I think this airport is the only one where I have been with free WiFi! That's a good point.
C u soon!
Juanma.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Thursday, June 30, 2011
International transit
Hi everybody, looks like our trip is almost ar its end. We are sitting in Dubai waiting for our next flight towards Düsseldorf. The most of our flight back km are already done, only some 7hours left and we are there.
I think this airport is the only one where I have been with free WiFi! That's a good point.
C u soon!
Juanma.
I think this airport is the only one where I have been with free WiFi! That's a good point.
C u soon!
Juanma.
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Fijian Bible...
Hey people,
We got some spare computer around, so I can use it to write some quick post.
We arrived to Nadi (where the main international airport from Fiji is) about two weeks ago, sorry for the delay writing, but internet here is like punctuality...
We stayed one night in a hostel near the airport (Bamboo) to decide what we wanted to do and see in Fiji. The beach in Nadi is nothing special and we quickly asked the staff what our possibilities were. Among the people working there, they have a couple of "travel consultants", who try to sell you this and that trip. We have read already about the different Islands and we had a brief idea of what we could expect.
We were a bit uncertain about our decision, since they were insisting that we should go to a place called "Maqai beach", that was sharing management with them and so on, they really looked like wanting us badly to go there, but we could not decide on the contrary after seeing a picture of the Island. Luckily we did what they told us...
From Nadi it was a bit far away, we had to take a bus to Suva (the capital of Fiji), which took 4 hours to ride maybe 150 km... We stayed one day and one night in Suva, visited the "only" Fiji museum, and bought some food and a SIM card. We had a typical tourist "experience" there:
When we were in Bamboo, Daniela asked how much we should expect to pay for a Taxi from the bus station in Suva, to our hotel (South Pacific, or something like that). They said that around 3F$ (fiji dollars). Well, when we got into the taxi, the driver said that no way it was 3$, but 6$. We discussed a bit, until he said he'd do it for five dollars. Then we remembered that we were told to ask the driver to use the Taxi-meter, and we did so. The taxi driver was not happy at all with that, and assured us that if he was to use the taxi-meter, the ride would definitely cost more than 5$. We said OK, we would pay whatever the taxi meter marked. He started to drive, and in the middle of the ride I turned ON the GPS on my mobile phone and clearly saw that even though we were almost there, he continued driving. I asked him if he really knew the address we told him, and he assured he did. He drove in a big circle and managed to stop in the Hotel when the Taxi-meter was showing 5F$. I was pissed off and I told him that I have seen how he took a big round to bring us there, he was a bit surprised and reacted saying that there was traffic jam there and it would have taking us much more time, I said that that was bullshit because I saw exactly where we were, and there was no traffic at all. He wouldn't accept what I was saying, at continued asking for 5F$. Daniela gave him 4F$ and told him that we did not have more. I wanted to bring the hotel staff to the street and ask them wether he wanted to fool us. He ended up getting 4F$ (which by the way, it is only 1.6eur) but I wanted him to see that he could not fool tourists so easily. I gess next time he will reconsider to drive a round...
Anyway, the next morning we took a Ferry to Taveuni Island, which is probably 150 km from Suva, and took an amazing record time of 19 hours! At least it was cheap, it costed 24 Eur per person. Once in Taveuni, a minibus was awaiting for us (we were a group of 9), and drove us to a shore opposite to Qamea Island, where Mangai beach is located. We took a small boat and in 30 minutes we were in one of the nicest beaches of the planet! We booked two nights there, and ending being nine days! It had plenty of palm trees, whith one of them going over the ocean. There is no other resort in that beach and the Island has no roads or cars on it, even though it has four villages. The Maqai beach place is a backpackers style one, with no bar to buy beer from (we had to bring ourselves some from the Supermarket). But they have plenty of papaya trees, pineapples and an ocean full of fish. The food was superb, and the Fijian guys would go fishing and bring some big fish to "feed" us. One day they cooked with an "earth owen" by making a huge fire with plenty of stones on top, and later cooking above the stones, isolating the top with banana tree leaves and other big tropical leaves. After two hours there was still plenty of heat there!
The water was really transparent, and the sand very white. It is made of tiny dead coral and small shells. Even from the boat going to the beach we could see plenty of big blue starfish on the bottom.
We could have slept on a Dorm or in a Double, but since we had brought our tent from New Zealand, we wanted to give it a try. In such a warm climate, you normally do not stay in the room anyway, but just to sleep at night. So we stayed the 9 days in our little but good yellow tent.
The photo of the Island that I have uploaded in the previous post is from Nanuku Island, which also belongs to the same tribe chief as Maquai Beach. We went there for three days, and we now wish we would have been there for longer! That was a dream Island like the type of you normally think it has been photoshoped or something. Unreal!
