Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage<\/a> at the end.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing Bill Cosby voice on this one, or at least I was doing the best I could manage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhy won\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSHUT, THE, FUCK, UP! If this works out, it will be worth it. Grab a drink, and, BE QUIET!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI turn back to my tablet and continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLet me back up about 30 minutes from this moment\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<rewind><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s been a shit day at work. One of the corporate soul-sucking days that by itself had 46 hours in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe bright spot was grabbing a few beers with friends after work, and us all venting for an hour or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m home, grab my tablet, and see an email from Scott\u2019s Cheap Flight\u2019s newsletter(now going.com<\/a>) advertizing<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cFIJI round trip from Denver, $874\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji, the land Robert Dinero\u2019s character was dreaming of in the classic \u201cHeat\u201d, the land of the legendary surf spot Cloudbreak. Blue, warm, water\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji? Fiji! Fiji! \u2026ok, let\u2019s calm down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy first thought, \u201cIs this a real flight?\u201d Real as in, is this a flight humans would like to take. \u201cOh, it\u2019s 4 days each way relaying through Turkmenistan with a brief layover in Mauritania!”<\/p>\n\n\n\nTurns out, it IS a real flight. Denver->Dallas->Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, how about the dates?<\/p>\n\n\n\nI pull up a calendar, turns out this seems like it IS real. Like buy it and go real, holy shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, now I need to grab passports and credit cards and try to make this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n90% of the way through the process, the airline website starts hating my tablet. After all Jen and my passport info, frequent flier information, TSA precheck info, and credit card numbers are in, I can\u2019t click the \u2018make it happen\u2019 button. Simply won\u2019t click.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI grab my laptop and repeat the entire process, being 4 drinks in and about to spend a chunk of money going half the world away, I\u2019m double checking everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA latent fear of bureaucracy gives me a recurring travel nightmare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Oh you had a typo? Sorry, I can\u2019t let you through\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n20 minutes later, I turn, raise my hands and loudly exclaim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWE\u2019RE GOING TO FIJI!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlight is Fiji Airlines as a codeshare with American Airlines. American is running the Denver to Dallas legs, Fiji Airlines covering the Dallas to the city of Nadi on Viti Levu island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoosing seats for the Fiji legs, expensive, but no problem. Ok we\u2019re up quite a bit from the $874, but how many times will I get to go to Fiji, and on the 12+ hour long leg, how much would I be willing to spend to get out of the middle seat in the toilet adjacent row hell?<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican and Fiji airlines, this must be the first time they\u2019ve done this<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have seats on the long flight legs, but want to have non-middle seats for the Denver to Dallas legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji website: \u201cGo to American to book your seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican website: \u201cThis flight is operated by Fiji, we can\u2019t give you seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get on the phones and get the same cross finger pointing\u2026This is a bit nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is 2026, and I\u2019m calling the help lines? Multiple help lines can\u2019t let me select a seat on a flight<\/strong>? Is this a joke? We\u2019ll keep calling. What feels like nine or so calls later we have seats on the American run flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMisdirection madness, help line helplessness<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIT\u2019S GO DAY!!!!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver airport late Saturday afternoon, after a couple long flights we\u2019re set to land Monday at 5:00am. You cross the international date line and the equator as part of the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver and clear security, no issues, then we have a few beers waiting for the flight to Dallas. Airport overpriced, but A-ok so far. Things are looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t get back through security without a ticket from Austin<\/h3>\n\n\n\nComplication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\nMany calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSemi-formed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBasically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLove what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant on a 14 hour flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing Bill Cosby voice on this one, or at least I was doing the best I could manage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy won\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSHUT, THE, FUCK, UP! If this works out, it will be worth it. Grab a drink, and, BE QUIET!