On Monday, I'm starting the 'Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation Challenge.' An internet based program created by one of the personal trainers on 'The Biggest Loser.' For $200, you get a formatted exercise regime, menu plan and recipes to cook your 'menu plan', plus a diary to log your progress and show ALL the other '12 Week Body Transformation Challengers.' You also get support from Michelle and can vent your frustrations and joy on the forum. One of the pre-season training requirements is to 'say it out loud,' which means telling everyone that you know that you are doing this challenge, making you more accountable for your weight loss over the next 12 weeks. So here I am, telling all my loyal readers!
But it has made me think, how do we get here? How do we get to the point of putting on unwanted pounds? Is it because we are unhappy in ourselves, unhappy in our relationship, unhappy in our lifestyle? Are we working too hard, so we skip meals but then over do it at the wrong time of day? Are we forgetting to exercise?
For me, this year has been a stressful one... stress in my relationship, stress in my circumstances that what I wanted to happen this year just didn't eventuate and I had to change tact. Because of it all, I have sat at home wallowing in my self-defeat and forgetting to get out and move about. I will say, I've put on 7 kilos in the past 8 months, which is just horrendous, but I'm hoping to drop 15 kilos by Christmas... now that's a challenge! I'm ready to be get moving and motivated! I'm in the right headspace to do so...
It's funny though, I've known a couple of men who had porked on the pounds by excessive drinking and socialising over the years, then decided to do something about it. Not sure if they had relationship issues when they were excessively obese, but as soon as that weight came off (one of them has lost 70kgs), they certainly had relationship issues then! Both of them started having affairs as their wives didn't like their newly-found confidence in their husbands (possibly because they were not happy in their own skin and were jealous of their husbands' achievements), and the men were getting noticed. They realised what was missing in their relationship, love, compassion, lust and enjoyment of being a lover rather than a business partner in a marriage with the common interest of children. One of the men had the courage to leave his wife after his misdemeanour, the other is still trying to resurrect his marriage with date nights with his wife, gifts and spending genuine time together talking, but he's still got the girlfriend on the side.
So why does our weight bear a hinderance on who we are? Are all the layers of fat hiding the real person in side, the person who is screaming to get out but there are too many folds for anyone to listen? I think the first thing to realise is that we did this to ourselves... we can't blame anyone else, we didn't have the confidence to make an emotional stand for what we believe in, therefore those who trampled on our self-esteem got away with it, and we tend to provide comfort to ourselves via an escape through chocolate biscuits, candy, alcohol and greasy take-out food.
The key to a healthy life is to make exercise part of our day, like getting out of bed. I know I was at my best when I was running on the beach everyday - my personality was more exuberant, my confidence more electric and my mind was clear with what I needed to do in a day. Over the last few months, I have just feel so disorganised, unmotivated and clogged up with so much crap going on in my head, I had no idea what I wanted. But now, I'm ready to move on.
I have all my exercise equipment, my fitness DVDs, my food scales, a new wok to cook my delicious meals in, my pedometer, I've organised my workspace, got folders for my exercise program and recipes, and I'm raring to go. All I need to do now is my initial weigh in, fitness test and measurements so I can do that tragic before shot to see the transformation into the inspiring after shot.
So wish me luck, I will write a blog once a week on my progress with other incidental blogs in between. I hope I can inspire others to make a difference in their lives too. :)
Friday, 24 August 2012
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Couples who sleep separately
Personally, I find it completely odd if a loving compromising selfless couple find it necessary to sleep in either separate beds or separate rooms. The majority of the conversational intimacy happens as you both settle down for your night's sleep, and sometimes that conversational intimacy can spontaneously lead to making love. It's the only time in our busy days that we can actually be a 'couple' without the extra forces of our lives - work, kids, extra-curricular activities, families, friends and finances, can interrupt. It's a sensual time of mind, body and spirit, and a couple's bed is their safe haven of personal togetherness space.
So why are the statistics as high as one in four American couples sleep in separate beds or separate rooms? Is that a crisis of denial that their marriage is over? A crisis of not being able to cope with each other's personal bed habits, i.e. snoring, bed hogging, tossing & turning or blanket hogging? Or is it a mutual acceptance that the intimacy is out of their relationship but they are only 'just good friends?'
