6 May 2002, Fiji Time

Keep in mind this one question... What resort is my favorite resort in Fiji? Let's see if you can figure it out!!!

Bula from Rainbow Reef, Vanua Levu - in Fiji's Northern Islands

Arriving in Fiji yesterday felt like coming home. It has only been 6 months since I was here last but seems like an eternity. There is absolutely nothing special about Nadi airport, except... it is the portal to one of my favorite places on earth. The Customs window where I ALWAYS wish they would exclaim, as they look at my passport, "Ohhh, you've been to Fiji many times..", the two duty free shops whose salespeople are standing at their doors asking arriving passengers to come in and buy... the small but efficient baggage carousel that actually delivers your luggage (usually) so that you can have something to wear on your vacation, the agricultural guys who never go through my luggage no mater what I tell them I have (I always tell them what I have), and the expected groups of people on the other side of the sliding doors leading out of "International Arrivals". It's always the same and the message to my brain is... "You're in Fiji now!" My flight to Taveuni in the 18 seater was wonderful as I watched thick clouds beneath me open to view huge reefs, flat ocean and the 100 shades of green as we approached Fiji's Garden Island, Taveuni. As we approached this gem of an island, a John Denver song (I swear I am not making this up) came into my mind.. "You fill up my senses... come fill me again." Now, I don't think he was thinking about a Country when he was singing this song but... sometimes my mind has a mind of it's own so it was singing this song to me. After I arrived at the quaint airport at Taveuni, I proceeded to wait for my ride which would be a 20 minute drive toward Waieyvo and then a 20 minute boat ride across the Somo Somo Straits to the simply picture perfect Rainbow Reef Resort... Where each day begins new... While I am sitting there I see the representative for Air Fiji looking at me talking to someone who talks to someone on the phone. The next thing I know the nice man is coming over to me saying, "Melisha (that's how my name is pronounced most often here), your transport will be another 10 minutes." He had taken it upon himself to check to see when my ride would be there. This is only ONE reason why I love Fiji so much. It is small townish, the people are so kind and friendly that they make it their business to take care of you. I don't know the man, he learned my name while he was finding out where my ride was. I have no idea how he knew where I was going. I think they read minds here too!

Here is my itinerary for my time in Fiji. Rainbow Reef Resort; Namale Resort; Nukubati Resort; Wadigi Island Lodge; Outrigger Reef Resort, Lunch at Vatulele celebrating Fiji's MOST INCREDIBLE NEW BURE, The Point; Tokoriki Island Resort, Naviti Resort (on the Coral Coast), and Sonaisali Resort (Nadi Bay). I am here to site inspect (travel lingo for a vacation that "looks" like work) Fiji resorts and for the annual travel trade show called Bula Fiji. Be sure to visit often for reviews of each resort I am visiting.

Melissa McCoy

click here for On Location from Rainbow Reef

click here for On Location from Namale

click here for On Location from Nukubati