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I turn back to my tablet and continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let me back up about 30 minutes from this moment\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<rewind><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been a shit day at work. One of the corporate soul-sucking days that by itself had 46 hours in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bright spot was grabbing a few beers with friends after work, and us all venting for an hour or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m home, grab my tablet, and see an email from Scott\u2019s Cheap Flight\u2019s newsletter(now going.com<\/a>) advertizing<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cFIJI round trip from Denver, $874\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji, the land Robert Dinero\u2019s character was dreaming of in the classic \u201cHeat\u201d, the land of the legendary surf spot Cloudbreak. Blue, warm, water\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji? Fiji! Fiji! \u2026ok, let\u2019s calm down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy first thought, \u201cIs this a real flight?\u201d Real as in, is this a flight humans would like to take. \u201cOh, it\u2019s 4 days each way relaying through Turkmenistan with a brief layover in Mauritania!”<\/p>\n\n\n\nTurns out, it IS a real flight. Denver->Dallas->Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, how about the dates?<\/p>\n\n\n\nI pull up a calendar, turns out this seems like it IS real. Like buy it and go real, holy shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, now I need to grab passports and credit cards and try to make this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n90% of the way through the process, the airline website starts hating my tablet. After all Jen and my passport info, frequent flier information, TSA precheck info, and credit card numbers are in, I can\u2019t click the \u2018make it happen\u2019 button. Simply won\u2019t click.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI grab my laptop and repeat the entire process, being 4 drinks in and about to spend a chunk of money going half the world away, I\u2019m double checking everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA latent fear of bureaucracy gives me a recurring travel nightmare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Oh you had a typo? Sorry, I can\u2019t let you through\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n20 minutes later, I turn, raise my hands and loudly exclaim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWE\u2019RE GOING TO FIJI!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlight is Fiji Airlines as a codeshare with American Airlines. American is running the Denver to Dallas legs, Fiji Airlines covering the Dallas to the city of Nadi on Viti Levu island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoosing seats for the Fiji legs, expensive, but no problem. Ok we\u2019re up quite a bit from the $874, but how many times will I get to go to Fiji, and on the 12+ hour long leg, how much would I be willing to spend to get out of the middle seat in the toilet adjacent row hell?<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican and Fiji airlines, this must be the first time they\u2019ve done this<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have seats on the long flight legs, but want to have non-middle seats for the Denver to Dallas legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji website: \u201cGo to American to book your seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican website: \u201cThis flight is operated by Fiji, we can\u2019t give you seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get on the phones and get the same cross finger pointing\u2026This is a bit nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is 2026, and I\u2019m calling the help lines? Multiple help lines can\u2019t let me select a seat on a flight<\/strong>? Is this a joke? We\u2019ll keep calling. What feels like nine or so calls later we have seats on the American run flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMisdirection madness, help line helplessness<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIT\u2019S GO DAY!!!!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver airport late Saturday afternoon, after a couple long flights we\u2019re set to land Monday at 5:00am. You cross the international date line and the equator as part of the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver and clear security, no issues, then we have a few beers waiting for the flight to Dallas. Airport overpriced, but A-ok so far. Things are looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t get back through security without a ticket from Austin<\/h3>\n\n\n\nComplication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\nMany calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSemi-formed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBasically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLove what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant on a 14 hour flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cFIJI round trip from Denver, $874\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji, the land Robert Dinero\u2019s character was dreaming of in the classic \u201cHeat\u201d, the land of the legendary surf spot Cloudbreak. Blue, warm, water\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji? Fiji! Fiji! \u2026ok, let\u2019s calm down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy first thought, \u201cIs this a real flight?\u201d Real as in, is this a flight humans would like to take. \u201cOh, it\u2019s 4 days each way relaying through Turkmenistan with a brief layover in Mauritania!”<\/p>\n\n\n\nTurns out, it IS a real flight. Denver->Dallas->Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, how about the dates?<\/p>\n\n\n\nI pull up a calendar, turns out this seems like it IS real. Like buy it and go real, holy shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, now I need to grab passports and credit cards and try to make this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n90% of the way through the process, the airline website starts hating my tablet. After all Jen and my passport info, frequent flier information, TSA precheck info, and credit card numbers are in, I can\u2019t click the \u2018make it happen\u2019 button. Simply won\u2019t click.