Fiji… or Africa?
Fiji. Weird. Of all things I’m transported straight back to Africa. The smell – both natural and polluted – the humidity, the taxi experience – both the fare negotiation and the rickety vehicle – and the extensively pot-holed roads. There are probably places in the world that are more alike – and certainly less – but based on my limited travelling they seem very closely related. Last thing I was expecting.
I’m in a hostel near Nadi which was repeatedly recommended and yet is a dive. Best of a bad bunch I guess. The staff all know that no one wants to be here really; mainland hotels are nothing more than a post-flight stop over before visitors cruise off to their island paradise.
When booking I steered clear of the 34 – yes thirty-four – bed dorm and splashed out on my own room. Now I’ve seen the place, I’m doubly glad I did so.
On the plus side prices are low. Well comparatively. It’s the first sub-£3 beer I’ve had since leaving home. In fact it was £2 and jolly nice (even if they have got the nomenclature a bit mixed up: Fiji Bitter, in actual fact a sweet-flavoured lager).
I’ve also ordered two main meals for less than $30 (so under ten quid). I doubt there’s much these attractive prices can do for my waistline but hey.
Oh, and it’s grey and raining. And locals aren’t hopeful for any improvement. And why am in Fiji again..?
Categories: Travel