I guess this comes off the blog I wrote about 'how good are the years?' I read a discussion thread of people who say that their parents have lived in separate bedrooms for years and have been happily married for 40 years. But is that what the children see and accept that their parents are 'happy' and their parents are very good at covering up the sad reality of their marriage from their children? Or should it be accepted as face value?
I read other discussion thread excepts that say that couples sleep apart most nights, but when they have guests over, they sleep together as 'not to be found out.' Are they hiding something from their friends that they aren't coming to terms with within themselves? Why should they need to hide it if they are happy with the arrangements?
Psychologists agree that the marital bed should be treated as their sacred place, so when they separate their marital place of worship, there is something not working in the relationship. Dr. Willard Harley, author of Love Busters: Overcoming the Habits That Destroy Romantic Love, says “Whenever I see a couple wanting private time—they want to be alone, they want their own friends, they don’t want to feel like they’re joined at the hip—my immediate question is, ‘What is it about being together that bothers you?’” Dr. Harley and some other psychologists feel that sleeping together is an integral part of any couple’s relationship, and it’s a necessary negotiation. Furthermore, demanding separate sleep space can be just a sign of people being self-absorbed and afraid of commitment. Marriage requires sacrifice and togetherness, and they see sleeping separately as the ultimate selfish indulgence. Some therapists look for underlying reasons that a couple might choose to sleep separately, such as if one party has a problem with sharing or compromise. Sleeping apart can be a sign of emotional distance.
(Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22071/74191-couples-sleep-separate-beds#ixzz23yP3WH5M)
As a real estate copywriter in my day job, I do see a lot of 'separate bedrooms' and separate beds going on, and there is definitely a trend of building the 'family home' with two master suites - generally one upstairs and one downstairs, and it is usually discussed that the homes are designed this way to accommodate flexibility in the family needs as the family grows. For instance, couples prefer to sleep close to the children upstairs as the children are under six or seven, so that they are able to reach them quickly throughout the night, but as the children get older, the parents will retreat to the downstairs bedroom to have their own space, and the upstairs becomes a complete children's domain area, and the old master suite becomes the guest bedroom. Or the downstairs master suite serves well when grandparents move in temporarily or permanently so they don't have to worry about stairs. But when a couple who sells their home talk about their 'separate bedrooms' it is usually a sign that their marriage is over, as they are actually selling the home because they have come to terms with ending their marriage and are ready to split ways.
I know every marriage is different and our concept of togetherness is changing as our lives become more busy and put more demands on ourselves and our finances. But the concept of love and intimacy have been around for centuries, and most marriage vows include words to the affect of honouring each other, being there for each other in sickness and in health, being there for richer or poorer, love and comfort and to remain faithful. How can a marriage be honoured without finishing the day and starting the morning embracing their vows with each other in the same space? It truly is the selfishness of not finding out ways to compromise in their marital bed, by using earplugs to mask the snoring, using separate blankets to stop the blanket hogging, to learning to enjoy the cuddling in bed if someone takes over... if you can't make these compromises in your bed, then how can you make compromises in your day to day life? This is what tears the institution of marriage apart! And maybe those who do sleep separately, and have never been able to do so, should seriously think if their marriage was ever compatible in the first place.
Your wedded partner should be as comfortable to you as slipping on your favourite pair of slippers. It just feels right, in any particular circumstance that you're in, you know that those slippers will always make you feel good. And your partner, in any particular circumstance, should feel that right as well. If you can't sleep in the same bed and enjoy the intimacy that that mutual union represents, you should really take a step outside your marriage and look in to see what is really going on, and work out what really isn't right.
So why are the statistics as high as one in four American couples sleep in separate beds or separate rooms? Is that a crisis of denial that their marriage is over? A crisis of not being able to cope with each other's personal bed habits, i.e. snoring, bed hogging, tossing & turning or blanket hogging? Or is it a mutual acceptance that the intimacy is out of their relationship but they are only 'just good friends?'
