20.11.11:
Today was a red-letter day for the Odyssey Expedition. I would step foot on the hallowed turf of the 188th country of The Odyssey Expedition: FIJI. Our port of call was Port Denarau: a rather artificial creation on the west coast of Viti Levu, the biggest island of the 300+ specks of land that make up modern Fiji. The tourist brochure bills it as something of a ‘resort’, the kind of thing that makes me breathe in sharply through my teeth: a golf course, a shopping centre and a Hard Rock Café. Eek.
But I have to say I had an absolutely awesome time. Most due to the fact that on the journey to land I got chatting to a fresh-faced young couple, Molly and Angus, from Adelaide who managed to restore my faith in all things Australia. We went to the local shop, I almost danced a jig when I saw long-necks (pint bottles) on sale for less than £1.50. We found a place on the grass by the marina and whiled away the lunchtime hours drinking grog and having a laugh. I probably talked too much, but then I often do. For the second longneck we headed over to the Hard Rock Café and laughed at the huge and improbable queue to get back on board the ship. Last launch at 4pm? Do me a favour. By 5pm we were still very much on land and the queue was still very much waiting. So we consoled ourselves with alcohol, good company and the fact that the live band playing outside the Hard Rock was nothing short of awesome. Well, they started in that tragic Australian Pubrock vein, but then blossomed into some of the funkiest mofo beats I’ve heard in an age (don’t forget I’ve been stuck in Pubrock Central (Oz) most of this year).
It may have been the booze. I’m contractually obliged to miss out a bit of the story at this point, so let’s skip to the bit where I’m back on board the mothership and drunkenly stuffing my clothes into a washing machine. After some tomfoolery at the restaurant (I’m so sorry if I’m the guy who joined you for dinner) I dried my clothes, thought I lost my secret money wallet (which was stacked full of cash) and headed up to the nightclub and oh god the night is a total blur from that point on. I just hope that nobody but myself had a camera. The last thing I recall is playing a game in which you have to suck on a beer mat and pass it onto the next person who has to suck it off your face. Entertainment value of 100%, but seriously, I may well have accidentally kissed a bloke. Please don’t tell my dad.
…I was that person you joined for dinner. We had a wicked conversation, though my Mum was ready to kill you! ^_^ Good luck mate, wherever you are now!
Hi Graham,
How are you? Safe travels and we’ll see you back in Suva for more kava soon 🙂
WOO! Made it to the website! Such an awesome day, enjoy the rest of your travels. I look forward to watching/reading the rest
You mad man
I finally recovered from that cruise a week later it was great to meet you. Just checked out your website saw you mentioned Stef and Crystal and Bryson Ill have to text them and fill them in on the site if they already don’t know I have included some pictures that you may not have from the trip Ive got some kool pics of them too just let me know if you want them . I still remember our game of suckie blowie till 5 in the morning. Still can feel your whiskers dude . It was so much fun keep in touch and if you are ever in our neck of the woods email me and we will catch up or alternatively if I am in Liverpool ill look you up
Wil thomas
Hello Graham!
I’ve checked out your country checklist and I saw that the Cook Islands were not there, is that normal?
Good luck for the rest of your trip!
dare say the cook islands is part of NZ
Well not really, the cook islands are a free independent state but they have an economic association with new zealand, so they aren’t really really part of it