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The paradise on earth the endless white powder beaches and the turquoise waters, cloudless skies and kaleisdoscopic reef..
Our arrival was in a quite modern and medium size airport which seemed respectable for a place like this. We tried to rent a car at the regular car rentals but they where all sold out. We found on the second floor in the airport Tana car rental.
Indian owned and all employees where Hindu. Fiji has over 30 percent Indian population. They where imported directly from India by the British colonist in the end of the 1800 century due to the lack of man power on the islands.Even after the independence there is still controversies in between the Fijian and the Indians.
The car was cheap but not safe or suited for driving on the roads. Well we thought it has to be like this in Fiji.
We drove 150 km trough the most beautiful hills of green vegetation, palms and small villages only to be greeted by
people on the side of the road with the regular BULA . If you we where driver to fast they just shouted BULA , so we
didn't pas anyone without a smile and a "Hi" . It seemed promising.
We found the resort we had booked and the end of a 3 km dirt road up and down steep mountain side. It seemed that
the car survived. The resort was nice but there where mostly young couples, and no kids.. The beach was a minute away
through the very well maintained garden. We swam there often even if it was raining which it did quite often. The pool was nice but was to hot, it seemed more like a jacuzzi and therefore couldn't cool us down. The beach was nice but not
the type you would expect in Fiji. We also new that the best beaches where on small island surrounding Viti Levu
(main Island). We decided to try one of them even if they where heavily overpriced.We had to see those beaches.
We drove back to the Nadi and took the cheapest transport possible to one of the Island, a Ferry.
The ferry that took just more then and Our cost already way more then we thought was acceptable. Lucky we did not go to the Jacque Custeau island resort I thought ( 7000 eur a night).
We sailed and the rain caught up with us and we arrived in quite ruff weather and poring rain. The island send a small
boat to pick us up from the ferry and we had to balance our way from one boat to the other in meter high waves. When we sat foot on the island we where greeted with Hula song ,guitar and shell necklaces. After a small welcome drink , we got our room which was decent. We stayed only one night due to the price range they had on those island and could not see what all the fuzz was about.
The beach was nice but nothing special, had even a huge pile of alges that smelled bad. The water was turquoise but only in between the alges in the water. Not quite paradise! What did it worse was the non stopping money ripping machine they had on the island, and there was no alternatives , we where on this island whit nothing else but the resort we staying in.
There was a lot of Aussis and Kiwis and they had a blast.To me it could have been any other island in Spain, it was just
more expensive. The food was really bad and again way to overpriced.
We returned to the main island confused about Fiji and ask our self where is the Fiji from the pictures ? Must be the
Jacque Custeau Island...
We had half a day left in Fiji and wanted to see this tribal village. But after just a few kilometres I found out that
the breaks on the car did not work anymore . So we went back to the airport to get another car, which the car rental
refused, they said that it just need some more break fluid and then everything would be fine. A guy took the car for half an our while we waited at the airport. He came back with and other Indian, which was the mechanic and they told us the car was fine and safe to drive ( Bombay fine). At that point I could not stay calm anymore and ask the 2 of them to join me in a test drive. I have never seen Indian get so afraid before, me driver like a maniac trough the traffic shouting in the car that I wouldn't even take my dog for a drive in this car, getting very close to other cars and shouting again to the
mechanic, " are you sure the car will stop now"
Took 2 minutes and we got an other car.The other car we got was as big a piece of s*** , but it could break.
We drove for an our on asphalt road in the poring rain and found out that the last 2 ours drive where on dirt road
and with all the rain it would not be safe to attempt it. We turn around and went home.
The next day we had a very early flight and when I wanted to return the car the office was closed even thought we had
agreed that they where supposed to be there.They had our deposit, and we could not miss our flight.
Lucky our flight was 1 our delayed and the office next to the car rental contacted them. After half and our one of them
decided to show up not bother by the situation. I was mad ,really mad. I tried the call the manager but he hang up on me twice. Now it got really mad. Those who know me well would know that if I get in the RED zone better seek cover.
Well I got my deposit back without a car check and I think the poor employee needed to sit after all the big words he
heard from me.
Fiji was not at all what we expected , Bula Fiji , you will not see us again.
Now I am seating in New Caledonia waiting for the Cyclone to hit us .... Hmmm wonder what happens.
Jessica will hopefully write about New Caledonia In some days.
Ps we are now back to the main land and survived. Everybody is fine .
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