When we realized that our flight from Australia to the U.S. flew through Fiji, we thought, “Why not stay for a week?” So we did.
Fiji is the last of 26 countries we would visit on our year-long trip around the world. We spent a week on Taveuni, one of the remote islands that is known as “The Garden Island of Fiji” because of its abundant tropical palms, flowers, and ferns. Though only about 40 km long and 10 km wide, it is said to have over 200 waterfalls, many of which splash into pools surrounded by lush tropical plants that instantly evoke the feeling of being in a tropical paradise. (And yes, we got to swim in several of them.)
This is Ronna Goldstein and some of the wonderful staff at the Coconut Grove Cottages (www.coconutgrovefiji.com) on Taveuni. Ronna left the U.S. corporate world 18 years ago to open a small restaurant on Taveuni. Over time, she added a few beachfront cottages for guests. TripAdvisor.com rates Coconut Grove as one of the “hidden gems” in the South Pacific and it’s because Ronna and her staff go out of their way to make sure all her guests have a fantastic stay. We’ll always remember the taste and smell of coconut bread, papaya curry, ginger fish and so many other delicious dishes... and how Ronna and her staff made us feel invited into their family. Thanks!
One night some local schoolchildren demonstrated the traditional dance of Fiji – the “meke” - accompanied by the sweet sound of island guitars and ukeleles or the thundering boom of Fijian drums.
Since it was our last week of our trip, we spent our time relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of Fiji – hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving.
We were thankful to have Simone (shown here with four of his six children) guide us through breaking ocean waves (some as high as 10 feet and looking quite treacherous) when we were kayaking around the island to some beautiful waterfalls and jumping rocks. (Click on the photo of the waterfall to see a larger view of David jumping over the 45-foot precipice).
We also enjoyed two dives on the world-famous Rainbow Reef. It definitely lived up to its reputation with Technicolor fish and coral plus underwater visibility up to 50 meters. One of the dive sites was called “Fish Factory” and it was easy to see why. You could look in any direction and see at least 25 species of stunningly colorful tropical fish.
Taveuni is one of the few places on earth where the International Date Line crosses land. That’s the 180-degree longitude line where one day starts and another day ends, so you can step across the line and be in the next (or previous) day. Thousands of people descended on Taveuni just before January 1, 2000 so they could be among the first people to greet the new millennium.We wished we could stay longer in Fiji. With its friendly people, soothing island breezes, relaxed vibe, and spectacular scenery, we can see why so many people come to visit but then decide to stay. We think we’ll be back.
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With the end of our time in Fiji comes the end of our year-long trip around the world. It has been an amazing adventure that has changed us forever. Throughout the year, we have felt God’s protection and blessing. We are so thankful that we didn’t have any serious illnesses or accidents. And we know that’s because so many people were praying for us. Thank you!
Along the way, we have met many inspiring people. Some have persevered through tragic circumstances to build new lives for themselves. Some are giving their lives away to help others in need. Some are still in the midst of heart-breaking situations trying to find a way out. But all of them have shown us a resilience, perseverance, hope, and faith that inspire us to try to make a difference wherever we are.
And we know that because we are blessed with much, we have an obligation to use what we have to help those in need… not a handout, but a hand up. I was once told that God’s will for our lives is where our talents and passions intersect with the needs of the world. I hope we can all find that place… where we live with meaning and purpose because we know that we are living the life that God made us for.
Thank you for your prayers, your support, and your love,
Steve and David