I guess this comes off the blog I wrote about 'how good are the years?' I read a discussion thread of people who say that their parents have lived in separate bedrooms for years and have been happily married for 40 years. But is that what the children see and accept that their parents are 'happy' and their parents are very good at covering up the sad reality of their marriage from their children? Or should it be accepted as face value?
I read other discussion thread excepts that say that couples sleep apart most nights, but when they have guests over, they sleep together as 'not to be found out.' Are they hiding something from their friends that they aren't coming to terms with within themselves? Why should they need to hide it if they are happy with the arrangements?
Psychologists agree that the marital bed should be treated as their sacred place, so when they separate their marital place of worship, there is something not working in the relationship. Dr. Willard Harley, author of Love Busters: Overcoming the Habits That Destroy Romantic Love, says “Whenever I see a couple wanting private time—they want to be alone, they want their own friends, they don’t want to feel like they’re joined at the hip—my immediate question is, ‘What is it about being together that bothers you?’” Dr. Harley and some other psychologists feel that sleeping together is an integral part of any couple’s relationship, and it’s a necessary negotiation. Furthermore, demanding separate sleep space can be just a sign of people being self-absorbed and afraid of commitment. Marriage requires sacrifice and togetherness, and they see sleeping separately as the ultimate selfish indulgence. Some therapists look for underlying reasons that a couple might choose to sleep separately, such as if one party has a problem with sharing or compromise. Sleeping apart can be a sign of emotional distance.
(Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22071/74191-couples-sleep-separate-beds#ixzz23yP3WH5M)
As a real estate copywriter in my day job, I do see a lot of 'separate bedrooms' and separate beds going on, and there is definitely a trend of building the 'family home' with two master suites - generally one upstairs and one downstairs, and it is usually discussed that the homes are designed this way to accommodate flexibility in the family needs as the family grows. For instance, couples prefer to sleep close to the children upstairs as the children are under six or seven, so that they are able to reach them quickly throughout the night, but as the children get older, the parents will retreat to the downstairs bedroom to have their own space, and the upstairs becomes a complete children's domain area, and the old master suite becomes the guest bedroom. Or the downstairs master suite serves well when grandparents move in temporarily or permanently so they don't have to worry about stairs. But when a couple who sells their home talk about their 'separate bedrooms' it is usually a sign that their marriage is over, as they are actually selling the home because they have come to terms with ending their marriage and are ready to split ways.
I know every marriage is different and our concept of togetherness is changing as our lives become more busy and put more demands on ourselves and our finances. But the concept of love and intimacy have been around for centuries, and most marriage vows include words to the affect of honouring each other, being there for each other in sickness and in health, being there for richer or poorer, love and comfort and to remain faithful. How can a marriage be honoured without finishing the day and starting the morning embracing their vows with each other in the same space? It truly is the selfishness of not finding out ways to compromise in their marital bed, by using earplugs to mask the snoring, using separate blankets to stop the blanket hogging, to learning to enjoy the cuddling in bed if someone takes over... if you can't make these compromises in your bed, then how can you make compromises in your day to day life? This is what tears the institution of marriage apart! And maybe those who do sleep separately, and have never been able to do so, should seriously think if their marriage was ever compatible in the first place.
Your wedded partner should be as comfortable to you as slipping on your favourite pair of slippers. It just feels right, in any particular circumstance that you're in, you know that those slippers will always make you feel good. And your partner, in any particular circumstance, should feel that right as well. If you can't sleep in the same bed and enjoy the intimacy that that mutual union represents, you should really take a step outside your marriage and look in to see what is really going on, and work out what really isn't right.
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
A Melbourne re-invention
Since Fiji, we've done it all... an adventure in it's own right.
We jumped on the plane at Nadi and were told it was making a fuel stop in Brisbane, making our flight come in two hours after the scheduled time. In normal days, that would be OK. But we had no home to go to and turning up on someone's doorstep at 2am wouldn't really be appreciated, and I really couldn't justify booking a hotel for a 6 hour stay. So the boys and I camped in the car by a park (which had toilet facilities!) with a few blankets and our luggage surrounding us. We woke up at 7am, and decided to find a laundromat to get our holiday washing done. There was one in a neighbouring suburb, and before it was 8.30am, all our washing was washed, dried and nicely folded ready for its new home.
