Trifter

The day finally came when it was time to board the Fairstar Cruise Ship which was bound for Fiji and New Zealand. I met up with three other girls who were sharing my cabin and we decided to hang out together. There was a fancy dress night, and three of us went as tubes of Colgate toothpaste. We wore white sheets for the tube and red crepe paper for the tops and letters. We didn’t win any prizes, and fortunately people didn’t try to squeeze us.

When we arrived at Fiji, The Royal Fiji Police Band was there to welcome us with their native singing and dancing. I was quite fascinated by their uniforms. They wore green shirts adorned with red ties, and what looked like white skirts with zigzag edges. Everywhere I went that day I could see flashes of pearly white teeth through which the words “Bulla Bulla!” would resonate. The locals were very warm and friendly and certainly lived up to the name “Bulla Bulla” which means welcome.

The markets were alive with anything from trinkets and straw hats, to hand carved tribal masks and clubs. I caught a glimpse of the local prison that consisted of a bamboo enclosure, the sky for the ceiling, and some tropical palms.

After going on a Cook’s Tour of Suva and Honiara, I arrived back at the ship exhausted, but ready to regale the day’s events with my dinner friends.

Our ship the Fairstar was now destined towards New Zealand.  While on board I went to some disco nights where I danced the night away. I enjoyed walking on the deck, feeling the ocean breeze in my hair and on my skin. The ocean was amassed with shimmering lights, while the sky blanketed the ocean with celestial splendour. I was totally in awe of my surroundings, and for a few moments I felt quite infinitesimal in comparison.

While in New Zealand I remember going to Roturua and seeing the bubbling thermal mud pools. My nostrils could still savour the strong pungent aroma of these pools. Taking Gondola rides up the side of the ski slopes, and rubber rafting the rapids in Queenstown  were some other highlights. I also recall going to a Maori Hungi where the meat was wrapped in banana leaves over some hot coals and rocks in the ground. Each tasty morsel seemed to just melt away in my mouth, as the vapour twisted and curled upwards.

The cruise eventually came to a close and I said my good-byes to the friends I had made on board. I made my way back home to my family who were eagerly waiting to hear all about my travels.