We just had the best vacation ever.
Puke.
Vacation started off with a bang. Lily had a little too much yogurt for brekky, so as soon as we headed off down the road, she puked. All over herself. We turned the car around, went back home, gave her a sponge bath and new clothes, then off we went again. Never fails. She wasn’t showing any other signs of illness, just had an overflowing belly.
Air.
We got to the airport, checked in, grabbed a quick bite to eat, went through international customs, and had just enough time to change Lily’s nappy before boarding our flight. And take a selfie.
Lily tried to steal Auntie Em’s cheese the whole flight. Ty slept. Pretty quick and easy flight – just under 4 hours direct from Gold Coast to Nadi. Em’s jaw nearly hit the airplane floor when she looked out and saw the islands. Absolutely breathtaking.
Taxi.
We landed in Fiji, 30 degrees Celsius, got our bags, went through customs, and were greeted by a Fijian band. Instantly fell in love with Fiji.
We found our driver to take us to the resort. He was really nice and offered to let us stop at the grocery store before going to the resort. He even helped carry our bags. And then we began the hour (ish) drive to the resort. The ride was interesting, definitely differently than driving around the Gold Coast. There were cows with ropes around their necks wandering around everywhere. People just appeared from nowhere on the side of the road, waiting for a taxi or bus, most without any shoes on their feet. Sugar cane was growing tall. Just about every driveway/end of road had a little fruit stand, many with an entire family sitting next to it waiting to sell their produce. The houses were very much “open concept”, no glass or screen windows, tin roofs. For Emily, who has never left the U.S., and barely left Iowa where poverty isn’t evident, it was eye opening.
The road to get to the resort was quite curvy, lots of speeding up and slowing down, and Ty had insisted on sitting in the back of the van with dad, but thankfully he made it without any drama.
When we arrived at the resort – The Outrigger – we were greeted by a bunch of Fijians shouting “BULA!!!” Bula is Fijian for hello. What a beautiful place. The lobby area overlooks the resort, with the ocean as a backdrop. Wow.
A lovely older gentleman brought us a cold towel that smelled like mint to wipe our hands and face, and he gave us each a yummy glass of sweet tea (I think) to drink. We got checked in and headed to our room. We were standing outside our room waiting for Ty to put the key in the lock when the grocery bag that Em was holding did that thing that you only see in movies. The bottom completely ripped open, sending our glass jars of salsa and olives with nowhere to go but down to the concrete floor. They didn’t stand a chance, and I ended up with salsa and broken glass on my toes. That was when I realized that Ty didn’t have his shoes on. Initially my concern was about his feet and the broken glass. Secondly my concern was about the fact that Ty’s flip flops were in the taxi that just dropped us off. We tried to track them down, but I am now considering this a donation to some beautiful little Fijian child. Guess we will be shopping for shoes for Ty.
Dinner.
We dropped off our bags, found Ty’s only other pair of sandals, and went for a walk around the resort. By this time it was dark, but so beautiful. A stream runs alongside the entire Palm-leaf-covered walkway to the restaurants, bars, pool and beach. The pool is huge. It is surrounded by a few different places to eat. We chose to eat at the buffet – quick and easy. And Emily particularly loved the fact that we had to walk between these two lads to get inside the restaurant.
We tried a whole bunch of new things, I can’t even remember what they were all called, most pretty tasty. Ty was getting antsy, so we told him to go sit next to the group of Fijian men sitting on the rug playing their guitars and singing. He was a little hesitant at first but when they handed him his own little guitar, he was sold. He sat with them until the band stopped playing, letting other kids have a go in the guitar. Lily got jealous and had to join in the fun – Ty watched over her carefully.
Dancing.
After the band stopped playing, a group of Fijian dancers performed several songs and dances. So cool! Ty, Lily and Auntie took front row seats and soaked it all in. It didn’t take long before Lily started moving her hands around like the Fijian ladies.
Pool.
The first morning in Fiji. Sigh. As we were getting ready, the kids were sitting on the balcony shouting “BULA!!” To everyone that walked by. Adorable. The best was that everyone shouted BULA!! back at them.
We walked down to the restaurants in the morning and it was fun to see how it actually looked in the daylight. So beautiful.