We then took my little one to the doctor, as he developed a light rash in Fiji (I think it was the sunscreen), went to the mall to get a few groceries and grab some breakfast and then headed down to my parents place for our second homeless night. A much more pleasant experience than previous ones.
On the Monday, we moved into our new abode. A converted fire station that's home to 5 apartments not too far away from our original home. There's heaps of space inside, and plenty of communal space outside, which just so happens to be the perfect place to meet the neighbours. I have a single mum with three teenage daughters - perfect for babysitting, and a couple next-door with 'his' step-brother who just happens to play in the local football team... and who just happened to invite the whole football team over for a party on Sunday night for pizza and beer. I get a knock on the door, asking if we want to join them, and we did. I bought my boys new scooters, and the 'big' boys decided to take them for a 'trial run' down to the shops and back, telling my boys that they will be 2 minutes, and they'd return an hour later with chocolates as a 'thank you.' They have an electric-heated spa out the back, and we've been invited to join in, whenever they have it going. So it really is great knowing that we've been made so welcome. Not sure who the people are upstairs yet - I believe a small family with boys my boys' ages, but have yet to see them.
So here we are, stuck in Melbourne but with a good vibe around us. Our weekend was full of activity - helping the morning-sick ridden 'director of food duties' at the canteen at the local hockey club while my youngest played his game, a birthday party for my boys (as their birthdays are 6 weeks apart, and I'd rather get the family together once in 6 weeks, right in the middle ;) ), a lunch at the pub with some high-school friends, followed by an invite to an indoor adventure playground, and then the impromptu evening with my neighbours. Who knows what's in store for this weekend?
We jumped on the plane at Nadi and were told it was making a fuel stop in Brisbane, making our flight come in two hours after the scheduled time. In normal days, that would be OK. But we had no home to go to and turning up on someone's doorstep at 2am wouldn't really be appreciated, and I really couldn't justify booking a hotel for a 6 hour stay. So the boys and I camped in the car by a park (which had toilet facilities!) with a few blankets and our luggage surrounding us. We woke up at 7am, and decided to find a laundromat to get our holiday washing done. There was one in a neighbouring suburb, and before it was 8.30am, all our washing was washed, dried and nicely folded ready for its new home.
We then took my little one to the doctor, as he developed a light rash in Fiji (I think it was the sunscreen), went to the mall to get a few groceries and grab some breakfast and then headed down to my parents place for our second homeless night. A much more pleasant experience than previous ones.
On the Monday, we moved into our new abode. A converted fire station that's home to 5 apartments not too far away from our original home. There's heaps of space inside, and plenty of communal space outside, which just so happens to be the perfect place to meet the neighbours. I have a single mum with three teenage daughters - perfect for babysitting, and a couple next-door with 'his' step-brother who just happens to play in the local football team... and who just happened to invite the whole football team over for a party on Sunday night for pizza and beer. I get a knock on the door, asking if we want to join them, and we did. I bought my boys new scooters, and the 'big' boys decided to take them for a 'trial run' down to the shops and back, telling my boys that they will be 2 minutes, and they'd return an hour later with chocolates as a 'thank you.' They have an electric-heated spa out the back, and we've been invited to join in, whenever they have it going. So it really is great knowing that we've been made so welcome. Not sure who the people are upstairs yet - I believe a small family with boys my boys' ages, but have yet to see them.
So here we are, stuck in Melbourne but with a good vibe around us. Our weekend was full of activity - helping the morning-sick ridden 'director of food duties' at the canteen at the local hockey club while my youngest played his game, a birthday party for my boys (as their birthdays are 6 weeks apart, and I'd rather get the family together once in 6 weeks, right in the middle ;) ), a lunch at the pub with some high-school friends, followed by an invite to an indoor adventure playground, and then the impromptu evening with my neighbours. Who knows what's in store for this weekend?