It was 1.5hours bout from Maqai. The best of all was that it was not a kind of resort, but everything and everyone were very easy going. The staff would play the gitar and sing until late at night, while making a big fire for us in the beach. There was also a lovely Fijian woman cooking for all of us, who would call "childer, dinner is ready" when she was done with the food...really cool atmosphere.
The Island is surrounded by Nanuku reef (google maps for it), and you could swim there with the snorkel gear and see plenty of reef sharks and dozens of different fish and corals. Very cool and with very good water visibility.
If you ever have time and want to see a paradise beach Island, Nanuku is THE PLACE to go. Airpacific flies from Frankfurt to Hong-Kong, and from there to Nadi. Maybe there are some cheap flights?? Only drawback is the very long flight time.
Fijians are, as I already said, very very friendly. And the best of all, they almost all speak English !! That is a huge advantage over other touristic destinations, like let's say, Thailand. Here almost everybody talks to you, and if you show interest, they tell you their whole life!
Accomodation in the Island was also not only inexpensive but rather a joke. We were paying 15 F$ for tent, and 30F$ for the three meals. That makes an amazing 18Eur per day!
We went back to Maqai and after a couple of days more, we went back to Taveuni Island and took a "regular" bus to Lavena. There we would stay three days (two of them alone in the Lodge), and do the coastal walk and go to the Tavoro waterfalls.
The Lavena lodge is very basic accomodation, but nice and in the middle of two empty beaches. It is right inside the settlement of Lavena, which has around 400 people. They do not have electricity, but the Lodge has a generator which is turned on from dusk to sometime midnight.
There, while relaxing in our hammock on the beach, some kids would come and start chatting with Daniela. They were three out of nine sisters. Friendly children here.
The food (at the end a bit boring) was however good, everyday a different woman from the village will cook for us, either breakfast/lunch/dinner and bring it to the lodge. Some fish, meat, octupus, mango, papayas and other strange stuff that we do not have around.
Well, since the post is starting to grow too big, I will just say that we decided to fly back instead of taking again the speed-ferry of 19 hours, and we went to Nadi in 1.15 hours. Before fliying however, we had some spare time and visited the 180 degree meridian. We have a picture in which Daniela is next to me, but in a different day than myself! Interesting. That's were the GMT+12 and GMT-12 meet, in this Island (Taveuni).
People, that's all for this time,I hope it wasn't too much! I have forgotten plenty of interesting stuff, but it is too hard to write everything at once!
Cheers and see you soon,
Juanma.
We got some spare computer around, so I can use it to write some quick post.
We arrived to Nadi (where the main international airport from Fiji is) about two weeks ago, sorry for the delay writing, but internet here is like punctuality...
We stayed one night in a hostel near the airport (Bamboo) to decide what we wanted to do and see in Fiji. The beach in Nadi is nothing special and we quickly asked the staff what our possibilities were. Among the people working there, they have a couple of "travel consultants", who try to sell you this and that trip. We have read already about the different Islands and we had a brief idea of what we could expect.
We were a bit uncertain about our decision, since they were insisting that we should go to a place called "Maqai beach", that was sharing management with them and so on, they really looked like wanting us badly to go there, but we could not decide on the contrary after seeing a picture of the Island. Luckily we did what they told us...
From Nadi it was a bit far away, we had to take a bus to Suva (the capital of Fiji), which took 4 hours to ride maybe 150 km... We stayed one day and one night in Suva, visited the "only" Fiji museum, and bought some food and a SIM card. We had a typical tourist "experience" there:
When we were in Bamboo, Daniela asked how much we should expect to pay for a Taxi from the bus station in Suva, to our hotel (South Pacific, or something like that). They said that around 3F$ (fiji dollars). Well, when we got into the taxi, the driver said that no way it was 3$, but 6$. We discussed a bit, until he said he'd do it for five dollars. Then we remembered that we were told to ask the driver to use the Taxi-meter, and we did so. The taxi driver was not happy at all with that, and assured us that if he was to use the taxi-meter, the ride would definitely cost more than 5$. We said OK, we would pay whatever the taxi meter marked. He started to drive, and in the middle of the ride I turned ON the GPS on my mobile phone and clearly saw that even though we were almost there, he continued driving. I asked him if he really knew the address we told him, and he assured he did. He drove in a big circle and managed to stop in the Hotel when the Taxi-meter was showing 5F$. I was pissed off and I told him that I have seen how he took a big round to bring us there, he was a bit surprised and reacted saying that there was traffic jam there and it would have taking us much more time, I said that that was bullshit because I saw exactly where we were, and there was no traffic at all. He wouldn't accept what I was saying, at continued asking for 5F$. Daniela gave him 4F$ and told him that we did not have more. I wanted to bring the hotel staff to the street and ask them wether he wanted to fool us. He ended up getting 4F$ (which by the way, it is only 1.6eur) but I wanted him to see that he could not fool tourists so easily. I gess next time he will reconsider to drive a round...
