Bula - Pics added

Blue Flame · Bula - Pics added

Haven't been on for awhile but just thought I'd say Bula while we are vacationing in Fiji for 3 weeks. Its been 12 years since the whole family took a holiday together so we're making the most of it.

There are horses EVERYWHERE here - grazing by the roadside of the main roads - EVERYWHERE . . . . . and DOGS. Luckily, all the drivers here know how to drive around animals and all the animals have some road sense.

Tomorrow I'm taking Miki and Adam scuba diving off the reef. In a couple of days we'll head up into the interior and get some quality horsey time in at our village and farm.

12 years . . . my children were babies last time we came and now they are 20,18 and 15 - time to re-establish their roots before they fly the nest.

Will be posting lots of pics when we get back at the end of the month . . .

Moce

CoolsLadyInRed

ooooo, Figi. I think you need to put some spectacular pics of warm places on here.

Sounds like family fun!

PasoBaby_CarolU

Oh Sandy, I'm jealous (it is 17 here this morning!). I've never been to Fiji but my sister has. It is the best diving anywhere in the world, and the people, culture, beauty is unsurpassed. You are lucky indeed to enjoy it.

Have fun!

Clarissa

Hey there Sandy & family! I hope you're having a great holiday over there.

I hope too that you don't find any problems with the horses. I saw a TV show not that long back about tourist horses in Fiji that looked so sad & mistreated (to me anyway).

Blue Flame

Clarissa, you are right about the horses in the main. Most of them, if they were in NZ would have people calling the SPCA - quite skinny/ribby/hippy. However, for all that, they seem content enough, very strong and very willing. They are absolutely BOMBPROOF - a nice change from dealing with thorobreds at home. Most of the horses are flaxen. We've seen quite a few really nice horses here as well. I think they don't need to ccarry as much condition here because of the temperature and they are anything but lacking for food. My cousin says many of the horses look to be lacking condition because the children (and I mean little children) ride them so much without any spelling time. The plough horses are not ridden and only work once a year in pairs on the plough.

Miki and I went on a fantastic ride with some relatives with Miki racing her uncles several times and beating the soundly every race. I think they will be talking about her for awhile since women don't ride horses here - its a modesty thing to do with keeping your legs closed. Miki also showed them a few things about getting a horses attention riveted to you - something they may use for catching the wild ones. They ride we went on consisted of Miki, myself, 3 uncles and a couple of boys about 7 years old - oh, and 9 pighunting dogs. We rode through farms, jungles, multiple river crossing etc. Sorry we got no pics of the ride as we the rivers were a bit deep for carrying a camera. Will post pics of some of the horsesd we've seen when we get6 back home. I visited and my grandpa's old farmhouse where sy sister, brother (deceased) and I wrote our names on the wall back in 1972 when I was 4 years old.

Prior to that we spent a few days at a resort where we kicked back during the day, partied at night and I took Miki and Adam Scuba diving to 12m (40') amongst the reef on the coral coast. We saw turtles etc but no sharks this time. It was the first scuba dive for all of us and was absolutely fantastic. Lokking for more dives to go on while we're here. I don't think we'll dive back in NZ - after diving here we've been spoiled for NZ diving.

Moce for now

Blue Flame

Just checking in again . . .

Have been staying in Nadi In my cousins apartment (its bigger than my house). We went to Natadola beach yesterday for a great swim on a very picturesque long beach. It took a while to find it and we doubled back a few times because there were bridges I was not prepoared to drive over

While searching we happened upon a group of locals on horses and asked for directions and whether we could ride there. Miki jumped on one of the horses (another stallion) and had a good ride down to the beach while we folloed in the Prado.

Once down the beach we hired 3 horses and rode the length of the beach. THis wasn't such a good ride as the sand was so soft the horses were working hard just walking. It would have been nice to find some firmer ground to ride on but we would probably have got lost.

Ok - the horses.

The horses here are about 60-70% satisfactory regarding condition. I think the skinny ones just need worming as food is plentiful. Quite a few cases of what looks like rainscald. Their feet are all healthy and barefoot. Most times the will be a least one foal at foot when on a ride.

The thing that is really disappointing is the condition of the horse's backs. I would say that probably only 30-40% of the ridden horses have what I would call satisfactory backs. This seems to be from 2 main causes. First, while the Fijians have great stickability regarding their riding (while includes sitting sideways and eating, standing and even sitting crosslegged on saddled or bareback horses) their riding style is very chair seat, bouncy and a good percentage of them hang on the reins at speed. Secondly, I have nood seen a horse yet that has satisfactory tack. All of the saddles would be candidates for the dump in any other country. We have seen some riders who ride well (from the horses point of view) but they stand out from everyone else. Apparently, some uncsrupulous types from overseas who have family here bring saddles that we would burn and charge exhorbitant prices for them to the locals. They do the best with them that they can with blankets and padding but I think in most cases they would be better off bareback.

