Today was Fiji Day and we sweltered in a tent watching the formalities and then finally got down to business. Free health check ups were set up and mum was on height and weight while I was on blood sugars. We ran out of needles and the scales were faulty but it was a brilliant way to reach the people, there were even people from the Fred Hollows Foundations doing eye checks! We got through 100 people from 11-3pm then finally finished and had a late lunch. Headed ...

After an anticlimactic arrival to the hospital we had to sort out immigration and visa issues. It was a frustrating reminder that bureaucrats are universally incompetent (although maybe especially in Fiji). Started running up mission steps - resolving to lose the winter padding! We went to dinner with John and Marilyn (a very Zen couple who run the Homestay) at the 'Whales Tale' for a lovely meal of coconut white tuna and cassava chips with a very eclectic mix of...

After 2 planes, 2 rickety buses (one that broke down), a 6 hr wait and a ferry full of fumes we finally made it to Levuka for a delicious meal of Laksa and fruit crumble thanks to John and Marilyn!

Killing time eating cold chips with mum after buying second hand nail polish in this dirty part of Suva