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI grab my laptop and repeat the entire process, being 4 drinks in and about to spend a chunk of money going half the world away, I\u2019m double checking everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA latent fear of bureaucracy gives me a recurring travel nightmare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Oh you had a typo? Sorry, I can\u2019t let you through\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n20 minutes later, I turn, raise my hands and loudly exclaim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWE\u2019RE GOING TO FIJI!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlight is Fiji Airlines as a codeshare with American Airlines. American is running the Denver to Dallas legs, Fiji Airlines covering the Dallas to the city of Nadi on Viti Levu island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoosing seats for the Fiji legs, expensive, but no problem. Ok we\u2019re up quite a bit from the $874, but how many times will I get to go to Fiji, and on the 12+ hour long leg, how much would I be willing to spend to get out of the middle seat in the toilet adjacent row hell?<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican and Fiji airlines, this must be the first time they\u2019ve done this<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have seats on the long flight legs, but want to have non-middle seats for the Denver to Dallas legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji website: \u201cGo to American to book your seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican website: \u201cThis flight is operated by Fiji, we can\u2019t give you seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get on the phones and get the same cross finger pointing\u2026This is a bit nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is 2026, and I\u2019m calling the help lines? Multiple help lines can\u2019t let me select a seat on a flight<\/strong>? Is this a joke? We\u2019ll keep calling. What feels like nine or so calls later we have seats on the American run flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMisdirection madness, help line helplessness<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIT\u2019S GO DAY!!!!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver airport late Saturday afternoon, after a couple long flights we\u2019re set to land Monday at 5:00am. You cross the international date line and the equator as part of the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver and clear security, no issues, then we have a few beers waiting for the flight to Dallas. Airport overpriced, but A-ok so far. Things are looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t get back through security without a ticket from Austin<\/h3>\n\n\n\nComplication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\nMany calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSemi-formed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBasically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLove what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant on a 14 hour flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Fiji, the land Robert Dinero\u2019s character was dreaming of in the classic \u201cHeat\u201d, the land of the legendary surf spot Cloudbreak. Blue, warm, water\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiji? Fiji! Fiji! \u2026ok, let\u2019s calm down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My first thought, \u201cIs this a real flight?\u201d Real as in, is this a flight humans would like to take. \u201cOh, it\u2019s 4 days each way relaying through Turkmenistan with a brief layover in Mauritania!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turns out, it IS a real flight. Denver->Dallas->Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ok, how about the dates?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I pull up a calendar, turns out this seems like it IS real. Like buy it and go real, holy shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ok, now I need to grab passports and credit cards and try to make this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
90% of the way through the process, the airline website starts hating my tablet. After all Jen and my passport info, frequent flier information, TSA precheck info, and credit card numbers are in, I can\u2019t click the \u2018make it happen\u2019 button. Simply won\u2019t click.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I grab my laptop and repeat the entire process, being 4 drinks in and about to spend a chunk of money going half the world away, I\u2019m double checking everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A latent fear of bureaucracy gives me a recurring travel nightmare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Oh you had a typo? Sorry, I can\u2019t let you through\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20 minutes later, I turn, raise my hands and loudly exclaim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWE\u2019RE GOING TO FIJI!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flight is Fiji Airlines as a codeshare with American Airlines. American is running the Denver to Dallas legs, Fiji Airlines covering the Dallas to the city of Nadi on Viti Levu island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choosing seats for the Fiji legs, expensive, but no problem. Ok we\u2019re up quite a bit from the $874, but how many times will I get to go to Fiji, and on the 12+ hour long leg, how much would I be willing to spend to get out of the middle seat in the toilet adjacent row hell?