Lautoka, Fiji

Sunday, October 11

After docking around 7.00 am, we were able to leave the ship from 8.00 am but we decided not to rush off as it was Sunday and not a lot begins before midday after church - a bit different to home!

We booked a 3 hour bus tour to take us into Nandi, along the beach road past the resorts and then back past the port to the town of Lautoka. The bus ride was hysterical as there were 18 other passengers - Canadian, American and Australians - all older than us and the biggest bunch of whingers you could imagine. The roads were not good but every pothole we went over brought gasps of pain and discomfort and cries re this being the worst, most uncomfortable ride of their lives. Our Fijian guide was a delight - late 30's and a lovely personality but a very strong accent that meant half the passengers couldn't understand him. One lady spoke so loudly and thought he looked like Harry Belafonte - a description all of us, including him, heard. Thankfully he was a lot more gracious than she was. We stopped for photos along the way including to see the Sleeping Giant Mountains.

Sleeping Giant Mountains

After a bit of time to shop in one of the few shops open in Nandi, we were driven out to a beach area where we enjoyed a local beer in the warm sun. We had an hour or so there and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - plus we had a good wifi connection.

We were then driven to Lautoka and again didn't see many people around as by then it was their siesta time. Lautoka was not very inspiring and there seemed to have a large population of Indians as many houses were flying a red & yellow flag indicating a Hindu shrine in the garden. We didn't stop to have a good look around the city area but what we could see from the bus certainly wasn't that exciting.

A large Hindu Temple near Nandi

It was then off to the ship and we chuckled that our 3 hour bus trip had succumbed to island time and taken 4.5 hours.

We had a bite to eat poolside then headed for the Crows Nest for Happy Hour before heading off to the nondenominational church service at 6.00 pm. We all agreed that we had been shaken about so much on the bus that that must have been why we felt so tired - well that's our excuse anyway. Our ship cast off and sailed from Lautoka while we were up in the Crows Nest on Deck 9 so we had a lovely view out over many of the islands that make up Fiji but it was too early for sunset.

 

 

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