Photos of the Fiji Trip

We had New Year's on the plane.  The Fijians liked the baby powder!

This was the water ferry type thing that took us to Malolo island resort.

The boys to the left are Patty (Patrick) and Lucas, 8 and 10.  Ian LOVED hanging out with them.  What do you think about the Auzie boys?

Sorry about the late update.  It took us a while to get from Fiji to Sydney because one of the water taxi's engines ran out of fuel on the way back to mainland and we missed our flight.  Because of the missed flight, we were able to explore the real Fiji, the way the locals knew it.  It was humbling.  Anyways, we arrived in Mudgee, chose our rooms, started the washing machine as fast as I could because I was out of clothes and starting to smell not so good.  Did you know that Mudgee means nest in the hills?  It really paints a much better mental picture.

I love you all.

Hugs,
Ali

P.S.

P.S.  Check down a little to see what I posted most recently about Fiji.  I'll upload my photos in Mudgee.

Love,
Ali

Sorry

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't published anything for a while.  It's just that it took me forever to find out how to get internet on the mac.  Anyways, I'll keep you all posted.

On a side note, my shoulders are horribly burnt.  On the upside, the rest of me isn't!

Love you,
Ali

January 2, 2011 (Fiji), January 1, 2011 (Calgary)

January 2 2011

2:30 Fiji, 6:28 Calgary

            So here we are in Fiji.  At the malolo island resort to be exact.  Sand, sun, surf, snorkel…  All those great “s” words are to be found here.  Even supper.  Yesterday, as we disembarked from our 7-47 (which has two levels by the way), we were blasted with warm air funneling through windows and doors that never close.  We took our private bus (because no one else was on it) to the Denarau marina and then boarded a water taxi that took us here.  We arrived to a welcome party that sang as to us and then were brought damp hand towels smelling heavenly minty and a fruit punch drink with ice.  We spent the rest of the day playing beach volleyball and swimming until it was time for bed (which for us, was right after dinner).  Today, I got up to birds singing, waves crashing against the beach, and Ian munching on chips because he missed dinner the night before on account of jet lag.  After a real breakfast consisting of not one single chip, mum and I got on a boat for a snorkeling tour.  We saw tons of different types of coral, beautiful fish, our boat moving away in the distance (don’t worry, it stopped and we got on).  When we got back, the family partook in a malolo island rules game of baseball which was more like cricket.  The adults lost magnificently and we all retired to the shade of the pool.  After we found our camera to which had been accorded much stress, we ate lunch at the beach bar overlooking the ocean.  This afternoon, I am dragging my unwilling family out on a sail and then I am going to crush mum at volleyball.

Hugs,

Ali

P.S.  Oh, and I miss you all…  I think.

P.P.S.  Just kidding.  I do miss you all if not the -24 Calgary weather.  Did I mention that it’s +28 outside right now?  Love you all.

Departure Day

Wow.  It’s finally coming true.  That which we have waited and prepared for for so long is finally happening.  Until I stepped onto the plane, it didn’t seem like I was actually leaving.  It seemed as though we were only talking about it and not really going.  Right now, the Mills/Farquhar/Harrod battalion (family) is on a plane to Los Angeles where, once we get there, we will make our connecting flight to Fiji after a 6 hour layover.  10 hours into the flight to Fiji, we will land and make our way to the boat that will bring us to our little island resort in Malolo.  4.5 out of 5 stars.  Anyone else jealous?  My Christmas was awesome.  I spent it with my dad in White Salmon (Washington) skiing, lounging about the house, and all around not worrying about the trip ahead at all.  Greatest Christmas break yet.  On the other hand, the Mills/Farquhar faction spent the time in Fernie with Corin, Megan, Transfer, and Kunik.  They spent a great deal of time worrying about it judging from the haggard expressions on their faces yesterday evening and the bags under their eyes.  The short and long of it is that I got the best deal by far.  When I returned from dad’s house, I found my bag packed and pretty much ready to go, the Finter’s (our Australian exchange partners) installed in our house which had been fastidiously cleaned over 48 hours, the travel documents in order, and tortière sitting in the freezer for me (!!!!!).  Sadly, when I awoke the next morning, the tortière was forgotten in Tara and Brad’s fridge (you might not want to eat it anymore) in the hurry to get out the door and meet Catherine at the airport.  So here I am sitting on the plane 30 000 feet in the air with an hour to go on our Los Angeles connection.  Hopefully Ian and I will survive the waiting to come in the next 24 hour period.  

I love you all.  Hugs,

Alison