Farewell Fiji (March 11, 2026)
It’s rained every day since we arrived here in Fiji. It is, after all, the “wet” season. Even the mostly sunny days had brief periods of rain (and when it rains, it pours buckets of rain in 15 to 30 minutes). And every now and again, you get this:
Rainbow goodby from Pacific Harbour, Fiji (care of Daniel)
As we wrapped up our time in Pacific Harbour, this picture was sent by our AirBnb host, Daniel, as a final farewell to our family. Very nice gesture, indeed.
Today, Elena, Will, Violet and I drove three hours to Nadi, Fiji and booked a room at an airport hotel to avoid driving at 3am to catch our 9am flight tomorrow. Our original AirBnb was just 90 minutes away, but that one flooded when we arrived and the next closest was another 90 minutes from there making it a 3 hour trip to the airport (excluding major traffic which can tack on an hour or so on top of that).
5 minute walk from our hotel is Nadi airport — easy morning tomorrow
We had some pretty epic sky pictures too. The first one looked like a mountain cloud on top of a mountain. I mean, I’m sure this happens, but I’ve never seen it before.
Bob Ross looking cloud of a mountain on top of a … mountain
And then, the sun began to set. OMG! These clouds began to create the most beautiful painting right here over the airport.
Pinks, reds, whites and blacks all mixed together. I love sunsets!
I know. These pictures never do justice to what our eyes see in real time. Perhaps that’s the try magic and mystery of sunrises and sunsets. You simply have to be there. I think I’ve clocked more of these sunrises and sets these past 8 months than in the past 8 years.
Elena with Fiji flower — married side
While we were in Pacific Harbor, we were informed that women wearing flowers in their hair are signaling to people if they are married or single. Now, in Pacific Harbor (at least, at The Pearl), it was the opposite of what we assumed. Right side meant married while left side meant single. Here in Nadi, it’s the opposite (which follows the ring on the left hand and is what we had originally assumed). Either way, it’s a cool custom and I’m sure if we lived here we’d know for sure which one is correct (and/or if there is a regional change for some reason).
One of many bull frogs living at our hotel in Nadi
After dinner, we came home to find a half dozen frogs hanging out by the pool in our hotel. They are friendly enough and only hop away when you are just a bit too close. Otherwise, you can get right next to them and take pictures (like the one above). If they are scared, they hop into the nearby bushes and disappear.
Our drive from Pacific Harbor to Nadi, while long at 3 hours in a taxi, was quite beautiful. It was sunny for the first 2 hours and rained torrentially the last hour. Fiji uses the full color pallet of life. Bright white clouds, rich green plants and trees, dark blue sky except during sunrise and sunset where it’s pink and red, and the ocean is a lighter aqua.
Then there are all the flowers dotting the landscape and the Fijian people who wear many colors representing school, organizations, tribal inclusion and various different fashion looks. The sun, when shining, is so bright, there’s an extra layer of vibrancy. This island is truly remarkable and the beauty is vying for your attention everywhere you set your gaze.
Long flight tomorrow, but lot’s of incredible visions and memories we are taking with us.