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have seats on the long flight legs, but want to have non-middle seats for the Denver to Dallas legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiji website: \u201cGo to American to book your seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American website: \u201cThis flight is operated by Fiji, we can\u2019t give you seats\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get on the phones and get the same cross finger pointing\u2026This is a bit nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is 2026, and I\u2019m calling the help lines? Multiple help lines can\u2019t let me select a seat on a flight<\/strong>? Is this a joke? We\u2019ll keep calling. What feels like nine or so calls later we have seats on the American run flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMisdirection madness, help line helplessness<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIT\u2019S GO DAY!!!!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver airport late Saturday afternoon, after a couple long flights we\u2019re set to land Monday at 5:00am. You cross the international date line and the equator as part of the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet to Denver and clear security, no issues, then we have a few beers waiting for the flight to Dallas. Airport overpriced, but A-ok so far. Things are looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t get back through security without a ticket from Austin<\/h3>\n\n\n\nComplication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\nMany calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSemi-formed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBasically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLove what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant on a 14 hour flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Get to Denver airport late Saturday afternoon, after a couple long flights we\u2019re set to land Monday at 5:00am. You cross the international date line and the equator as part of the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get to Denver and clear security, no issues, then we have a few beers waiting for the flight to Dallas. Airport overpriced, but A-ok so far. Things are looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLand and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t get back through security without a ticket from Austin<\/h3>\n\n\n\nComplication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\nMany calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSemi-formed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBasically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\nZero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmerican Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLove what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEverything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant on a 14 hour flight<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWalking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Flight is uneventful, until they come on the speaker and announce we\u2019re getting routed to Austin rather than Dallas due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I check my watch and confirm this is a problem. We are 100% missing our flight to Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Land and deplane in Austin and we\u2019re told we\u2019ll be routed back to Dallas shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It won\u2019t matter, our plane to Fiji is lifting off now-ish, without us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Airlines comes on the speaker and we are directed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPick up your bags at carousel 3\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This seems odd, but we\u2019re a bit tipsy and very tired. It\u2019s about 12:30am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tired and getting lonely as people and airport workers leave the airport. Our bags never arrive at carousel 3. We and a few other people heading from Denver to Fiji are scratching our heads in dismay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re then directed to get to our gate to hit the 1 then 2, then 3am flight back to Dallas. I don\u2019t understand going to Dallas as Fiji only flies every few days out of Dallas. Getting to Dallas doesn\u2019t matter, but\u2026it also doesn\u2019t matter because.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Complication? There is no one around to give those tickets. The entire airport is closing shop. We are now outside security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A helpful American airlines employee tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have tickets from Austin, so you can\u2019t get through security to get back to Dallas. You shouldn\u2019t have gone out through security to baggage claim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey told us to pick up our bags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh they shouldn\u2019t have told you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helpful, really, but clearly, here we are. We need a room for the night after figuring out how the heck we\u2019re getting to Fiji. Fiji airlines only flies their long legs every couple days from each of Dallas and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What feels like another 9 phone calls later\u2026. Jen is handling this as I\u2019m losing my shit and trying to not fully lose my rag in an Instagram arrest worthy manner. Steam is coming out of my ears, and my inner monologue really wants to get out. This would be bad for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Airlines: \u201cWe got you a hotel! and you can fly out of Los Angeles to Nadi Sunday at midnight! Ok bye!