Our time had come to leave New Zealand. It was just short of a 7 month stay. In some ways it felt like yesterday that we had arrived. But when we thought about how much we had done and the people that we had met, it really did feel like a chunk of time had passed. We also missed our family and friends and animals, our own bed and books, and boats. We had a chore list waiting for us and Simon wanted to get started on something....a summer job, a course. Gillian had managed being abandoned long enough and our good family had 'held the fort' and their good intentions were wearing down. It was time.
Cary was given a nice send off at his clinic. Warren, the office manager spoke for awhile in Maori.The people in the room were nodding and smiling so we hoped he was saying nice things. We had a yummy lunch, presents were given, and that was it. Their 20th doctor in seven years had finished his term. We wished them all good luck. I went to see the kids in the daycare for the last time. The few who weren't too busy in their play, came over to hug my legs. Their sweet smiles will always stay with me. Simon's friends sent texts saying goodbye, youth style. Simon's boss, Andrew, and girlfriend, Kirstie and her son Callum came over for our last evening. We always had laughs and good chats with them.They had often dropped in and stayed for numerous cups of tea.They had us over on Christmas day.They had done their best to make us feel welcome. We hope we tickled their curiosity to see Canada but I'm not sure if they will make it here. It's a long way and it might prove to be a hard thing to pull off with their busy farming lives..
We packed up our suitcases and loaded up the red van for the last time. We said goodbye to our 'over the fence neighbor'. We turned the key on our New Zealand lives.
We picked up George in Mania, drove around Mt. Taranaki, north to Auckland.
George entertained us with history lessons of his ancestors.We popped into a Marae north of Hamilton. This is where the king of all Iwi lives.The buildings were intricately carved and there were huge wakas (canoes) down on the river. One could feel a presence of history.
George left us at the hotel, as we had given ourselves sometime to walk around Auckland and to go through our bags one last time to make sure everything was packed well for the trip to Fiji the next day.
The Sky Tower -Auckland
We arrived at the airport at 10:30am on March 22.We checked our bags and spent the last of our NZ money and were waiting to board Air Pacific at 2pm. Delay notice. More delays. Here have a voucher for some lunch. Delays. The plane in Fiji needs mechanical work. Take your time! More vouchers for supper.
The best thing that happened was we got to say a final goodbye to Harry Monga, Peter's Kiwi brother. He came to the airport with his wife Janet to meet his son Simon and wife, Jenine, arriving from Australia.We had a coffee and a long chat.Harry admitted never having been on a plane, and he doesn't wish for the experience at all. He said, why does he need to go anywhere when NZ has it all - mountains, clean air, oceans, farmland, his family.
After they left we got more vouchers. It ended up being a 10 hour delay and $145 NZ in vouchers. We bought Whittaker's chocolate bars and went to the bar for Red Lion on Tap. It wasn't all that bad. We arrived in Fiji at 2am. Our transport was waiting for us and we plowed around potholes and through the dark streets towards our resort, 'The First Landing'. It is so named because supposedly the first Fijians arrived at this very spot 3500 years ago.
We were led to our Garden Bure by Koso, and fell off to sleep with the whir of the fan in our ears.
We had a hot cooked breakfast every morning but found lunch and supper at either the nearby marina, or at the towns (Lautoka or Nadi) or at the resort.
We took two half day trips into Lautoka and Nadi. One by taxi and the other by local bus. Both were interesting with the business of island life and the colorful markets.
A Padi certified dive shop was just outside the car park so it was easy to arrange dive trips.We took one with Simon to Beachcomber Island, and then Simon went on his own for a second day. The water was 30C and one only needed a 'shorty'.Simon's deepest dive was 27m. We had befriended a Scottish couple who were doing 21 dives in 7 days, and they took Simon under their wings.We saw beautiful coral and colorful fish. Simon saw some pinnacles, a sea turtle and a shark.
On our last evening in Fiji, on our screened porch, Koso did the Kava ceremony for us, This is a ceremonial drink that one takes part in when being welcomed into a village.Kava is a root, and when it is ground up it looks like ash.It is a narcotic so we were warned to just have a taste and have the Fijian experience.
There are rules.
Sit cross-legged.
Do not point your feet towards the bowl.
Take off your hat and sunglasses.
Clap before taking hold of the bowl.
Drink the cold, muddy liquid in one go.
Hand back the bowl and clap 3 times to show your appreciation.
Cary wanted a second bowl. I thought I would too. Simon followed suit. My tongue went numb.I was hungry.
We gave Koso some taxi money as he stayed well past his shift and it was a long walk to the bus.
My favorite memory of Fiji will be when we sat at the bar drinking Fifi Bitter Beer watching rugby on the only tele at the resort. Fiji vs Malaysia. Every time Fiji scored a Try (a touchdown) everyone cheered and the bar- tender hit a gold bell with a bottle opener.Fiji blasted Malaysia out of the water.It was a good time.
Baboo, our taxi driver, loaded our 6 suitcases and 3 backpacks, into his cab. While going to the airport he asked, "How long were you in Fiji?" We answered, "5 days." He said quietly, "You'll have to pack lighter next time."
On our flight home, Manitoba had never looked so flat. It was grey and black in a patchwork pattern. But it was predictable and stable. It was home. The south pacific was on the move.It was quaking and spewing. What with two earthquakes in Christchurch in 6 months and Japan's earthquake , tsunami and radiation leaks, it was time to head back to the prairies.
It was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you friends and family for looking after everything here and for keeping in touch with us while in NZ. It was a blast!
Thanks for reading!
Here ends my travel blog on 'Prairiedogs in New Zealand'. This was a pleasurable experience as well as a therapeutic one. It was difficult at times to pick out the best pictures as we had taken about 3000 of them. It was challenging to write in such a way as to inform yet to also keep the reader's interest.There are stories not yet told. So to those of you who stuck with me to the end, I thank you. Kia Ora!
