Wednesday, January 21 – Nadi

I’ll start out with a thank you to everyone who reached out today and wished me a Happy Birthday. Solo traveling can get a little lonely at times, so it was wonderful to hear from all of you. Thanks!

So, another year; away from home again on my birthday. Coincidence?

These next couple days are going to be rather boring (for you readers) as I do some future travel planning and Journal work. In fact, as today I have no special plans, I think I’m going to consider my time at the Samoa resort as my birthday weekend. That seems more appropriate!

I did get out for a walk today though, so here’s a photo tour for you…

As I walked by this auto dealership, I was surprised to see an old Tokyo taxi. Pretty cool! (notice the salesman on the left coming up to talk to me – sorry, just looking!)

On the taxi ride from the resort in Samoa, I recognized the characters on the car’s display screen as being Japanese. Apparently a lot of second hand Japanese cars end up in the South Pacific (and fire trucks too!). Makes sense, I guess – both right hand drive, fairly straightforward shipping route.

If you recall, I encountered many used Japanese vehicles in the Caribbean as well.

Funny Sidenote: The taxi driver in Samoa told me that his sister had to use Google Translate to figure how to enable the Bluetooth capabilities via the Japanese menu items on his car’s display screen.

As I walked by the Nadi airport runway, I happened to notice a plane was about to take off. Happy coincidence!

Anyone interested in purchasing a new house in Fiji?

Here’s your chance to get in on the ground floor!

I’m back now on Wailoaloa Beach (I posted a picture from here a week or so ago on a cloudy, dreary day. Looks a little better now!)

The white building with the orange roof is the Ramada, where I stayed after my island trip. I’ll be going back there in a couple weeks.

Before heading back to the hotel, I made a stop at the grocery store.

Was this an exciting birthday, or what?!?

Sidenote: This is a little bit of a long story, so feel free skip it! The credit card I use for pretty much everything will expire in April (while I’m still traveling). I checked with the issuer to see if they would send me the replacement before I left, but no go; 3 months early max. I therefore had to change the autopayments I have set up on this card. One was my Spectrum internet. I’ve had the service since I moved back to Madison (7+ years) and never tried to renegotiate the rate. Well, when I called to change the autopay, they offered to upgrade my internet, at half my current cost. Yes please! And I was also offered a deal on their Mobile service. Unlimited data for $10/month for the first year, $40/month thereafter. And the kicker is that it also included free international coverage for voice and data (10 Gb/month). I was kind of hesitant to switch my cell provider (rather a big deal, at least to me), but that last part made it tempting. So, I went for it! And so far, so good; both in the States and here in the South Pacific. I’ll let you how it goes as I progress through Asia…

Thursday, January 22 – Nadia

Today was basically a repeat of yesterday – travel planning, Journal work, out for a walk, hit the pool.

I know it sounds pretty boring, but I’m really happy with all the work I’ve got done. A lot of progress. Remember, this is a 4 month journey; I still have to take care of the everyday stuff!

A couple pictures from my walkabout…

I don’t think I’ve included any pictures yet of a Nadi bus exterior.

Doesn’t quite have the character of the Samoan buses!

Back on Wailoaloa Beach (from a little different perspective)

Worked up a little bit of a sweat today! The pool felt great!

Travel Note: I think all of the places I’ve stayed so far (except on the island) have included a kettle in the room for boiling tea water. And I’ve mentioned that I don’t drink the tap water. However, I do use tap water for making tea (I figure whatever contaminants in the water will have been boiled away, right?). And so far, no stomach issues. So, I’ve taken it a step further and used boiled water to refill my plastic drinking water bottles (filling the bottles AFTER the water cools!). Kind of doing a little bit to help the environment (plus, I save some money!).

Tomorrow I’m traveling to Tonga. The next Journal update will probably be in a few days. See you soon!