Today, I’m heading back towards Nadi, with plans to spend the night at the Beachouse Resort, a cool haven for backpackers. I woke up earlier than anticipated, at around 7:30 am. Despite my desire to sleep in, it seemed like it wasn’t in the cards. As I stirred, I appreciated the quietude enveloping the dorm – everyone had already left. Kevin and Laura were having breakfast in preparation for their shark dive, the UK couple Chris and Sara were likely en route to Suva, and the rather aloof German girl was also at the dive shop.
The Search for Money
I wasn’t eager to make the trek to town to withdraw money from the ATM. As I contemplated this, I observed the dorm’s fan shutting off and my phone lighting up – a brief power outage had occurred. After about ten minutes, the power was restored. Such occurrences were commonplace in Indonesia, so I took it in stride.
When I located Kevin and Laura at the restaurant, they informed me that the ATMs in town were out of order. They had spoken to someone attempting to make a withdrawal. I mentioned that the power had been restored, and I decided to check out the situation in the village.
I strolled the kilometer, and the humidity was quite intense. The thought of grabbing a cab crossed my mind, but that felt a tad too lazy. Money wasn’t an issue – I could spend 3 dollars for a cab every day, haha. The walk was along a straight road parallel to the main road, and many locals were also traversing this path. Upon reaching the ATM, I discovered it was out of service. The same issue persisted with another one nearby.
Foiled by ATMs
Seeking a solution, a man on the street suggested trying the supermarket. I had to make a purchase, settling for a bag of M&M’s, and attempted to pay with my credit card. The cashier informed me they could only dispense cash with a local debit card. Disappointed, I decided to forgo the M&M’s. As I left, I felt relieved that I hadn’t indulged in the big bag – I was already concerned about gaining weight.
As I left the supermarket, I noticed the man who had suggested the supermarket. He asked if it worked, and I shared that it did not. He then mentioned the Pearl Resort, nearly opposite my accommodation. Grateful for the tip, I made my way back, crossed the road, and found the entrance to the Pearl Resort. Following the road, I reached the main reception, where construction sounds indicated ongoing expansion. A woman ahead of me reached the ATM first, so I took the opportunity to explore around the hotel, discovering a beautiful pool area. Regretfully, I didn’t have my camera to capture the scene. Eventually, the ATM was operational, and I withdrew about 200 FJD, expecting it would be sufficient.
Afternoon Conversations
After my ATM ordeal, I shared the experience with Kevin and Laura at Club Oceanus Resort. Following that, I reclined at the lounge area, firing up my laptop. Considering the time difference, it was evening in the Netherlands. I engaged in a chat with a friend and informed a colleague that I was available on Skype. The reliable internet connection allowed for a video conversation lasting about 30 minutes. During our chat, I spun a few tales, claiming I would be heading home soon, though that wasn’t the truth. The reality was that next Sunday marked my crossing of the date line, signaling the commencement of the final leg of this incredible journey – a global expedition.
Lunch in Pacific Harbour
In the afternoon, I accompanied Kevin and Laura to Pacific Harbour village for lunch. Surprisingly, there were more small restaurants than I had anticipated. The menus were somewhat basic, reminiscent of those in Asia. I found the simplicity charming, though – it brought back fond memories, haha.
Kevin opted for the fish and chips, Laura chose the fish curry, and I went with the club sandwich. The food was enjoyable, and we all complemented our meals with a Fiji Gold beer. The weather was cloudy, with a slight drizzle. I couldn’t help but notice that the surroundings around Nadi were preferable compared to Pacific Harbour.
Flight Schedule Changes and a Bus Ride
Kevin and Laura caught the Pacific Tour bus, which arrived in front of the Pearl Resort around 4 pm. I decided to join them, as I preferred not to stay in Pacific Harbour and planned to head to Nadi Airport on Sunday. In the end, I decided to check out a cool accommodation named Beachouse Resort. The bus journey to the airport would take up to 3 hours, making Sunday quite tiresome. I was annoyed that Fiji Airways had changed the flight schedule; it was initially supposed to depart around 11 pm but had been rescheduled to 5 pm. Consequently, I would reach my next destination around midnight. While frustrating, I had adopted a more accepting attitude during the course of this journey. I wasn’t too concerned anymore; as a colleague of mine would say, ‘You can’t always throw a six with the dice.’ I even found a bit of excitement in the prospect of sleeping on a bench at an airport—just to experience it, haha.
Arrival at a cool Fijian Hostel
We patiently waited in front of Pearl Resort, and the bus arrived promptly. An hour later, I reached Beachouse Resort, where a guy named Sammy, who worked there, awaited my arrival. Without any prior reservation, he kindly guided me to the reception. Before proceeding further, I urgently headed to the bathroom, having consumed all my coke while waiting for the bus in front of the Pearl Resort.
After completing the check-in process at the Beachouse Resort, I placed my bags down and took some pictures of the surroundings of the Beachouse Resort. While the surroundings were tranquil, I felt there were too many people around for my liking. Furthermore, it appeared that everything was labeled as a resort in Fiji; however, this felt more like a backpacker’s haven than a luxurious resort.
Meeting My Surfer Roomy
After taking some pictures, I returned to my dorm at Beachouse Resort and continued reading on my bed. As dusk faded into darkness, I engaged in mobile chats with some people. Suddenly, a guy entered the room, rummaging around his bed. To assist him, I switched on my reading light. Startled, he turned and exclaimed, ‘Jesus Christ, you just scared the shit out of me!’ with a laugh. ‘Haha, sorry man, I thought I could help with the light,’ I replied. Jeremy, a surfer from San Diego, shared that this was his second time in Fiji. Charismatic and reminiscent of Gopal, whom I met in Kuala Lumpur, Jeremy passionately argued that his mates declared San Diego as the best place to live in the world. ‘How the hell do they know it’s the best place in the world when they never left the city,’ he pondered. I found him to be a cool dude, assuming he was around 28 or so. Later, to my surprise, I discovered he was a whopping 45. It’s amazing how many people in this world seem to possess eternal youth, haha.
A Bold Wasp Encounter
In the evening, while enjoying the buffet at the Beachouse Resort, I continued typing and browsing the internet. The food was delicious, but it came at a cost of 23 Fijian dollars. After the meal, I joined Jeremy and other travelers for a game of billiards. We played in pairs, and a skilled guy from Australia emerged as the winner several times. While I was more engrossed in my phone, chatting with friends, including Eva from Germany, I had one beer during the games. I called it a night quite early, around 10 pm. Spending some time reading my book, I eventually went to sleep around midnight. However, a sizable wasp in my room became a challenge. Initially hoping it would fly away, it remained near my pillow. I had to act swiftly and squash it, reminiscent of the massive spider encounter in Bali where my attempts failed, leading to a room change, haha.
Triumphantly, I dispatched the wasp, guiding it toward the edge of my sheet. It tumbled down the wall, and I chuckled at the thought that it hopefully didn’t land on my roommate sleeping below me, haha. With that, it was time to hit the hay; I needed to wake up around 8 am the next day.
