DAY ONE (part one)

Airports have always been a place of calm for me, I think the fact that so many people are rushing around trying to get somewhere has the opposite effect on me.

I adore the people watching, the anticipation in the faces of the holiday makers, the boredom of the business travellers ('though I believe they are just putting it on, I think that deep down even though they fly to new places very often, they still pinch themselves now and then), I feel sad for the families farewelling loved ones and marvel at the flight crews passing as I try to figure out which airline they work for by their uniforms.

Without rushing, I have to this day not missed a plane and the whole lengthy security process is as much a part of the adventure of travel as the trip itself.

Mr. Blue is not as relaxed at airports as I am and his anxiety rubs off on me a little. Even in the cab on the way he was quizzing the driver on which route he would take to get us there in the fastest possible time.

"Sweetheart, It's 5am, don't worry we'll be there in time"

"but this is Sydney, there's always traffic here"

"Yes angel, but it's still 5am and it also happens to be a Sunday, we'll be fine"

I think this is when he realised my request to let me enjoy the journey started right from home and as he relaxed I did too.

Even though we've been together for 11 years all of my international travel to-date has been on my own. I enjoyed reliving the experience of the first time international traveller through Mr. Blue. We checked our bags and ordered breakfast from an airport cafe before heading through immigration.

Armed with our passports, immigration paperwork and little zip lock bags of hand cream and lip balm we passed through to the other side. . .

"Wow, there are soooooo many shops here!"

"Well if you think about it, people will be sitting here for quite a while waiting to board their plane. . .someone has to cash in on that"

And they did cash in, It was a shopping frenzy. We even bought a duty free camera.

I was a little worried after my last flight, but the worry was unfounded and we had a rather uneventful trip that landed safely at Nadi airport we disembarked to the sound of a Fijian trio with two guitars a ukulele and wonderful harmonies. A couple of planes must have landed prior to ours so there was a long queue through immigration and customs.

On the other side of the gate was Joseph who had waited all that time. . .poor Joseph, the driver the hotel had sent to pick us up (How nice is that!), Joseph who straightened up as soon as he saw that I recognised my name one the sign he held.

"Bula!"  he exclaimed, the first Bula of many we would hear over the next week.

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I didn't have to lie on my immigration paperwork (Mr. Blue did, but I'll fill you in on that in a couple of days) It was the first time I'd travelled overseas and didn't have to pick a random place when answering the questionare:

State your main place of residence while in the Republic of Fiji Islands

To this question I'd usually just open my travel guide (if I had one) or the in-flight magazine, randomly choose a hotel and hope no one called them to see if I had a reservation.

And dear Joseph, with his sign with my name on it, as though I was in a movie.

LB

I'll try and be a little more brief for rest of these posts, I haven't even really set foot in Fiji and already we have a thesis. . .Well except for day 4, I'm not sparing any space there. . .you'll see why.