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We check our phones for confirmation emails. Then dial customer support, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe hotel you got us is in Dallas, we\u2019re in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God dammit Donut! <nods to Dungeon Crawler Carl><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many calls and much frustration later, it\u2019s around 1:30am Sunday morning Austin time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe got you a hotel in Austin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fucking super, ok well at least we aren\u2019t sleeping in a shut down airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve got a plan\u2026.Custer had a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plan is to fly to Los Angeles Sunday from Austin at 7pm, then take a midnight flight from LA to Nadi. If this goes as the brochure would indicate, we\u2019ll be getting in a day late, arriving Tuesday 6:00am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jen shakes her head and asks \u201cShould we just cancel and head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have the time booked off, we have a mission, we will get there if I have to row a boat made from banana leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I compose my face before letting words out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHon, let\u2019s continue the adventure, I think it can likely only get better from here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There, I fixed the voice coming out as a much better version of the 4 letter verbs caroming off the inside of my skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our plan\u2026seems semi-formed as we consult the modern tools of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person on the phone rebooked us in theory, but none of the apps or the websites reflect any changes that were supposedly made. No idea where the bags are, the app isn\u2019t showing their location, both Fiji Airways and American Airlines show no plans changed. Apps don\u2019t have boarding passes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basically zero assurance or confirmation the changes we made over the phone are actually in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being based in Denver, I fly United for the bulk of my travel flights as Denver is a United regional hub. I had no idea how much United got right until I flew an American\/Fiji codeshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to those American\/Fiji apps, we\u2019re still traveling from Dallas -> Nadi(Fiji) and are enroute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After more phone calls, we decided to get to Austin airport early and maybe get on the 3pm Austin to Los Angeles flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be the same flight out of Los Angeles in any case, but we get a tick more breathing room if we go earlier, and don\u2019t really know what we can do otherwise. Really not trying to have a potential weather delay strand us in Los Angeles for days. What can we do to help the odds? Get to the Austin airport early and hope to fly standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zero additional clothing really limits the workout or anything potential. I\u2019m going to be in these clothes for the next 26+ hours, do I want to turn them into Joe-swamp-soup? No\u2026Well, not more than they already are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin itself isn\u2019t helping as it\u2019s hot, gray, and muggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We head to the airport around 11am for our possible 7pm flight to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Airlines people at the airport are super nice, and try to get us on an earlier flight via priority standby to Los Angeles. Turns out we just missed standby on a mid afternoon flight, we were literally the next people on the standby list\u2026 close, no cigar. Back to 7pm to LA it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin airport is small and bustling. Going through security, I get to 3rd base after getting flagged at security for \u2018my sensitive areas\u2019. I got felt up so much I felt I should tip the guy. No seriously the guy went full on cluster clutch at the crescendo of the extensive high crotch rub down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The security guy must have had something for middle aged white guys as he was doing the same thing to a Johnny white-collar worker just behind me as our bags were extra scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A random young man waiting to pick up his bag on the other side of the carry on scanner remarked \u201cMan, that TSA agent is going after people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Love what you do and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life, this guy was living his best stranger crotch clutch life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grab a pretty mediocre BBQ plate at Salt Lick BBQ restaurant and hope either both of us get on this flight, or we magically teleport to Nadi, waking up from this bad travel dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s too early for a drink, and too late to have coffee, so we just sit and fidget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spoiler, we end up drinking. At $15\/can or pint of beer, we end up spending $200 at the airport over 7+ boring hours with me trying to shake off being fairly violated at security and the travel anxiety of plans gone awry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our 7pm flight to Los Angeles boards and we take off as we\u2019d hope. We may actually make this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything is on time and we land tired in Los Angeles around midnight pacific time. How many hours have we been traveling? Wait, we took off Sat from the house at 2pm Mountain Time(MT), went to Austin, Central Time around midnight (CT), left Austin at 7pm CT Sunday, now getting on a midnight Pacific Time (PT) flight? Fuck, it\u2019s been a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The people at both American and Fiji, in person, are fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We board the long haul flight on a HUGE jet and get situated. We\u2019re getting comfortable when a giant Fijian sits next to me. This should be interesting for a long flight. Turns out, zero issues. The guy was a football lineman, and was so thick front to back, that his shoulders rested in front of mine. Literally zero space contention with a guy who looked to be about 6\u20191\u201d and 270 lbs of solid human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I take an Ambien, put on my fleece, snug up my extra-awesome keep your head up neck pillow, lower my sleep mask, and get a solid 6 hours of sleep. The fleece was a good move as the cabin went sub arctic in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of the flight is pleasant and uneventful. It\u2019s about 5:45am TUESDAY when we land. We have crossed the international date line and lost a day in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BUT WE LANDED IN FIJI, HOLY SHIT!