Friday, 3 August 2012
Day 6 - Fiji
Today was a bit of a humbling day. We couldn't do much as it rained, but I met some wonderful people who had some fascinating stories to tell.
I met a couple who were on their 10th trip to Fiji. They had just spent $255 on excess luggage to bring over a stack of goodies for the locals who work at the resort who have touched their hearts since they have been coming over.
One man, who is recently married plays rugby to stay off the streets. He has a team of fellow friends who are in the boat, only one has a job, the others work on the farm in their village to provide for their clans. This amazing couple asked him what he needs for his team, and he asked if he could have either socks or shorts so the boys could look like a team. Well this couple talked to some people in Australia and managed to get socks, shorts and jerseys for 15 players for $800 and brought them over to him, and gave them to him yesterday. He was stoked. He's told a couple of his team players, but will bring it to them on Sunday when they have their first match as a 'matching' team in black, red and gold. The couple will go and see them play and see the joy in their faces.
But then, the lady mentioned to the man that the four year old daughter of one of the cooks at the resort was killed in a nearby Village the other day. And the man who received the rugby uniforms said, yes she was my niece. Her dad had cut a coconut tree so he could put a netball net up so she could play, and because he cut all the leaves away, he killed the tree, and the root system gave way and fell on her as she was playing. She was in a coma for 2 days before before they decided that she wasn't responding and unplugged her from the system. She died on Wednesday, her funeral tomorrow. So sad for the community.
The couple who bought the rugby uniforms also bought other workers at the resort some bras, t-shirts, shorts and plenty of children's clothes for some of the other workers they consider their Fijian family, hence the reason for their excess luggage bill. It was truly humbling to see the joy and gratefulness that the Fijians had for these amazing people.
It does make you wonder how you can help more. I've asked the boys if next time we come here that we don't do the resort thing, but spend time helping and giving to a Village. They are happy to do so.
Recently the workers of Fiji has a pay rise. The average wage is between FJ$1.50 an hour to FJ$2.45 an hour. They received a FJ5c pay rise. It truly is a joke, especially when a bottle of Coke costs FJ$6.60. A true luxury in their eyes. But we must remember that they don't have to pay for their housing, as they inherit the land through their clans and Villages that stays with their families forever, they are self-sufficient on their land with fruit, vegetables, chickens, cows and they will fish and hunt for wild boars for feasts for their meat. They make their own mats with palm leaves and fabrics for clothing. And they only go to the supermarket for soap, washing powder and the occasional western item. Some Villages don't have electricity, most don't have flushing toilets. In fact, the couple I mentioned before said that they met one chief from a Village who said that he was so excited because they had just received 8 flushing toilets at a cost of FJ$360 for a Village of 360 people.... just shows us how much we take for granted. Only business owners own cars, and all cars are second hand from Japan, and most only need to get petrol to run their fishing boats. They live in a community where everyone helps, however the government don't even help with education. They must all pay the teachers to educate their kids.
But they are happy. Fiji survives on tourism, as 50% of their trade is tourism.
In the end, the wife of the couple mentioned to me that her husband was a street kid, so he is overly generous to people in need, as he had been there himself a few decades back and knows how it feels to live without. He is now a self-funded retiree who enjoys giving to all those who he can. It's his absolute pleasure.
There are some true angels in this world... I hope to meet and be inspired by so many more...
I met a couple who were on their 10th trip to Fiji. They had just spent $255 on excess luggage to bring over a stack of goodies for the locals who work at the resort who have touched their hearts since they have been coming over.
One man, who is recently married plays rugby to stay off the streets. He has a team of fellow friends who are in the boat, only one has a job, the others work on the farm in their village to provide for their clans. This amazing couple asked him what he needs for his team, and he asked if he could have either socks or shorts so the boys could look like a team. Well this couple talked to some people in Australia and managed to get socks, shorts and jerseys for 15 players for $800 and brought them over to him, and gave them to him yesterday. He was stoked. He's told a couple of his team players, but will bring it to them on Sunday when they have their first match as a 'matching' team in black, red and gold. The couple will go and see them play and see the joy in their faces.
