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I've never been to Fiji before so exciting even if it's just a quick 4 nights and 4 day stop. Just a short 3 hours flight from Auckland which got me to Nadi airport before 9am so a pretty early start -getting 4 hours sleep would be generous. It was pouring with rain as predicted as we flew in, but with that hot tropical humid heat as well - probably mid 20s. Luggage took an age to get off the plane but eventually it arrived and after a glimpse inside the case by a biosecurity officer, I found my driver and we set off on the 2 hour bus journey. It however turned out to be 3 1/2 hours due to the heavy rain causing flooding of many of the capital roads - (see picture from the bus of a river just bursting its banks) with people walking up their waists in water. Apparently this is quite normal this time of year. We had to turn around on a few roads but eventually got through and drove through lush forest very reminiscent of Papua New Guinea - the people a bit similar as well and also the odd tree fern thrown in. Maybe PNG had them but I wasn't as tuned in as I am post New Zealand.
The resort feels quite isolated so just my thing. I have a lovely room, simple but spacious and comfy. The staff seem incredibly friendly, wifi in the lounge area and we all have communal dinner together at 7pm which really appealed to me when I booked the place. AND no one seems over 60, in fact they could even be all younger than me. There are two German girls, a Swiss guy who has been here a month and goes home tomorrow (so they are having a party for him tomorrow) and two Swedish young guys who are diving with me.
It's a dive and surf resort (hence the age profile). And I'm all set up to start my Advanced Open Water course with three dives planned for tomorrow with a picnic lunch so pretty full on staying out all day. The two dive instructors are quite a bit younger than me - which is also a change.
So I have to pick 5 dives - 2 are compulsory (navigation and a deep dive) and then a wreck dive, buyonancy and if i can fit it in a shark dive combined with photography but that may not be possible on wed so might just do a drift dive instead. I've got a thick text book again and have already read the chapters for the compulsory dives this afternoon. Just three more chapters to go but no big exam at the end like last time and you can read the chapters after the practical so no rush.
So it doesn't matter that it's probably going to be raining all week as I will be getting wet anyway!
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