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walking the jetway into the Nadi Airport, we are excited but sleepy. We clear customs without incident, then run into the other couple from Denver at baggage claim. The sad panda news is not unexpected at this point. The bags are still on the Dallas tarmac. Nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSide bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOk, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
No bags, no clothes, no flip flops, no sunscreen, no toothbrush, ugh. This is a carry on packing fail if there ever was one. I\u2019d packed too much in the way of electronics and forgot the change of clothes bits. Total rookie move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We fill out the \u2018what does your luggage look like\u2019 forms at the Fiji lost luggage desk while a white middle aged lady is losing her mind because her very expensive looking white suitcase has a scuff on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Side bar: What kind of idiot buys expensive luggage? The kind that stands in baggage in paradise and screams their heads off. Adding this to the \u2018red flags\u2019 pile of biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ok, back to sleepy reality, I try to not stagger as we wade out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We meet Sachin from Sachin\u2019s car rentals in the parking lot. He is nice and gives us suggestions for shops around to buy some clothes, as we still have none. For this adventure I\u2019ve rented a Toyota Vitz, basically the Asia-spec Toyota Yaris. It\u2019s just big enough for 2 people and luggage, but we don\u2019t have luggage so\u2026.let me wedge myself into this thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our plan is to head into downtown Nadi, and just buy some cheap clothes at Harrisons that we can use and reuse until our bags arrive. A few t-shirts, flip flops and some quick dry shorts are on the to-acquire list. We\u2019re going to be on a beach on a small island, so the shopping list is thankfully short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh yeah, hey, this is a right hand drive vehicle. I told Sachin I\u2019ve never driven on the left. He laughed, gave me a few tips and away we went. I\u2019m still groggy, jetlagged and chanting to \u2018STAY LEFT, STAY LEFT\u2019 to fight decades of only driving on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI fail parking lot almost immediately<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
We stop at a Harrisons right down from the airport, but it doesn\u2019t open until 10:00am. It\u2019s 7:30am now. We debate food here and wait for this shop to open, or find another shop. Another shop wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is another Harrisons in downtown Nadi, the main town about 10 minutes away from the airport. It should be open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When trying to exit the parking lot in the stop and slow island \u2018rush hour\u2019 I have my car on the right side of the exit, and quickly come nose to nose with a local trying to enter the parking lot. Whoops, totally my bad. I put the car in reverse as quickly as I can with the shifter being on the left, and re-orient to the left side of the exit while apologizing profusely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dammit, the parking lot defeated me, <\/strong>I need to get my left-side drive game going better.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGoogle maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreat stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Google maps is a mess on directions, and at times we\u2019re driving in loops in morning traffic. It\u2019s a small island and we seem to be the only people that don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going, which\u2026yeah, we don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every low speed high traffic driving loop fuels the steam coming out of my ears. We just need food and clothes, this place isn\u2019t big, come on google maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We finally lurch into a parking space in downtown Nadi. I\u2019m hungry and frustrated by the drive and mis-directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m on new place high alert, we don\u2019t exactly blend and I\u2019m highly aware of it. Hungry and enjoying the smells of food coming down the street, we are about to cross a small intersection. A Fijian man, maybe in his 50s waves, smiles, says hello, then crosses over and walks up. He is in flip flops and a light Hawaiian looking shirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He asks us how the day is going, and we say hello and briefly mention the flights and zero luggage. He introduces himself as Josh who has just walked his son to school, and he has the day off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He insists on taking us around. My Florida stranger-danger radar is on high, but this guy seems to radiate kindness in an alien way, and we could use the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh takes us to a fabulous local Fijian shop called Bula-wear where I pick up a couple pairs of quick dry shorts and a few shirts. Jen grabs a swim suit and sundries and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We insist on taking Josh to breakfast, and we all enjoy a great meal while Josh gives us insight into the local economy, different ethnic groups who visit Fiji, and a bit about his