Em and I had brekkie at the buffet, but the kids couldn’t wait to jump in the pool. Jay watched the kids while Em and I stuffed our faces with yummy deliciousness. I am likely not going to fit into any of my pants when we get back. As Em says, “if they don’t like it, don’t look.”
Once our bellies were hanging over the top of our bikini bottoms, we joined Jay and the kids by the pool. First on Em’s to do list was to get a flower for her hair. For the next 7 days, Em was rarely spotted without a flower in her hair, and if she realized that she was out in public without one…she might as well have been walking around without any pants – the sheer panic on her face when she said “I forgot my flower!!!!!”
The Kids Club had a great little park that the kids loved to play on.
Jay and I took Lily over to the tour desk to figure out what we are going to do all week. After chasing Lily around forever, we took the information and went back to the pool to get Em’s input. I couldn’t relax until we made a decision, so off I went to book our trip. And then it was game on. Relaxation central. It misted all day. all. Day. But we didn’t care. We were the fools by the pool. We were all wrapped up in blankets. Er. I mean. Beach towels. Lily slept on my lap. Ty cuddled with dad. We had cocktails and a beer tower of Fiji Gold. Rough day.
Oh Emmy. (I think I said that a thousand times throughout the week). Jay and I took the kids down to the beach. Em held down the fort by the pool. We were gone maybe a half hour. When we came back, Em was laughing, all goo-goo eyes. “You will never guess what just happened.” She squealed. Right, I wil never guess. “You have a date.” YES!! The young lad, Tupeni, who she had been eyeing all day stopped over to have a chat. Turns out the flower in the left side of her hair tells the boys that she is single. Let me tell you, they noticed.
More pool.
It was still raining. And we were still sitting by the pool. It was wet. Sort of cold. We were nearly the last ones standing, but a crazy family from Melbourne had to show us up. The dad was jumping off of the edge of the pool into a boogie board. So of course Jay had to give it a go.
After a few good belly laughs, it was time to head to the hotel for a hot shower. Em, bless her heart, said she would stay home with the kids so Jay and I could go to dinner. They had a fun little slumber party.
We made reservations at Ivi, an adults only restaurant. It was a bit stuffy – only a few other couples and so quiet. Just a guy and a guitar to help with the silence. Jay and I had an amazing meal, and somehow Jay talked me into getting up and dancing (even though nobody else was going to). Such a yummy dinner!! It was so nice to have dinner with my hubby.
I was ready to call it a night but Em was still awake and ready to go out. Well crap. Jay had already put on his comfy clothes, so I (twist my arm) had to go out with her. It was pretty quiet, not a lot happening, so she just had one drink. I think that Emily has said “I love Fiji” about a thousand times by now.
Monday.
Monday morning Em wanted buffet brekkie but Jay and I were still stuffed from the previous night’s dinner. Unfortunately the weather was even worse on Monday, so they switched to a wet weather program at the resort. Somehow we didn’t seem to care about the rain (at first) and ended up down at the beach. There were 2 small ponies and their babies wandering down the beach. We gave them a little pat. Ty found a bright blue starfish. Awesome.
After I got sick of being out in the rain, we found some cover at the poolside restaurant. The kids didn’t mind the rain so they played in the pool. We ate lunch – Lily loved the fettuccini…
Just when I had dried off, we heard the pool activities director announce that a handstand competition was about to start. I used to be pretty good at underwater handstands, and the peer pressure was intense, so I thought I would give it a go. A free river tour was on the line. I was up against 2 Australian dudes, so my chances of winning were slim to none. The water was freezing, and deeper than what I used to do handstands in at Auntie Shell’s pool, so I did pretty terrible. Really bad. As soon as I got upside down, water went up my nose and I panicked. Not awesome. I lasted approximately 4 seconds. It’s a good thing that arm took this really great and super slimming picture of me before I attempted the handstand because she didn’t have enough time to snap a photo during my handstand.
I even tried a second time and came up before the two guys came up for air. Pathetic. Jess would have done a much better job. She should have been here with us. Despite my really awful attempt, since I was the only female to give it a try, I got a free cocktail. That was better than a river tour anyway. :).
Meimei.