But then, the lady mentioned to the man that the four year old daughter of one of the cooks at the resort was killed in a nearby Village the other day. And the man who received the rugby uniforms said, yes she was my niece. Her dad had cut a coconut tree so he could put a netball net up so she could play, and because he cut all the leaves away, he killed the tree, and the root system gave way and fell on her as she was playing. She was in a coma for 2 days before before they decided that she wasn't responding and unplugged her from the system. She died on Wednesday, her funeral tomorrow. So sad for the community.
The couple who bought the rugby uniforms also bought other workers at the resort some bras, t-shirts, shorts and plenty of children's clothes for some of the other workers they consider their Fijian family, hence the reason for their excess luggage bill. It was truly humbling to see the joy and gratefulness that the Fijians had for these amazing people.
It does make you wonder how you can help more. I've asked the boys if next time we come here that we don't do the resort thing, but spend time helping and giving to a Village. They are happy to do so.
Recently the workers of Fiji has a pay rise. The average wage is between FJ$1.50 an hour to FJ$2.45 an hour. They received a FJ5c pay rise. It truly is a joke, especially when a bottle of Coke costs FJ$6.60. A true luxury in their eyes. But we must remember that they don't have to pay for their housing, as they inherit the land through their clans and Villages that stays with their families forever, they are self-sufficient on their land with fruit, vegetables, chickens, cows and they will fish and hunt for wild boars for feasts for their meat. They make their own mats with palm leaves and fabrics for clothing. And they only go to the supermarket for soap, washing powder and the occasional western item. Some Villages don't have electricity, most don't have flushing toilets. In fact, the couple I mentioned before said that they met one chief from a Village who said that he was so excited because they had just received 8 flushing toilets at a cost of FJ$360 for a Village of 360 people.... just shows us how much we take for granted. Only business owners own cars, and all cars are second hand from Japan, and most only need to get petrol to run their fishing boats. They live in a community where everyone helps, however the government don't even help with education. They must all pay the teachers to educate their kids.
But they are happy. Fiji survives on tourism, as 50% of their trade is tourism.
In the end, the wife of the couple mentioned to me that her husband was a street kid, so he is overly generous to people in need, as he had been there himself a few decades back and knows how it feels to live without. He is now a self-funded retiree who enjoys giving to all those who he can. It's his absolute pleasure.
There are some true angels in this world... I hope to meet and be inspired by so many more...
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Day 5 - Fiji (Robinson Crusoe Island)
Bula!
Today we had another day trip - this time to Robinson Crusoe Island, We did this trip back in November 2008 and the snorkelling was so magical I just had to do it again... but unfortunately, today's waters were a little murky and even though we did see some brightly colour fish in the depths of the water, it was literally nothing like the natural aquarium we saw back in 2008. A little disappointing, but the Fijian hospitality was perfect as usual!
For those who've never done it, we were picked up in a tour bus from our hotel to take us to a floating tin can of a boat on the river. The river was full of mangroves and felt like you're in an episode of Survivor making your way to the unknown.
Today we had another day trip - this time to Robinson Crusoe Island, We did this trip back in November 2008 and the snorkelling was so magical I just had to do it again... but unfortunately, today's waters were a little murky and even though we did see some brightly colour fish in the depths of the water, it was literally nothing like the natural aquarium we saw back in 2008. A little disappointing, but the Fijian hospitality was perfect as usual!
For those who've never done it, we were picked up in a tour bus from our hotel to take us to a floating tin can of a boat on the river. The river was full of mangroves and felt like you're in an episode of Survivor making your way to the unknown.
We get to the river mouth and see the island paradise we will spend time on for the day. The picture is perfect! We are greeted by the 'Welcome Song' by the local Fijians and walk up to the area of festivities from the beach (looks amazing doesn't it! And I haven't adjusted ANY of these photos!)
We get told the order of the day before we go on a walking tour with the Medicine Man of the island medicine. There are the Vau tree, Dilo and another tree that I can't remember what it was, but the Fijians are having it tested to help cure cancer and even HIV/AIDs. Who knows? They may actually be a trillion dollar industry in pharmaceuticals in the next few years!
