a trip out to another resort this morning and as we need to be out of our room we decide to go.  The boat trip is fun and it gives us a chance to check out another, busier resort in Fiji.  It only makes us appreciate Navini all the more when we get back.  After a quiet afternoon we say our farewells and make tracks for the airport.