We had a quick lunch by the pool and it was time to take the kids to meet their nanny. Yes, I am fully aware that we brought our nanny on vacation with us, but she needed a vacation, so we had to hire another nanny. :). The nannies – or meimeis (pronounced may-may) have a fantastic reputation. Jay and I took the kids to the Kids Club and met Diema, a lovely older lady. We gave her the 5 minute lowdown on our children and she sent us on our way. The kids didn’t shed a tear. Lily was snuggled up in Diema’s arms and Ty was playing with toys. We were free!!!
Bebe.
We grabbed our things and went to the adult pool, which was lovely but pretty quiet. We had one drink – a Fiji rum and diet that is otherwise referred to as hammered in a glass.
Then it was time for Em and I to head to the Bebe Spa. A golf buggy drove us up the hill behind the resort to a beautiful building with unbelievable views. There was a wedding in the chapel next to the spa lobby, so we were able to watch the guests and groomsmen arrive. We didn’t get to see the bride because our masseuses came and took us away. Em and I had hot stone massages with a mini facial. It was very different than Ania’s style, much more fast paced, but it felt great.
After our massages we got cleaned up and met Jay at the restaurant above the spa, which had even more amazing views. We had some appetizers and a glass of wine. It was too cloudy to see a good sunset, but it was still beautiful. We had a lovely chat with Vara, who also goes by Francis, who has worked at the resort for a few years. She knows Diema and said she is great. A grandma, which is perfect for my kiddos who have been grandma-less for two years. Gave me peace of mind that the kids were in good hands.
Sundowner.
We went back to the room to get cleaned up for dinner. Diema and the kids came to the room, and they were so happy. They had a really fun day. They spent most of the day inside, and Ty chose to stay with Lily instead of going to kids club activities. Such a sweet big brother. When the rain stopped, they went down to the beach to look for seashells. The seas were a bit rough so they didn’t stay long. They found a few shells and took them back to the kids club to paint them.
When it was time for us to go to dinner, Ty just said “have fun” and Lily had a teensy tiny moment that was quickly forgotten when Diema picked her up. Dinner was yummy. I am already overloaded with too much good food. I should probably switch to fruit and salads…probably.
Crabs.
Jay went back to the room to relieve Diema, and Em made me go to the bar with her. On our way, we stopped to watch the crab races. We didn’t have any cash so we couldn’t bid on a crab, which was just as well because the USA crab didn’t win.
10.
We went to the bar and soon Emily had the entire bar staff flirting with her. She loves Fiji. I was thoroughly entertained by the evening. One of the guys wrote down the numbers one to ten on a coaster for me, and we spent the next half hour trying to memorize it. Well, I tried to memorize. Em couldn’t get past pronunciation, which was hilarious and all of the staff were laughing. So fun! They let us go behind the bar to get a picture. You can see how they all felt about little miss Emily.
Tuesday.
Yeah, I think that is what day it is. You know it is a good vacation when you have completely lost track of time. We started the day off with some beach time. Jay and Ty went for a kayak ride. Em and the boys went for a snorkel while I looked after Lily’s chunky thunder thighs. Ty learned how to fish with a hand line – didn’t catch anything but had fun trying.
She was content throwing seashells into the water. I hadn’t planned on going into the water, but after everyone came out saying how awesome it was, I figured I better have a go. Ty said he saw 181 fish. I think he was right. The water wasn’t more than waist deep most of the way out, with heaps of live coral and so many beautiful fish swimming around. It was amazing. I wasn’t expecting there to be so many fish to look at. And so different! Love. This. Place.
The sun was shining (hooray!) so we camped out poolside. Lily absolutely loves the water.
Ty was not wanting to get his face wet because we didn’t have his goggles, but he ventured out a bit. Em and I did water aerobics, Em played water volleyball, and then just after lunch it was time to take the kids to Diema. Ty put his arm around Lily’s shoulders and led the way to the kids club. So sweet. And then it was time for relaxation. Em and I got some braids in our hair while we watched other people’s kids play in the pool. No worries. We ventured over to the adult pool where Emily’s dream of drinking a cocktail out of a coconut came true. No, this drink is not on the menu. No, it is not a problem.
