Happy 21st bro. Sorry ya'll, will be back soon with update of haps.

Early morning sees us watching the early Air New Zealand 767 bound for Auckland, taxi for take off. The sun is just poking its nose over The Sleeping Giant and life is kicked back into action as a new day dawns. My chance to see Fiji and its beauty from the skies aboard a Cessna 172 is about to begin. We take off and head south, were the sky is grey and watery. Hugging the coast at 500ft, we look for clear weather ahead, allowing us a passage to Kadavu resting off the south coast of Viti Levu. Without any blue visible through the murk, we turn about and follow the white line of the sea crashing onto the reef along the south-west coast.

Northward we set a course for the Mamanuca Group, nestled between the mainland and The Yasawas. Spotted with many of the popular Fiji resorts, the reef and islands create a mosaic of aquas, golden yellows and lush greens. The island above, Monuriki, was used in the film castaway. With no inhabitants, it beholds a true desert island feel.

Thanks Euin (Shemonkey) and Gerome for the opportunity to tag along with you guys.
Cheers.

Nadi 12:55pm 28°C Humid

Ow, my head hurts! And no, it wasn't from the all you can drink alcohol on South Sea Island, although that did contribute I'm sure. It was an inconspicuously low door. Well not that inconspicuous when the sign above the door stated, 'Mind Your Head'. I obviously didn't mind! Not even Ow!!!

South Sea Island 10:15am 21°C Sunny

Nadi 11:11pm 22°C Calm

Vuda Point.

Happy Birthday to Ralph, keeping the kiwi contingent alive and well in Turkey town. The big three three has come. Hope you had a good one man. I saluted a cool Fiji Gold in your honour. Cheers fella.

Nadi 10:00pm 22°C Cool

Today saw The Flying Fijians take on Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka. The game saw the lead change once with Japan taking a storming early advantage in the first half leading 15 - 6. The pep talk in the Fiji shed saw the boys muster the courage and energy to go over the line four times in the second half and take a commanding 30 - 15 win at full time. To take in the achievement, we thought it necessary to celebrate with a few jugs at the local sports club and enjoy the afternoon on the sprawling lawn under the warm and diluting light of the sun. Well done to the Fiji boys and all the best to the Fiji Seven's team as they try to keep the Cup over in London and Scotland.

Nadi 7:26pm 25°C Clear

Fiji Islands 5:12pm 28°C Sunny

The days have become dry, the skies are blue and cloudless, the nights are cool, clear and refreshing. The sun has invigorated me somewhat. Long gone are the dreary grey days with persistent precipitants always on the verge. The wet season has gone and now we sink deep into the moisture lessness. Fabulicious!

Nadi 9:27pm 23°C Clear

An early afternoon trek into the jungle, saw a bunch of us in search of yet another elusive waterfall. Thanks to Sebastian and Demetre doing the hard yards first, scouting this one by air and by ground. A pleasant stream opening out onto a 150m cliff face, with the water ejecting itself downwards to the valley below. A spectacular site, with the Highlands sprawling out beyond the precipice. Magic!

And, huge hugs to my Mum. Happy Mother's Day!

Nadi 6:25pm 27°C Clear

Having one of those moments after a long day of toiling with work. The busyness tightens you up and all you need is to sit in a room to unwind the tort spring in your head. I've found the solution. Make your way to your favourite music source provider, look up the new Groove Armada album 'Loveboy Rock', insert aforementioned composition into your preferred tone generating device, sling your audiophile, warm, bass enhanced earphones over your head, fast forward to track number 13 and press play. Ohhhhhhhhhh, slump down into an unexpected slouch, and ooze the tension out through your toes as they tap to the slow and melodic rhythm that exhales from the coils over your ears.

Well it works for me. I'm not one to promote music as it's a very personal thing and often one persons suggestion is another persons uncomfort. This album has captured me and it finds me in any mood. I thank those who bring such warmth to my lobes.

Best wishes to Megan who flies out today on her first visit to the European shores. Take care and look after yourself boo.

Nadi 6:57pm 27°C Dark but warm!

Washing away the grit for another day.

