- no worries, the time is always Fiji time in the pacific.

Who needs to know the time over there? Fijians have much better things to do than worry about what the time is.

I reckon once you experience the pacific way of life, you never want to return to the madness of England – I certainly didn’t! Their way of life is so much simpler, happier and generally better!

I arrived into Nadi airport and thought I’d ask the tourist desk if they knew anything about the Safari Lodge. The bubbly Fijian with hibiscus flowers in her hair had a great response: ” Warren Francis? Oh he’s such a great guy! He’s very well known. You heading over there to kitesurf? You’ll have a fantastic time. Wind every day!” – enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.

We spent a couple of days chilling at Smugglers Cove hotel, enjoying the sunshine after a rather wet few weeks in south NZ.

Josie and I went seperate ways after 2 days, her going off on a tour of the Yasawa Islands and I to Nananu-i-ra. I waited in anticipation as to who was taking me over there and how so. In strolls another grinning Fijian, this time a grandfather from the North of the Island. He leads me to my transport up there, being a battered up van with all the windows popped out. I was thrown into the back with the grandson hitching a ride with gramps up to near where we were headed. I had to keep reminding myself that this was Fiji and who needs a shiny van for customer transport over here?

We reached the dock where I would be taking my next form of transport over to the island ..

A young lad jumped in with me, turned us around and off we went to the island. We passed reefs, sandbars, palm trees and fishing boats. Nevermind the wind, the scenery was breathtaking enough.

As we cruised into the wharf we were met by Paul who was ‘barman’ at the lodge, apparently on a placement during a Tourism Degree. Not bad ey! He led me through trees, up hills down hills round corners until we reached the lodge.

I took this picture from the kite launching area – two steps into the water and you’re riding across a flat water bay. Talk about heaven on your doorstep.

The 10 days merged into a total blur. Every day you wake to the wind blowing through your blinds, scrambling outside to find the turquoise blue water capping already. You stroll down to the verandah where there’s a buffet breakfast all laid out for you, complete with fresh fruit from the trees and other continental breakfast favourites.

Depending on the tide, you kite at the appropriate spot. For mid tide you can ride right from the entrance to the Lodge, until it gets too low when coral becomes a bit of an issue. For real flat water riding we headed out to the sandbar, which is literally in the middle of nowhere! We all piled into the little yellow boat one day and just headed for the horizon. After about 1/2 hour of motoring, you arrive at another reef, fringing a totally flat shallow sandy bit!

captures my mood nicely.

At the quiet time of year being May, there was simply nobody about apart from myself, Mac and Jaz who were instructing at the lodge for the season – heaven! Oh, forgetting the stingrays, reef sharks and giant turtles who regularly come along to spectate.

Knowing I could kite every day made such a difference when I wanted to learn new things, as I could build stuff up every time I went out. I learnt so much more in Fiji within 10 days than in 4 months in Australia, simply because the conditions were there constantly.

mac in the zone

After a full on day kiting, there’s nothing better to do than chillout with a beer looking over the day’s photos, chatting about what the next day will bring for each of us on the water.

I have a massive thank say to Warren and Steph for such a fantastic 10 days, sharing their hidden gem with me in the middle of the pacific. This place has so much potential for trips, events and I would love to organise a trip back there sometime in the next couple of years.

Warren, Steph and their brilliant crew really have something special set up out there, and it is still so undiscovered.

www.safarilodge.fj – take a peek, and drop Warren an email.

I can guarantee a fantastic week of wind, waves, sun, coconuts, Fiji gold beer and fantastic company.