Anyway, the next morning we took a Ferry to Taveuni Island, which is probably 150 km from Suva, and took an amazing record time of 19 hours! At least it was cheap, it costed 24 Eur per person. Once in Taveuni, a minibus was awaiting for us (we were a group of 9), and drove us to a shore opposite to Qamea Island, where Mangai beach is located. We took a small boat and in 30 minutes we were in one of the nicest beaches of the planet! We booked two nights there, and ending being nine days! It had plenty of palm trees, whith one of them going over the ocean. There is no other resort in that beach and the Island has no roads or cars on it, even though it has four villages. The Maqai beach place is a backpackers style one, with no bar to buy beer from (we had to bring ourselves some from the Supermarket). But they have plenty of papaya trees, pineapples and an ocean full of fish. The food was superb, and the Fijian guys would go fishing and bring some big fish to "feed" us. One day they cooked with an "earth owen" by making a huge fire with plenty of stones on top, and later cooking above the stones, isolating the top with banana tree leaves and other big tropical leaves. After two hours there was still plenty of heat there!
The water was really transparent, and the sand very white. It is made of tiny dead coral and small shells. Even from the boat going to the beach we could see plenty of big blue starfish on the bottom.
We could have slept on a Dorm or in a Double, but since we had brought our tent from New Zealand, we wanted to give it a try. In such a warm climate, you normally do not stay in the room anyway, but just to sleep at night. So we stayed the 9 days in our little but good yellow tent.
The photo of the Island that I have uploaded in the previous post is from Nanuku Island, which also belongs to the same tribe chief as Maquai Beach. We went there for three days, and we now wish we would have been there for longer! That was a dream Island like the type of you normally think it has been photoshoped or something. Unreal!
It was 1.5hours bout from Maqai. The best of all was that it was not a kind of resort, but everything and everyone were very easy going. The staff would play the gitar and sing until late at night, while making a big fire for us in the beach. There was also a lovely Fijian woman cooking for all of us, who would call "childer, dinner is ready" when she was done with the food...really cool atmosphere.
The Island is surrounded by Nanuku reef (google maps for it), and you could swim there with the snorkel gear and see plenty of reef sharks and dozens of different fish and corals. Very cool and with very good water visibility.
If you ever have time and want to see a paradise beach Island, Nanuku is THE PLACE to go. Airpacific flies from Frankfurt to Hong-Kong, and from there to Nadi. Maybe there are some cheap flights?? Only drawback is the very long flight time.
Fijians are, as I already said, very very friendly. And the best of all, they almost all speak English !! That is a huge advantage over other touristic destinations, like let's say, Thailand. Here almost everybody talks to you, and if you show interest, they tell you their whole life!
Accomodation in the Island was also not only inexpensive but rather a joke. We were paying 15 F$ for tent, and 30F$ for the three meals. That makes an amazing 18Eur per day!
We went back to Maqai and after a couple of days more, we went back to Taveuni Island and took a "regular" bus to Lavena. There we would stay three days (two of them alone in the Lodge), and do the coastal walk and go to the Tavoro waterfalls.
The Lavena lodge is very basic accomodation, but nice and in the middle of two empty beaches. It is right inside the settlement of Lavena, which has around 400 people. They do not have electricity, but the Lodge has a generator which is turned on from dusk to sometime midnight.
There, while relaxing in our hammock on the beach, some kids would come and start chatting with Daniela. They were three out of nine sisters. Friendly children here.
The food (at the end a bit boring) was however good, everyday a different woman from the village will cook for us, either breakfast/lunch/dinner and bring it to the lodge. Some fish, meat, octupus, mango, papayas and other strange stuff that we do not have around.
Well, since the post is starting to grow too big, I will just say that we decided to fly back instead of taking again the speed-ferry of 19 hours, and we went to Nadi in 1.15 hours. Before fliying however, we had some spare time and visited the 180 degree meridian. We have a picture in which Daniela is next to me, but in a different day than myself! Interesting. That's were the GMT+12 and GMT-12 meet, in this Island (Taveuni).
People, that's all for this time,I hope it wasn't too much! I have forgotten plenty of interesting stuff, but it is too hard to write everything at once!
Cheers and see you soon,
Juanma.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
More pics from Nanuku
Swimming and snorkeling in its reef together with plenty of reef sharks! That's a nice end of a vacation!
And, the Fiji locals are very very nice and friendly people!
We take tomorrow another ferry and go to visit for four days the Mamanuka islands, then back to Auckland and the 30 back home...
Cheers,
D & Jm
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Fiji, paradise?