Nadi 4:34pm 31°C Cloudy

Friday saw us jump in the Hilux and head to for the Kings Highway. The alternative method of getting from Nadi to Suva. The long way. Heading through Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, stopping to take in the sights of the coral rich coast of the north. The sun reflecting the distinctive aqua colours from the white sandy ocean floor. Rounding the northern tip at Rakiraki, the road dips down into the jungle after briefly skirting the left bank of Viti Levu Bay. The tar seal quickly turns to mud and potholes. Villages springing up around almost every corner, some tucked deep into the lush over growth. The hills are steep and the rivers run full. The weather was sympathetic and refrained from pelting us with liquid bomblets. The jungle stunning and green. Emerging in the south to land that resembled a lot of New Zealand. Farm fencing, animals and lush grass covering the paddocks. This was dairy country. The smells confirmed it!

Soon we hit civilisation again in the northern reaches of Nausori. Something of a cross between a typical suburb of a typical city with typical city like attributes and the shanty towns of third world countries. Tin roofed shacks with tin walls, no doors or windows, the mud staining the lower edge of the foundations from the commonly consistent rain. The faces tell a story of contentment, like mostly all I've seen in Fiji. The dark faces lightened by big toothy grins and young opened palms waving frantically with the gesture of hello and welcome.

Hitting Suva, for the first time being here, I feel like I could be in almost any capital. The hustle and bustle, the towering buildings cramping gridlocked roads, the smell of coffee and cafes, the belching soot from buses and trucks. The atmosphere not as friendly, people in a purposeful rush and in their own little world. A 'city' all be it a little smaller. I liked it, couldn't live there, but I liked it. Worth another visit some other day.

Suva 3:19pm 27°C Cloudy

Savuione Waterfall, situated in the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park, high above Lautoka perched in the highlands. A truly stunning place with amazing vistas of the valley and out to the islands. The weather went from clear blue sky to a heaving deluge within 20mins. The clouds fell off the highlands and swirled around the valley making for an interesting trek back to Abaca (pronounced 'Ambatha'), finishing up at the Vereni Falls which can be viewed from above on a Cave Creek style lookout. Definatly heading back for another visit soon.

Nadi 5:44pm 29°C Cloudy

It's official, the wettest rainy season in 25 years. Hoora!!!!

Nadi 5:10pm 27°C Cloudy

Yesterday saw us trekking up a river inland looking for some, what turned out to be elusive, waterfalls. The walk was spectacular and the water refreshing to swim through as the jungle heat sapped every drop of moisture from each pore. The wildlife was plentiful with fish, frogs, prawns, worms, centipedes, spiders, bees, snails, mosquitos, goats and the odd native fishing from its banks. Ending up in the middle of nowhere, we come across an Indian lady with two young children, who invite us in to her home to rest with some juice. Working off the land growing what crops they can to sell at the market, their water dribbles from a well up the hill, light comes from the battery of their weary ute and everything else is from the thick jungle around them. A very humbling experience that makes you realise life is about what you have and not what you want to have. You make the best of what you've got and don't expect anything more, you have to earn it for yourself.

The weather is cooler now. The tourism seems to be picking up with more people bustling around the pool and bar here at the Skylodge. The rainy season seems to be disipating and it's time for those clear blue skies to increase and dry the sopping ground and give the drowning plants a time to prosper......finally.

Nadi 10:15am 25°C Sunny

It's wonderful to be back in the tropics. The warmth, the humidity, the relaxed pace. Even in NZ on a brief visit, the body gets filled with the fast atmosphere. The need to be here and there and most places in between at the same time. Fiji is like eating a orange choc chip ice-cream, sitting under a Pohutakawa tree and looking over a white sandy coastal vista in that period stuck between Xmas and the New Year. Beautiful!

Nadi 2:08pm 26°C Raining

Home for easter and what a breath of fresh air to catch up with friends and family, all be it a bit short and apologies to those I missed. With the best of intentions, 4 days just ain't enough. Some time was spent up north with the folks and a night spent at Te Puru on the Coromandel. The bright sunny days leading into the shortening cooler dusk, and the mornings dawning with the crisp crunch under foot. The briskness of the air was relieving all be it a wee bit of a challenge to deal with due to my lack of planning on warm woolies! Thanks for the good times and can't wait to return home soon. Vinaka.

Te Puru 5:46pm 16°C Crisp and clear

Homeward bound, well for six days anywho. Happy Easter ya'll.


Before I depart, with the extensive wads of tropical depressions coming the way of Fiji of late, why not have another one. However, this bad boy, cyclone cliff, has menaced itself into the realms of tropical cyclone hood. Luckily it seems to be drifting down the east side of the group, with reports of 60 knot winds and heavy rain. Prey it stays away and the poor souls lashed by so much so far this year come through unscathed.

Nadi 5:45pm 31°C Sunny / Little cloud

Thanks to the prophet Mohammed's Birthday, today is a holiday. Hallelujah!!!