They then had a couple of Fijians climb the coconut trees and chop down enough coconuts for us to drink and eat their flesh. Amazing how carbonated the fresh coconut water is. Absolutely sublime!
We then went to see how lunch was doing, as it was being cooked in a Lovo - an underground oven of hot rocks and palm leaves, and some of the locals braved their feet to do some fire walking once lunch was removed!
Lunch was a lovely spread of pasta salad, rice salad, coleslaw, green salad, lovo cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes, and logo cooked fish, chicken and ham with some home-made bread rolls.
After lunch, they gave us a Fijian dancing show, followed by some fire-dancing!
After the show, we went snorkelling out on the reef, which as I said was disappointing... but I guess that's just natural. It became a little overcast, so I guess that didn't help with the clarity in the water.
We then had a special crab race and a little goodbye ceremony. The day was quite fun as the Fijians called the guests by their country - we had an assortment of Aussies, New Zealanders, Americans, Chinese and even Kenyans... these two beautiful women were so scared of something falling from a tree or being picked on, but they were good sports and so friendly.
And of course, I found my boys, more often than not on the swing hammocks!
All in all, a good day. But now I'm on a mission to find some more amazing places in this world to snorkel. I hear the Red Sea is possibly a good place!
Day 4 - Fiji
Bula!
Today was an amazing day with an early start. Koro, our tour bus driver picked us up at 8am. We were the only ones on the bus for about half an hour, so we got chatting. He has twin daughters who are bright - one wanting to be a doctor, the other a civil engineer and they are in Form 5 (Year 11). He desperately wants to get them to Australia to get into a good university, but recently they had their Visas denied, even though he had family over there to sponsor their stay. He lost FJ$1500 in Visa application fees, and when you work for FJ$1.90 an hour, it's a heartache that has no justice. So he keeps going, telling his girls that he will do what he needs to do for them, and the concentrate on what they need to do for them.
We then picked up our tour guide 'Jonah' a Tonga origin gay tour operator who was a wealth of knowledge about the types of plants in the Villages, the famous Fijians and their Villages, some of the language, history about Fijians and a little scare tactics including the fact that Fiji used to be called the Cannibal Islands for their cannibalism and that there are 'vegetarian' pirañas in the water. Made my boys question a couple of things!
We picked up some our tourists from Australia from the Navati Resort and the Warwick Resort & Spa (where we stayed last time) before we drove another hour and a half to a Fijian home where they served us morning tea of Fijian pancakes and a lemon cumquat drink. We then set off to the river - the river that Anaconda the movie was set.
Today was an amazing day with an early start. Koro, our tour bus driver picked us up at 8am. We were the only ones on the bus for about half an hour, so we got chatting. He has twin daughters who are bright - one wanting to be a doctor, the other a civil engineer and they are in Form 5 (Year 11). He desperately wants to get them to Australia to get into a good university, but recently they had their Visas denied, even though he had family over there to sponsor their stay. He lost FJ$1500 in Visa application fees, and when you work for FJ$1.90 an hour, it's a heartache that has no justice. So he keeps going, telling his girls that he will do what he needs to do for them, and the concentrate on what they need to do for them.
We then picked up our tour guide 'Jonah' a Tonga origin gay tour operator who was a wealth of knowledge about the types of plants in the Villages, the famous Fijians and their Villages, some of the language, history about Fijians and a little scare tactics including the fact that Fiji used to be called the Cannibal Islands for their cannibalism and that there are 'vegetarian' pirañas in the water. Made my boys question a couple of things!
We picked up some our tourists from Australia from the Navati Resort and the Warwick Resort & Spa (where we stayed last time) before we drove another hour and a half to a Fijian home where they served us morning tea of Fijian pancakes and a lemon cumquat drink. We then set off to the river - the river that Anaconda the movie was set.
We were on an un-named long boat, where the other half of our party were on a long boat called the 'Okay,' so we thought we must have been on the 'Not So Okay' until the 'Okay' had some engine troubles and then we were the 'Better than Okay!' We cruised for about forty-five minutes up the river till we found what looked like a golf-course for cows and then the Village we were visiting.