We met another couple from the U.S. I think we were the only Americans at the resort. We laughed at his recap of the first time he got behind the wheel here – similar to Australia. Good fun. I may or may not have fallen asleep by the pool, while Jay and Emily drank Fijian iced teas. Let me tell you, the Fijians are way tougher than Long Islanders. That red rum….
We headed over to the arena for the evening’s entertainment. Fire walking. Whoa. Those dudes have tough feet.
We had dinner at the poolside bar, where Luke couldn’t be outdone on the coconut drink.
Time to call it a night. Despite having eaten the entire snack bag that I had packed, Ty was still hungry, so he got to order room service. He showed us his awesome new Fijian dance.
Cave.
In Wednesday morning, we took a half day tour to a sacred cave in one of the villages in the Fijian countryside. We took a jet boat across the river, climbed into a 4WD buggy, and drove about a half hour in the main highway on that side of the river (dirt road). The countryside was beautiful. Lush green plants, marble mountains, fields full of fruits and vegetables, more random cows and horses, and the most beautiful little children. They knew we were coming and stood by the jeep to get lollies from us – thankfully we came prepared. Everyone that we passed by shouted out “BULA!!” with the biggest smiles. The people in the villages don’t have much in the way of material items, but they are rich with happiness. What an experience.
We picked up a priest along the way, arrived at the entrance to the cave, and had to get permission from the chief before being allowed to go inside the cave. The ladies had to wear a sarong, everyone had to remove our shoes before entering the home. The men sat in the front, facing the priests, women and children in the back. After gaining permission, we had a cava ceremony. Cava is a drink that is made by crushing some special roots and mixing it with water. We all had to try it. I thought it tasted disgusting, but drank it and smiled so as not to offend anyone.
We then walked down a path, passed by several banana trees (with actual bananas growing!!!), and found the cave entrance. Once inside, we all had to hunch down, walk through water up to our knees, to get to the other side. I was a little anxious about it, but had to swallow my panic so that Ty wouldn’t freak out. Both he and Lily did awesome. Turns out that part was Ty’s favorite part. The cave was huge, tall and long with several different rooms. I had a hard time hearing some of the stories, but what I did pick up was shocking. Four hundred Fijians lived in the cave for 2 moth when the island was under attack. This was during the (ew!!) cannibalism period of Fiji’s history, so the enemies that were captured were killed and cooked in a natural oven inside the cave. Not exactly a pleasant thought. Thankfully Ty did not seem to hear any of the stories so I didn’t have to try to explain that one to him. Yikes. The tour lasted about a half hour and was really interesting. Somewhere along the way, Jay blew out his flip flop, so he had to finish the tour with one flip on and one flip off. We had a nice lunch back at the chief’s home, with chickens and dogs hunting for our scraps. Lily loved the animals from afar but freaked out when they came close. After lunch we got back in our buggies for the ride back down the hill. About halfway down it started raining, so none of the village children came out to collect more lollies. When we got to the bottom, they had us climb onto the floating “ferry” that was a very homemade contraption that looked like something Steven and Rick would build. Then 2 guys used really long bamboo poles to push us across the river. What the heck?!?! It was definitely an interesting and unexpected ride back to the other shore. Hilarious and awesome. The water was only knee deep so we could have all just walked across, but it was much more entertaining with that form of transportation.
Evening.
We got back to the hotel, took showers, started a load of laundry, and went down to the restaurants to feed the children. It was still raining, so our options for activities were limited. At 6:00 we checked Ty into the kids club. We came back at 6:30 to watch the Fijian dress-up parade, which was awesome. We must not leave here without grass skirts for both of my children.
Em, Jay, Lily and I went to dinner, where Lily fell asleep pretty quickly. Let’s talk about dinner. This place has the most amazing food. I haven’t had food this good in 2 years. And the service is outstanding. At this point in the week half of the staff knows all of our names. This is what makes it 5 star. Emily has bought into it hook, line, and sinker. We might have a hard time getting her on the airplane out of here.
After dinner, we checked in on Ty to see if he was ready to go back to the room. He chose to stay longer, so we brought Lily up to the room. Jay brought Ty back at 9:00, then met Em at the at to watch the State of Origin game. She convinced Jay to put a flower in his hair. Sounds like they had another fun night!
Rain.
