We had done some packing the night before but after a weeks spreading out we had some work to do...things were looking grim. (Note the remains of the Jackfruit above) I decided to buy everyone breakfast before any blood was spilled. And yes, I got up early and went for my run on the beach! In any case the packing went more smoothly after a tasty meal on the patio of the pool bar.
Meadow: "I went diving...I am entitled to my sultananess!."
We got out of the resort in the early afternoon and st oped at the port for meat pies and to exchange money. Shortly after leaving Rae missed her wallet. It was feared that she had left it at the money exchanging place (there is a word for that that is escaping me...) It was not until we unpacked the van for the final time days later that we found it wedged underneath a seat.
Rae: I was missing it, but had the gut feeling it was in the van. And... it was, so no harm done.
From a graveyard near Denerau
The drive was long but scenic. We passed a turnoff that lead to a waterfall we had been told about but it eas further from Pacific Harbor than we had thought so we doubted we would be able to make it back... next time.
It was late afternoon when we got to pacific Harbor so we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at the cultural center. It has a nice feel. It is sort of a tourist thing but feels nothing like the port at Denerau, which is the apotheosis of timeshares.
We took some photos and had lunch sitting on a deck overlooking a lilly pond. We used their Internet to make reservations at 'Uprising" resort. It was too late to contact the rafting place but we got their number and address for the next morning.
We arrived at Uprising at dusk. It's a beautiful place, all traditional architecture, grass palm fronds and wood. The dorm building was a lot like an African safari lodge. (See photos) The grounds were awesome and the bar open and friendly, all in rich wood.
Rae set up her tent next to the dorm to save money and she, Chris and I decided to go for a walk on the beach. It was full dark at this point but there was a moon and the beach was beautiful. We walked down the beach playing in the water a bit.
Meadow: "Dead tourists are bad juju."
Re falling off the mountain above Octopus resort on Waya
We spotted a cluster of lights flickering in the distance down the beach, at least a mile away. I made the joking comment that we should walk all the way there. We speculated that the lights might be 'The Pearl" a near by resort with a reputation for being very posh. (We later found out that it is one of the few five star resorts in the south pacific.)
After a long walk and a number of handstands by Chris we arrived at the lights. They were indeed the Pearl, and it was indeed posh! Everything was lit by torches and candle light. There was a large horseshoe of broad benches with cream colored sued cushons. They were too deep to sit in, you had to recline back onto the pellows. They had a slate platform behind them to rest your drinks on. Inside the bar which resembled a Japanese tea house and a sultans plesure chamber silmoultaniously there were brightly colored silk beanbags and tables made from slices of local hardwoods.
Our Dorm at the Uprising
We wondered into the totaly empty bar and a bartender drifted out of the shadows and handed us menues. I ordered a passionfruit mojito... it was without question the best drink I have ever had, layer after layer of taste...sooo good. After tasting mine Rae ordered one too. It cost more than her night stay at uprising! (ok, so she was sleeping in a tent)
Rae: That drink was orgasmically, mind-blowingly good. I am building a shrine to it when I return.
Flower from the lily pond at the cultural center in Pacific Harbor
Meadow: "I don't think even Fijian food comes in blue..."
We wondered back to the uprising avoiding being attacked by beach guard dogs by walking in the surf and then watched Chris do many more handstands.
Rae: Wait...when was the skinny-dipping?
Chris B: The skinny dipping was the next day, keep your pants on :)
The friendly open bar at Uprising
We found Todd and Meadow playing pool in the uprising's dining room/bar. We joined them for a couple of games, drank some "Fiji Gold" and "Fiji Bitter" and then headed back to the dorm to crash. In the 25 bed dorm there were two other guests. There were fans but no air conditioning, it was fine. And, yay, our first mosquito nets!
LINKS:
Arts Village
Uprising Resort
The Pearl
Video of Uprising
Map of Pacific Harbor
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