Nadi 9:18am 26°C Sunny

Happy April Fools day! May all your Tom foolery be successful and enjoyable.

Nadi 11:24am 30°C Sunny

Shizen, a good few weeks have past since i scribbled my thoughts down. The weeks have turned to months and it all seems to be going by without any time passing. It has become a strange sensation to find the weekends backing up and the days rolling by almost unnoticed. Is this the Fiji influence of Fiji time, where things are so relaxed and laid back that time itself melds into nothing? I'm not sure, but I'm finding it very refreshing and soothing. Work has been quite hectic the last couple of weeks, with the incessant deluges, interspersed with clean blue skies. Juggling things in a manner that finds a path through the copious amounts of mud and water sodden earth. Thankfully, a long weekend has come along to enable the recharging of batteries and muscles, and 5 days away from jumping on the silver bird home to catch up with friends and family over the Easter break. Yay. Otherwise, not much else to report, apart from a mild brain ache from a rather large night on the 'town' (Ohana and Ed's bar) last night where the old quiet beer at home turns into drunken disorderly in the Nadi back blocks. Loads of fun, laughs and merriment. Those of you in NZ, see you soon. The rest of you's fullas, take care of yourselves. Vinaka vakalevu....

Pictures of Nadi town over the last few weeks of intermitant flooding.

Nadi 8:22pm 25°C Cloudy

Natadola Beach and Islands.

Nadi 4:30pm 31°C Sunny

Nadi 11:00am 30°C Sunny

Firstly, New Zealand trounce England in the Cricket World Cup by 6 wickets, it's St Patrick,s day and v32.0 of Zeon has been passed by a new improved v33.0 that has been unwrapped and unleashed on the world. There haven't been much in the way of updates or upgrades, just the knowledge of another year of experience under the belt! A quote from a lovely card I recieved said, 'There's something women look for in a man your age...a PULSE!' Ahh classic!!! It's a bright sunny day, something from the norm of late, so will relish it by going to the local markets for some fresh goodies. Enjoy the Irish craziness wherever you may be with some damn fine craic.

Nadi 10:39am 27°C Sunny

The Nausri Highlands, on the road towards Bukuya Village, looking back over Nadi Bay, Denerau, airport, Namaka and Lautoka Fuel tanks to the right. Finally the rain has cleared.

Nadi 1:31pm 30°C Sunny

Not sure where I've been or if this is something new, but not really taking much notice of soap packets generally, I was amazed to find that this soap can make you whiter. I'm no scientist, but living somewhere like Fiji, the demand for such technological ingredients in soap seems a little pointless. All I want to do is fit in a little more with a bit of a tan and I find my soap is quietly doing the opposite! What the.....?

Nadi 3:49pm 26°C Raining

Holy guacamole. It's March.....and a wee while since I threw up an update on my blog. It's been almost 2 weeks since my last confession. So what's been happening? The last week saw a little bit of a reality check and realisation kicked in, just how much I miss stuff at home. In all honesty, there ain't much to do here without spending wads of cash. To be honest, when the weekend does come around, you feel like doing little more than being as vegetative as possible and wearing away those weekday bumps and bruises. Last weekend though, I trekked inland via the Nausori Highlands. Now foolish me, I took my camera and the day was picture perfect for some great images, but I forgot to fuel up the beasties batteries. Soo high in the hills, overlooking Nadi Bay and the distant islands, I attempted to turn on the aforementioned device, and it plainly starred back at me and said, what?!?! Never mind. It's a short drive and I'll return soon to share with you all the delights of the islands innards!

Now onto work related news. The last few days have seen me and the boys transforming carnage into lushness. 10 Beetlenut Palms now line the main entry and two Royal Palms adorn the front lawn. However they gave me a bit of a fright as the began to lean after a thunderstorm took hold. These things aren't small, nor are they cheap, so a few expletives left my lips as we quickly managed to strop the palms upright again. With more storms looming tonight, I cross my fingers that they're still standing in the morning!

Other than that, being trying to keep active by hitting the squash court twice a week. Been playing some pretty full on games and struggle to survive. Not sure if it's the lack of stamina or the intense heat on the court, but by God it's fair near killed me a couple of times. Oh well, it's got to be good for ya huh.

Before I go, sending belated birthday wishes to my lil sister playing hard in Sydney town. The big 19 ticked over on Sunday. WOOHOO!!

Nadi 7:10pm 27°C Raining