The Village we visited was called 'Nakavu Village' and they greeted us with the most amazing hospitality. First was their welcome song then their Kava ceremony, where we drank the powdered water of the kava root that gives a relaxed numbness to the tongue and body, similar to alcohol, but non-alcoholic. The boys had a go at drinking some!
Then they sang some traditional songs before we went out to the Village to see how they lived. Which is heartbreaking in one way, but they are so happy, so who are we to judge.
We then went to visit the school, were there are 8 teachers from Grade One to Grade 8 which is considered primary school, and even though they are in basic conditions, they were a joy to be around. This was the Grade 3/4 composite with Nick.
They even had a Pre-school class room for 3-5 year olds, but we visited at the time when they were at lunch. So off to lunch we went, and had a traditional Fijian feast of chicken curry, tapioca, taro with spinach, tuna sandwiches and some fresh fruit and vegetables, all supplied by their Village or Villagers.
After lunch, the Villagers did a traditional dance for us, while their counterparts sang and played their instruments.
Before they asked us all to dance a few songs including a Fijian style conga line.
Before we left, some of the children came out to greet us - so cute!
We bought some souvenirs and walked through the other part of the Village seeing their church and homes.
We then returned to our long boat and cruised on up the river through the rapids to a bamboo raft that took us to our waterfall.
Paul, our Villager (the one in the grass skirt) took us to the waterfall and gave us a 'hand-guided' tour, that was a little too friendly, if You know what I mean. But in some ways it was appreciated. His English was hard to understand, but we understood the important stuff (he was single, he worked 3 days a week in 'tourism' and that he was from the Village).
But the waterfall was amazing. We could jump from under the waterfall into the water, the water was so clean so fresh so beautiful, and we stayed there for about half an hour climbing over the rocks and feeling the pelting water on our backs.
Our long boat cruise took about an hour from the waterfall, then afternoon tea at the house of lemon tea and Fijian donuts (Nick ended up eating 17 of them!), then a 2.5 hour drive back to our resort. An amazing day all round... looking forward to tomorrow's adventure!
Monday, 30 July 2012
Day 3 - Fiji
Bula!
Not too much excitement today, as the next two will be filled with Fijian culture and unforgettable experiences.
The boys hung out in the pool while I read about 120 pages of my book under the shade of a palm tree or two, beyond a thatched umbrella and the tropical leafiness! My view below!!
After the boys decided they were bored in the pool, we went over to the water sports bure and they decided that they wanted to do the 'doughnut' - a two-person blow-up doughnut that is dragged behind a speedboat like a waterski, but something they sit down and get tossed around skimming the water and holding on to dear life so they don't fall off. Apparently, the best fun EVER!!
Then we went for a kayak in the lagoon, before more pool play and reading for me. We then went to the shop to buy some supplies for tomorrow's adventure (sunscreen, insect repellent) and a round of Daytona and air hockey in the games room, before a half hour of tennis until my 11 year old said he didn't feel well and needed some water.
The sun disappeared a little today behind the clouds, and there was a gentle breeze that kept the temperatures cooler. Hoping tomorrow will be nicer... for our most amazing adventure yet!
Not too much excitement today, as the next two will be filled with Fijian culture and unforgettable experiences.
The boys hung out in the pool while I read about 120 pages of my book under the shade of a palm tree or two, beyond a thatched umbrella and the tropical leafiness! My view below!!
After the boys decided they were bored in the pool, we went over to the water sports bure and they decided that they wanted to do the 'doughnut' - a two-person blow-up doughnut that is dragged behind a speedboat like a waterski, but something they sit down and get tossed around skimming the water and holding on to dear life so they don't fall off. Apparently, the best fun EVER!!
Then we went for a kayak in the lagoon, before more pool play and reading for me. We then went to the shop to buy some supplies for tomorrow's adventure (sunscreen, insect repellent) and a round of Daytona and air hockey in the games room, before a half hour of tennis until my 11 year old said he didn't feel well and needed some water.
The sun disappeared a little today behind the clouds, and there was a gentle breeze that kept the temperatures cooler. Hoping tomorrow will be nicer... for our most amazing adventure yet!
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