I heard of one Australian women who was collecting good donated tack to send over here, however, getting used horse tack through customs is a problem in almost any country and shipping costs make this option unfeasable. I think there is a great opportunity here for a budget tack shop or chain of shops. New budget gear should cost no more than they are paying for the rubbish broken worn out tack currently available. It would also be great if a good horseman would spend some time here just helping the locals with some things like tack fit and sympathetic riding. I think Dave Stuart does something like that in South America as he told me he spends about 3 months/year working with the Dubhai royal horses and spends some time in South America each year. Talk about a contrast!

So, probably driving up to Ba today through Lautoka to see Mum's only surving adopted sibling and then checking in at the Hilton tomorrow for 5 days where my son Adam is keen to complete an open water PADI dive certification (4 day course consisting of half day each day - pool dive, lecture, 4 open water dives) which will allow him to dive with a buddy unsupervised. If he does it I'll probably do it too to make sure everything is done professionally. We have 2 relatives, young ladies from Aussie, staying with us currently who sleep all day and go nightclubbing all night. I think they might take my oldest with them tonight.

Just using a Vodem stick for internet right now but when we get to the resort tomorrow I can use their complimentary broadband and might start uploading some pics.

By the way, weather has been occasional thunder showers - big old fat rain where you go from dry to flodding in 10 minutes and then back to dry again 1 hour later. I've never seen so much lightning. Miki got some good lightning bolt pics. Yesterday was 33degC when the sun was out and 24degC when raining.

Moce

P.S. Please excuse spelling/grammar etc. typing this in a bit of hurry outside on the balcony and getting a lot of reflection on the screen.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Sandy, that sounds like so much fun.

I always find the riding in the island nations to be a bit of win/loose. You have a beautiful place to ride, but feel guilty riding the horses. Maybe there would be a way to train a local to make a leather saddle similar to an Ansur that would be better for the horses then bad trees.

I look forward to the pictures. If you dive, don't forget an underwater camera...since we went digital I can't believe the improvement in my husband's pictures.

Have fun!

Blue Flame

PasoBaby_CarolU

Oh, my husband would be SO jealous. He loves fish (what he got his degree in) and sharks especially. The Caribbean has sharks, but nothing like that. He'd love to do a shark dive!

Lucky you! I can't wait for your next report. I don't dive but do snorkel. I can't believe the incredible beauty beneath the water. Some of Mother Nature's best work, and so few to share it with.

Blue Flame · Pics

Staying at Hilton Denarau now for a few days. My wonderful wife Alyson works so hard she deserves some luxury and pampering. Our beachfront apartments are bigger than my house. Resort is fantastic but they really fleece the tourists here on Denarau. e.g. FJ$4.50/kg for pineapples - I was buying them off the side of the road the day before for FJ$5 for 4 pineapples. If ever you come to Fiji, ask someone where the nearest Mama's Pizza is. $FJ30 gets a pizza so large it feeds 6 of us for 1-2 meals.

Booked Adam and myself in for a 3 day dive certification course that includes lecture, pool dive and 4 open water reef dives over the 3 days. Starting 9am tomorrow. Only have a small window left for diving as you can't fly within 24 hours of a dive.

Danced the night away last night at a restauraunt/bar on the beach with a most excellent band. The voice harmonies were fantastic and the local lady sings Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" so beautifully you just can't not dance to it. I love that song.

Finally got time to upload a few pics . . .

Kicking back around the cava bowl at my cousin James's house overlooking Laucale bay. Left to right is me Pat, Ben and uncle Dom - see the resemblance in the 3 on the right?

This brige I crossed after looking underneath to see if there was steel there and working out where the tires had to go to stay on above the steelwork.

View from my rooms at the Naviti resort on the coral coast

Mum asking locals directions to beach and if we could ride there

Miki on a black stallion with a local at Natadola beach

My view from horseback at Natadola beach

Miki, Adam and foal at foot - Natadola beach

I'm on Fiji time - working on my tan

Sleeping Giant from Hilton Denerau

Sunset at the bar on the beach at Hilton Denerau

Dancing the night away with my wonderful bride and building memories

Better go, can't stay in the aircon all day and there is a pool calling my name.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Oh, Sandy, you've warmed my snowy day. I love

the tanning picture. I am so ready for a hot sand vacation!

Loved it. Thank you so much. Reassures me there is life beyond the snow field.

cheerios

great pictures. thanks for sharing them.

