Good Day Mates from Down Under

Okay, so we left Fiji after some relaxation and soaking up the south Pacific sun. It was just what we needed. Thanks again to everyone’s well wishes and the send off, from the surprise party to the airport and through the emails.

So we were up at the crack of dawn on the 14th to take an hour and a half cab ride from the bungalow to the airport in Nadi. We had befriended this Indian–Fijian cab driver and he and his wife took us to the airport this morning. Along the way we found out some more interesting things about Fiji including the fact that the Indian population is quite big here in Fiji, as they were brought over by the British during the Colonization of Fiji. The Indians were brought over to work on the sugar plantations which were the source of their major exporting goods until recently where tourism has taken over. Ali, the cab driver also mentioned that as a citizen of Fiji but being non indigenous, they are not allowed to own land here in Fiji and this is a definite sore spot.

All in all we had found the Fijian people to be extremely friendly and helpful as most of the people we had met along the way (usually on the bus or taxi) were very gracious and friendly. But now that we are on our way to Australia, we can not help but be a little anxious to see a good friend of mine in Melbourne, Pam.

So the flight to Melbourne via Auckland was amazing, the best service we had thus far. There was even a menu on the plane for the dinner(s) that night that we could choose from. Definitely Chunger style cooking. The flight was great, the entertainment was awesome as we each had our own video screens to watch over 150 movies and some very recent. Since our plane was delayed, we were able to squeeze in two movies, dinner and some cocktails (a new meaning to dinner and a movie date – some of you may want to try this in the future).

As we landed in Melbourne, we were greeted with Australian customs that checked through all of our bags. A little nerve racking, but nothing out of the ordinary. So we met Pam who was to be our gracious host for our visit to Melbourne, Australia.

Pam is an old friend of mine from my days back in Totem Park at UBC. She was one of the many women that have helped to make me who I am today. She has taught me a great deal about friendship and despite the fact that she has been going to school and living in Melbourne now for well over a decade; our friendship is still as close as the day she left for Australia.

Pam lives in Coburg, a quiet little suburb about 20 min by train from the city center with her two boyfriends (Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie). We spent the first evening catching up with Pam and talking about our lives and mutual friends from the past.

The next day on the 15th, we decided to take the morning off to catch up on our emails to everyone at home and work on the web site as it was our first real attempt at uploading photos and writing to our loved ones at home. The remainder of the day was spent wandering around Coburg, grocery shopping and having a nice dinner with Pam and my girl - the best way to spend my 34th birthday. Thanks to all who sent me an email to wish me a happy birthday even while we're abroad, it meant a lot.

The site seeing and touristy stuff will be forth coming and the architecture….oh, the architecture…. I will be posting a section on the architecture alone….stay tuned….

Miss and love all of you…

Here are a few photos of Pam and her home.

Our Gracious Host - Pam

Dinner on Lygon Street - Italian District

Chris' New Best Friend

Outcome of Chris' New Friendship!!

Pam's Backyard - Where we Enjoyed Many a Beers and Great Dinners

Some Things Just Don't Change - Good Times

Pammy and Ravy

Boyfriend #1 - Cuddle Pie

Boyfriend #2 - Snuggle Pot