(this happened on) Friday 26th June, 2009

The Gap Year Gang Have The Longest Day, Literally

Leaving Sonaisali Resort, Fiji

Today is our last day in Fiji and so breakfast and then pack, the kids will move into our room and then at 2:30 or so we will check out and cross the short stretch of water before catching our transport to the airport.

We all went to breakfast then moved the children out of their room and into ours. While Sofia did some drawing, Sasha slept and Basty watched the Fifth Element on DVD, I went off to hit the internet. While I was gone Ronnell and then Millie (from Robinson Crusoe Island) turned up at the Bure to chat to Sofia and the Kids, Rick had already left.

Ronnell had a very thick head! Millie had not had a drink and could be pretty smug. They also sent us regards from Wayne (one of the owners and a nice bloke). At 12:00pm they went off to have their lunch.

In the mean time I was at the pool bar to connect once again to the internet (the longest 24 hours access ever, must be Fiji time).

I checked the emails, favorite websites, and tried to download podcasts, I uploaded our blogs and then just had a cold one while chatting to an English guy who now lives in New Zealand and getting the low down on how he managed to get a long term visa for him and his family.

I am again filled with hope that if Sofia chooses New Zealand that we possibly could be able to get over there.

Back at the room we were packed and ready to leave Fiji, a few days after arriving in the Country I did not get it, now three weeks later I have to admit to really enjoying my time in Fiji.

But really let’s be honest I never actually saw Fiji, I saw three resorts of various different price levels and service levels.

The bits of Fiji I did see looked uninspiring and under developed, not the place I could live, as modern amenities seems to be totally lacking.

The resorts were fun and most of the locals we met were very nice but I probably will never visit the country again.

Today was still going to be a strange day at 2:45pm we checked out and the porters took our bags to the little boat that would take us back across to the main land some 100 yards away.

We all walked to the boat, there was no one to sing us off here, but really helpful guys to help with our bags. The little yellow crabs all did the Saturday Night Fever dance and waved us off. A nice big 4×4 arrived to take us to the airport after the local lads had admired Sasha’s hair and put an orchid behind her ear. Our driver was an ex soldier, who ran away and joined the army at 18 and he seemed to have served in all the major conflict areas. Sofia saw another mongoose run across the road in front of us.

We were very early at the airport and could not check in until 7:30pm so we went round around all the shops and read our books. We heard that Farrah Fawcett had died today.

Then we got checked in, it took a while but we got rid of our bags and could go through to the departures.

Sofia and Sasha and I went off to spend the last of the local cash, Sofia got some perfume for herself and some to put away for Sasha’s birthday, she also got chocolate for us boys and a little bottle of Baileys for me, and  also got us two t-shirts each. Especially important as Basty has grown out of most of his t-shirts.

Sofia found one of the smallest gecko’s I had ever seen. Michael Jackson has also died today (apparently from a pain killer overdose causing a heart attack), So we named the tiny lizard in honor of him, it stayed on Sofia’s arm for ages, I think the shop girls were convinced she was crazy, but they were fascinated. She put it on a nice big palm, inside the terminal it’s own little oasis.

The flight was not due until 10:30pm but what makes this day a bit special is that when all is said and done we actually arrive in Hawaii at around 7:00am on the same day, so it really is true to say it’s going to be a long day.

The flight was six hours of no big deal except for the crappy food that would come back to haunt me later.

At the Waikiki airport we had about an extra 30 minutes wait on the plane due to it overshooting it’s stop point by a few meters and while we waited for a tow back they decided to send us to another gate.

When we finally got off the plane we went through to the immigration and what a bloody pleasant surprise for America, every other trip to the USA has included massive queues at immigration and unsmiling staff but not here. The queue was non existent and we were greeted by chatty and happy staff.

A small issue with a new finger printing machine which was soon sorted and we were through.

Our luggage was waiting for us so we were soon outside in the early morning heat and what heat.

So we had effectively traveled back in time and it was now around 8:00am on Friday 26th June.

The shuttle bus seemed a good idea but with four of us it was actually cheaper to take a taxi, so we did all the way to our hotel The Aqua Palms Spa Hotel at Ala Moana Boulevard, a short walk to Waikiki beach.

The staff were friendly enough but at the same time they did not seem willing to let us get into our room before the 3:00pm check in time.

We left our bags with the porter and headed out to the Ala Moana Mall, we decided to walk.

Once we got to the mall it was funny to see shops only starting to open as we had been traveling all day and here we were again at the start of the day, we went to the food court and Sofia had a tuna melt and an Ice Coffee, I had a roast beef and cheese toastie. Sasha had a smoothie and Basty had very little. we then spent the best part of the day wandering slowly around until we found a Borders book shop where we all spent a few pleasant hours.

Then we hoped in a taxi back to the hotel. By the time we got back to the hotel it was still only 2:00pm, I asked at the reception if our room was ready and was told no it would not be ready until 3:00pm.

I was a bit pissed off and asked them if they could not get us in earlier as we had been traveling for many hours and were all plain and simply knackered.

Two minutes later our room was magically ready.

We are on a bit of a money saving run as we are way over budget n the trip so far, so we will all be sharing one room for a few days.

It’s not so bad, Sofia and I have a big bed, big in the way that only an American bed could be.

Sasha has bagged the fold down bed settee and poor Basty gets to sleep on a pile of pillows on the floor.

Sofia, Sasha and Basty wanted a rest and I of course wanted to explore further as I was trying to not get jet lag, So with Sofia preparing to have a nice long soak in a hot bath, I again set off out to have a walk around, this time I went to Ward Mall and wandered around, I found the cinema and got details of which films were showing.

Walking back to the room I was struck my how many homeless people there are in Waikiki, it’s a very sad sight.

When I got back I had become a victim of major chaffage ouch!

I had also had found a good Hawaiian burger joint for dinner (Cheeseburger Waikiki).

Sofia’s poor feet are so swollen She asked if we would please go to dinner and to the cinema without her while she rests ready for action tomorrow.

I wanted to see the new Transformers (II) movie and the kids wanted to see Jack Black in Year One, Sofia did not really want to see either and could manage happily without any dinner so we left her to rest.

It must have been opening week as the showing of Transformers were all selling out, I managed to get one of the last 20 tickets for the 9:00 pm showing. I would meet the kids back at the hotel.

Before the film started I must have already dozed off a few times, I struggled to watch the film for over an hour but realized that I had no idea what was really happening as I must have been nodding off almost non stop. Then I started to get a sweat on, I was feeling unwell and so I tried to stand at the back and watch the film, finally giving up and leaving the cinema.

I walked back to the hotel feeling very unwell, I think the plane food was fighting back. On the way back I felt so unwell and could not find a public toilet plus I had very little warning and had to essentially just find a quiet dark alley for an emergency pooh, sorry to whoever had to clear that up.

By the time I got back to the room I was feeling very sorry for myself.

I was back before the kids and was glued to the loo.

Sofia had made the best of her alone time and had been getting in touch with all her friends on the net, she had contacted her cousin in LA (Nick) and they are looking forward to meeting up when we are in town.

Finally I went to bed. One hell of an action packed day.

The View of Oahu from Our Hotel Room

fiji, sonaisali resort, hawaii,  cheeseburger waikiki, oahu, the aqua palms spa hotel, ala mona boulevard, waikiki beach, america, usa, gap year, world travel, gap year gang, holiday