Air Pacific are Fiji's national airlines. They took us from sunny Sydney, in their Jumbo 747, and flew us into rainy Nadi (pronounced here Nandi). The flight lasted less than 4 hours.
Fiji is in the time zone two hours ahead of Australia's east coast, 12 hours ahead of Poland, 18 hours ahead of east and 21 ahead of west USA coasts. Not far away from here there is the International Date Line.
Who's got no time to read a Wikipedia entry, could read this much:
"Fiji, the Republic of Fiji is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, France's New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas, France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north. The country comprises an archipelago of more than 332
islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of circa 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 850,000. The former contains Suva, the capital and largest city."
Now it was time to make a decision of how to get form Nadi airport to the Holiday Inn in Suva. Just 200 km. It was too late for either a domestic flight or a coach. So there was a taxi ride left. For as little as USD 120.
In the morning, a heavy monsoon rainfall didn't let us sleep. Besides, the hotel rates, the Internet charge (despite the website information of it being free in the public areas) and a surcharge for the use of credit cards, made us change the hotel.
We are now in a middle class Peninsula Hotel, for a reasonable rate, though.
The ocean view from our hotel window brings some home for better weather. However, you never know in the tropics... As of now, we are enjoying the high temperature and humidity.
