Travelling Swift

Stories from a Single, White, Idiotic, Female, Traveller

Fiji

I thought I had better send this to apologise for being so smug about going to Figi when everyone else was cold and wet back in the UK. My New Years' resolution involves more humility and less gloating...based on the following:

1. The mosquito's are the size of small bats and are more than capable of taking your arm off in one bite
2. Being on an island which you can walk around in four and a half minutes sounds idyllic, until a cyclone passes you by
3. New Years firework display involves one red warning flare - didn't go far up in the sky because of the cyclone
4. Cyclone's involve horizontal rain, we were flooded (see not so different from England)

5. Local traditional drinking ceremony involves Kava - another name for mixing cement paste with water and drinking it. Even tastes of dirty water
6. Big crabs dig big holes for themeselves in the beach that you can fall in, then they come out and bite your toes off
7. Cockroaches are free living spirits, and love to live in the underwear section of you rucksack
8. Frogs come out at night in their droves, but don't feel too good when they are accidentally stepped on
9. Had to stay in a Holiday Inn towards the end just for a bit of luxury, away from the wildlife
10. Getting a serious case of food poisoning 4 hours before flying doesn't feel good. I nearly didn't get on the plane, but the thought of Figian healthcare spurred me on.