Thursday we woke up and weird…it was rainy and windy. Again. I am about at my limit for wet and colder weather. I want to sit by the pool and be hot. And only get wet when I choose to jump in the pool. Such is not the case, though. We are trying to make the most of it. Running out of rainy day activities for the adults. Em and I did some modeling at the beach – you know, trying to capture that wind blown look…
Lily was soaking wet and her hair was blowing everywhere, but she was still finding sea shells. Ty enjoyed the morning kids club session, and then we all ate lunch before taking the kids to see Diema. She has the day off on Friday, so when we met her on Thursday she had a little gift for each of the kids – a necklace and bracelet for Lily and a carved wooden mask for Ty. So sweet!
Sigatoka.
Once the kids were happily settled in with Diema, we caught the city bus and went into the nearby town of Sigatoka. We wandered around the shops and the outdoor markets.
As we were crossing the street I thought I heard someone shout “Emily!” I thought there is no way someone in town knows Emily, but sure enough, 2 of the staff from the hotel were there – Maggie and Michael. They walked us around to some of the shops, and laughed at Em’s hat selection.
I found an adorable little wooden fish bowl/plate, and Emily bought a neck-breaker (for real, that is what it is called – yikes!). We bought some t-shirts and hats and caught a bus back to the resort.
Hair.
Em and I couldn’t resist the little hair salon shop that said “scalp massage” any longer. We drank a glass of wine and were soon thoroughly relaxed. Jay found relaxation at the swim up bar. :).
Mexican.
The theme at the buffet was Mexican, and oh my, was it good. We stuffed ourselves full – ate way too much. We went to the lounge for one drink and chatted about cava. The picture below is what the root looks like after they ground it up, before they mix it with water. All I wanted to do after was sleep, so we called it an early night and went to bed.
Friday.
We woke up and went to the beach. It was a little cool so I didn’t brave the water, but everyone else went for one last snorkel. Then we set up camp near the pool, next to Luke and Sandy. Sandy has been coming here every 6 months for over 30 years. Her son, Luke, has pretty much grown up with the staff at the hotel. They were so much fun – kept Em thoroughly entertained all week. Somehow Em didn’t get a picture with Sandy, so they will have to come to the Gold Coast before we move back to the U.S.
Lily got to go spend the day with the new nanny, Elenoi, but Ty wasn’t up for it. He preferred to spend the day with the adults. He was pretty worn out and ended up taking a 2 hour nap by the pool. Em and I played against each other in the sand volleyball match (my team won, of course), then Em ran off with Luke, a bunch of guests and staff to watch the Outrigger rugby game. The hotel sponsors a team, and several of the guys that have become friends during the week play. She and Luke rode the bus to town with about 75 people (really only holds 40). She has never been to a rugby game, what an experience! The Outrigger team won!
Shoes.
Emily loved watching the game, but could not stop thinking about the fact that the guys didn’t have enough shoes to play, and many didn’t have the right size. Things that we take for granted, like a decent pair of shoes, are a luxury for many of the Fijians. I was battling guilt all week as we were living in a luxurious escape from reality that was only made possible by the beautiful people that work at the resort and live a life far from luxurious. But they are so happy. So happy. There was never a moment when I thought that they wanted anything from me – other than a smile and a laugh. If anyone is looking for a place to donate money/clothing/shoes, any of the Fijian village churches, schools, or orphanages are in need and would be forever grateful. Many of the children only get one meal a day – lunch at school – which costs about $1 FJD per child, which is about $0.50 USD. It has been a very eye opening week.
Tears.
Friday night was our last dinner at the resort. Ty promised that he would behave like an adult so that he could join us. Em was still at the game, so it was a special dinner for Jay, Ty and I. We had a yummy Italian buffet, complete with candles lit for a true Italian feel. Ty accidentally nearly knocked the candle into my lap, as he was learning about the science of wax. Thankfully Jay saved my life. And then the couple that has been playing guitar everywhere around the resort came over to our table to sing us their farewell song. The evening staff joined in, and before I knew it, I had tears stinging my eyes. I tried to keep them in, but when they told the story of the song, how it means that they hope we have enjoyed our time, consider them friends, sincerely hope we come back, and have a safe journey home, I was done for. Couldn’t hold back the tears. I don’t think I have ever actually cried when leaving vacation.