Just a short communication, that we are alive, but lost in white sand, coral reefs and palm trees. No network coverage here.
Everybody should be here at least once in your life...my god, the beaches are insane!
Wait for the pics...
Cheers,
Juanma.
Everybody should be here at least once in your life...my god, the beaches are insane!
Wait for the pics...
Cheers,
Juanma.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
happy with...
Hi People! We are in the airport in Auckland, waiting for our flight to Fiji. I thought we could write a little list which you may find, at least funny, if not interesting.
In total we have slept over 100 nights in our ex-campervan. We also travelled with backpacks for several days in National Parks across both islands. At some point you start realizing that you feel happy about finding very little things, which you give as granted in our normal life:
- a rubish bin
- a shower, if hot, even better
- a sealed road
- a "two lanes" bridge
- mobile coverage
- a fridge
- a flushing toilet
- filtered (drinkable) water
- a washing machine
Cheers!
D & JM
In total we have slept over 100 nights in our ex-campervan. We also travelled with backpacks for several days in National Parks across both islands. At some point you start realizing that you feel happy about finding very little things, which you give as granted in our normal life:
- a rubish bin
- a shower, if hot, even better
- a sealed road
- a "two lanes" bridge
- mobile coverage
- a fridge
- a flushing toilet
- filtered (drinkable) water
- a washing machine
Cheers!
D & JM
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Auckland, Thomas and the end of Kea Kauri
From Piha we drove to visit Thomas, a German in the fourties who we met at our first track in NZ. Back then he told us he was living in Auckland and invited us to come for a coffee or something.
He lives in Torbay, a suburb near the beach. He has been here already for 20 years, and he bought the house were he lives 11 years ago. It is a very nice one, 160 sq meters big and 10 min walk from the beach. Pretty cool place considering that is 20 min from the center of Auckland.
We went for a walk and crossed 3-4 beaches and little cliffs. Later he invited us for selfmade pizza and because it turned late, we slept also in his place.
Next day we drove to Takapuna, a well know surfing beach closer to town, and we stayed in the camping there. That point would be were we sold our van to a couple from Catalunya.
Jordi and Lydia drove all the way from Christchurch just to see our van. The same morning a Guy from Canada (Kostya) wanted to have it already!
After some negotiations they decided they wanted it, but not without having a weird discussion. They thought the van was going for 2300$ but it was actually 2300€. I knew, units are everything :)
Anyway, after visiting Devonport and mount Victoria, from which you can see Auckland from a very nice far bird view, we sold the van. Exactly for the same amount as we paid for it! That was cool.
Later, when we got to Auckland city (already homeless), we found out that some other travellers are struggling to get rid of their car/vans. Now is low season (winter), so the demand is pretty low. We were lucky (or smart), that our van was rather special. There are very few of them being 4WD,diesel, long wheel base and having not over 300 thousand km.
So, now we are sitting in the terrace of our hostel, and hoping that tomorrow won't rain, because then we could catch a ferry and do a all-day walking in the Rangitoto island. A only 600 years old volcanic island 20 minutes boat away from Auckland's harbour.
We are already looking forward for Fiji (Wednesday)...there we go!
Cheers,
Juanma.
He lives in Torbay, a suburb near the beach. He has been here already for 20 years, and he bought the house were he lives 11 years ago. It is a very nice one, 160 sq meters big and 10 min walk from the beach. Pretty cool place considering that is 20 min from the center of Auckland.
We went for a walk and crossed 3-4 beaches and little cliffs. Later he invited us for selfmade pizza and because it turned late, we slept also in his place.
Next day we drove to Takapuna, a well know surfing beach closer to town, and we stayed in the camping there. That point would be were we sold our van to a couple from Catalunya.
Jordi and Lydia drove all the way from Christchurch just to see our van. The same morning a Guy from Canada (Kostya) wanted to have it already!
After some negotiations they decided they wanted it, but not without having a weird discussion. They thought the van was going for 2300$ but it was actually 2300€. I knew, units are everything :)
Anyway, after visiting Devonport and mount Victoria, from which you can see Auckland from a very nice far bird view, we sold the van. Exactly for the same amount as we paid for it! That was cool.
Later, when we got to Auckland city (already homeless), we found out that some other travellers are struggling to get rid of their car/vans. Now is low season (winter), so the demand is pretty low. We were lucky (or smart), that our van was rather special. There are very few of them being 4WD,diesel, long wheel base and having not over 300 thousand km.
So, now we are sitting in the terrace of our hostel, and hoping that tomorrow won't rain, because then we could catch a ferry and do a all-day walking in the Rangitoto island. A only 600 years old volcanic island 20 minutes boat away from Auckland's harbour.
We are already looking forward for Fiji (Wednesday)...there we go!
Cheers,
Juanma.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)