I agree with Carol -- the tanning one is awesome!

sandra smith

AHHH Those pictures make my 0 seem at least 20 degrees warmer!!!
The sunbathing horse is cool.

Sandra

CoolsLadyInRed

Oh I am so jealous!!! I love the pix and ditto on the sunbathing horse. I would love riding on the beach. That is on my bucket list

MagicMandi

love it!!! i bet we all wish we were there with you!

Blue Flame

PasoBaby_CarolU

Yeah, storms really mess up the visibility. They also break up the coral and you get fire coral in places you'd rather not have it.

A warm shower sounds nice...much nicer then snow!

Blue Flame

Completed the theory part of the training this morning but unable to do the pool dive as the neighbouring resort had closed the pool. I think many of the staff have gone home as there was talk this morning about closing roads in Nadi. Tomorrow we'll try again but if possible will be diving all day to catch up on our schedule. Watching the weather reports as they update and so far they seem to be downgrading the wind and rain.

Fire coral? What's fire coral? - sounds uncomfortable! I'm sure they'll supply us with appropriate suits for the conditions. Last time we dived in short sleeved suits and I think it will be warm enough in those again but maybe we might need the protection of a full suit if things get stirred up.

Sea is currently rough but I can't see any big swells out there.

Currently using the time to watch movies and internet. War Horse, Sherlock Holmes etc . . .

Blue Flame

Weather has finally cleared today after 2 tempestuous (is the a word?) days of thunderstorms and squalls. Unfortunately the diving is a wash - even if the staff could've gotten through to work the visibility would have been zero as the rivers expel the floodwaters.

The staff here have been fantastic. About half of the staff were told not to even try to come to work (they were willing to swim) or they'd be in trouble. The remaining staff have been doing 16 hours days and sleeping at work to make a holiday for the guests.

Military stepped in the other day to get some guests from Denerau Island to make their flights out - but we heard some incoming passengers were stuck at the airport (more like neighbouring hotels) for a couple of days.

Off to the marina now.

Moce

Clarissa

Sandy I guess you're all on your way home by now so I hope you have a good trip home. Of course we are always keen to see more photos

Blue Flame

Flying home tomorrow. There are worse places to be stranded by floods than at the Hilton Denerau

Last three days have been good weather and even though this is the worst flood anyone can remember - you wouldn't really notice today apart from a bit of cleanup still going on.

Spent our last day today taking a day cruise to Beachcomber island. Couldn't manage to arrange a dive without risking catching a late boat home in the dark. We satisfied ourselves with taking a boat out to a nearby reef for a snorkeling excursion which was very worthwhile. We saw lots of corals and fishlife - blue fish of such a vibrant colour its hard to believe it occurs in nature. Maximum depth was about 4-6m and couldn't really see much past that - so a 12m dive probably wouldn't have been worth it as it would have been cloudy by the time we got down and visibility would have been poor. Met a really cool Australian guy on the boat home and had a huge conversation about horses.

My Aunty is making her specialty cashew noodle dish for dinner. Only thing left to deal with is getting all of the gifts given to us through customs. One of these items is a beautifully engraved Tambua (whales tooth) - a ceremonial piece used for the most formal of occasions.

Looking forward to seeing our animals tomorrow afternoon and a few other things (slightly cooler temps, no lizards, cheap confectionary, non - UHT treated milk, my water distiller, tomatoes, lettuce etc.) Will definitely miss the pineapples, mangoes and paw-paws - they just don't taste the same back home.

I think if our flight gets delayed and my wife has to wait a minute longer to see her dogs she will start screaming.

Moce from Namaka, Nadi, Fiji - next post will be from New Zealand with more pics once I get time (and bandwidth) to upload them.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Well, it does sound like a nice vacation. It's to bad about the storm and diving getting messed up. Hate to waste our precious time off. I look forward to your pictures, have a safe flight.

Blue Flame

PasoBaby_CarolU

I hope you are all together soon. I am not so different from your wife with my dogs. Yesterday I left Ruby for 5 hours to go to Sundance... definitely worth the trip, but when I walk in the door to such a greeting...well, they just worm their way right into my heart.

Sorry about the flight delay. I hate them. My worst was 28 hours. It is STILL a nightmare.

Blue Flame

Finally home at 3:40 a.m. Snatching a few hours sleep then go see horsey on way to pick up puppies. coffee

Clarissa

PasoBaby_CarolU

I always like to get home to my own bed (although those at Hiltons are normally top notch!).

I'll bet the dogs were glad to see you. I think they pine for us most of all.

Chablis

Awesome series of photos! Glad your holiday went so well (bar the nasty weather & delayed flights) and you are all safely home.