After dinner I stayed back to wait for Emily and had a fun chat with a couple from Melbourne until Em got back. Then Em, Luke and Jasyn showed up for more laughs. Off to bed for me.
Saturday.
Ugh. The day of departure. We packed up our things and went down for brekky. Ty decided that he wanted the seat with the best view. One of Em’s new best friends, Tupeni, asked the guitar players to come do the serenade send-off for Emily. I wanted to leave – no time for more tears, but Em made me stay. We were both sitting there tapping our feet, fanning our faces, trying to hold them back. No such luck. Gosh, I love this place.
We went to the Eco Park per Ty’s request, which was just a short walk from the resort, past a few cows. Ty and Lily both held a lizard and then wrapped a disgusting snake around their shoulders. Eww!!
The park wasn’t very big, and mostly had a few birds and a tropical fish tank, so it didn’t take long to walk through. I was fascinated by the fruit bats – just like the ones that fly over our house every night. I hadn’t seen them up close before. Nasty.
We went back to the hotel, had lunch, said a few more goodbyes, and went to the lobby to check out.
Paid the bill (yikes!!!!!) and promised to eat Ramen noodles for a month to make up for the expense. Luke, Sandy and Russell, the manager, came up to see us off. They gave Ty and Lily new ankle bracelets – so sweet! I don’t think either kid will take them off. Ever.
The car service company must have been short a van, because they drove us to the airport in a full size bus. No joke. All to ourselves. They cranked up the music, threw our luggage on the back seats, and gave us a nice tour during the ride back to Nadi.
Both kids slept – Em and I did as well. After we got checked in, the kids played at a Lego table for a bit, and then we sat in a room with no windows for over an hour until our flight arrived. The airport is under construction, so hopefully there are plans to put some windows in. Felt like a holding cell. Ty was entertained by the iPad, Emily slept like an old man, and Jay and I took turns going for walks with Lily.
Vinaka.
All good things must come to an end, I suppose, but it really sucks to be leaving this beautiful country, amazing people, rich culture. This has been an unforgettable experience. Best vacation ever. As they say in Fiji, vinaka. Thank you.
Up for debate, but I think Lily rocks the outfit better than Auntie… 
Here is a picture of the crew at 7:00 on Monday night after struggling through the first day back to reality. 3 out of 5 are out cold. Ty only awake because the TV is on.
Father’s Day.
Most of you probably know that my dad passed away when I was 8. I’m sure he is fishing, camping, hunting, booking bands, and laughing up in heaven this Father’s Day. Miss you every day, dad. 
I am blessed to have been able to have an awesome stepdad in my life. Not many 40 year old bachelors would be willing to marry a widow with 4 kids under the age of 11, and then have another kid (my mom is a pretty good catch so I sort of get it). Steven has taught me so much over the years, has always put us kids before himself, worked himself to the bone to give us a comfortable childhood, was the loudest fan in the stands at our athletic events (DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE!!!), and was always willing to do the dirty work (FAFSA, 4-H record books, lawsuits, driving lessons, the list goes on and on). Happy Fathers Day, Steven!! (Sorry for the non-cropped picture – phone was acting up). 
Ty has been going to Vacation Care during the school holidays. He loves it – they usually have some pretty fun activities planned for the kids. Thursday’s activity wasn’t really too exciting for Ty, so he stayed home with Em and Lily. They had a great day – scooter rides, milkshakes, laundry basket rides, and a hair cut. Ty’s hair was a hot mess, and since he has a hair twirling obsession (which he gets from my side of the family), but doesn’t always use a napkin while eating greasy chicken nuggets, the twirly patch on top of his head was nasty. So Em took him to the salon to shave it off. She said that he just sat there and giggled the whole time. He was excited to look just like Jack Coen. 
Emily took this picture of a beautiful rainbow that literally ended in our backyard. Beautiful! 
Diva.
Brother.
Bandit.
Boys.
Swim.
Graziers.
We got home, and the kids were excited to see Auntie Em. Ty and Jay ran to the store, Em and I cooked pizzas. When the boys got home, they put in the last Star Wars movie. Another great weekend in the books. 
Shearer Adventure 