former career playing professional rugby across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Great stories and an unfiltered earnestness is making us laugh, easing the unsteady in time feel long flights leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh then asks us if we\u2019d like to meet the chief\u2019s son Jacob, who runs the cultural center in Nadi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We check our watches against the ferry schedule to Likuri Island, now that we have clothes, we have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure, let\u2019s do it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh takes us to meet Jacob, the chief’s son. We have a kava ceremony, and it\u2019s relaxing and fantastic as we are educated about the tribes of Fiji (there are 14) The cultural center has war clubs that I was drooling over, and thought my 16 year old son would LOVE, but have zero idea how I\u2019d carry it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cExcuse me Mr TSA guy, I need to bring my four foot long war club onboard\u2026What\u2019s it used for? Oh, bashing people over the head!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFijians, built differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJosh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When I shook both Josh and Jacob\u2019s hands I was struck by a few things. By most standards I have big hands, XL gloves, can palm a basketball, etc. When I shook their hands both of them made my hands feel thin and weak. I swear their hands were at least double the thickness of mine. The bones just seemed heavier and much more dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was thinking when Josh was in his prime rugby days, it would have been hella-awful to get hit by this tank of a human on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh then directs us to a local grocery store where we load up on water and beer for our stay in Likuri. We buy Josh a nice bottle of whiskey as thanks for everything he\u2019s done for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not 2 hours into the trip and we\u2019re getting great hugs from a sweaty and laughing local. I like Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
We part ways with Josh and wish him great thanks as we go from Nadi down to the ferry dock for our shuttle to Likuri Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After more google near-mapping, we found the dock. A couple locals are hanging out, and tell us we might as well check Natadola beach which is just down the road. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a while\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We take the high tech, heavy duty, offroading badass Toyota Vitz and of course, google maps misroutes us to a locked gate that is supposed to be the dirt road to the beach. A wrong turn later and we\u2019re literally driving slowly through a few back yards over rain rutted dirt roads. The Vitz doesn\u2019t exactly have ground clearance so I\u2019m trying not to high-center the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The houses are made with tin roofs and stacks of cement blocks with dogs, goats, and chickens walking around. The locals smile and wave, so do we, then make a hasty U-turn, slowly looking for Natadola beach, purported to be one of the nicest on Viti Levu\u2019s south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get to Natadola, but in the parking area, it\u2019s littered with garbage. Discarded wine bottles, beer bottles and general junk. Who litters in paradise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We walk from the parking lot to the sand, and wow, it IS beautiful. Looking down the shore to the Intercontinental hotel complex, it looks amazing down there and VERY clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFerry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
We walk up and down for a bit, then head to the dock for the ferry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ferry to Likuri is a pleasant ride, and we chat with a wonderful couple vacationing from Spain. I\u2019m missing the bug spray that\u2019s lodged in our luggage, \u00bd the world away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParadise found, Likuri Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\nLikuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Likuri island is SMALL, and awesome. We check in with a paper bag full of just purchased clothes and a lot of beer. It could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The place is wonderful and everything the last 40+ hours were not: Quiet, relaxing, with almost no people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Likuri island resort consists of a couple dozen bungalows on a very, very small island. This place is fantastic, feels authentic with thatched roofs on the TIki bar area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
We have booked the \u2018Beach Burre\u2019 which has air conditioning and a fridge. A nice lady guides us to the Burre. It is clean and everything I\u2019d hoped for. We stock the fridge with beer and take a much needed shower, which is outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
40 hours of travel funk come off me and I hope I\u2019m not creating a biohazard with the runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a wonderful silence in a sea of relaxation with amazing over-water views. The air is clean and the temperature is perfect. The water matches this and I unclench everything I\u2019ve had clenched for\u2026.a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\nFiji pricing, not Vegas pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAfter traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nI needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
As we settle in on day one, the thing notably missing is BUG SPRAY. I\u2019m a mosquito magnet, and I\u2019m taking some hits. Nothing like Florida, but after living in almost bug-free Colorado for 25 years, it\u2019s notable. I have \u2018Bens SuperMax 100\u2019 bug spray, but it\u2019s in my luggage somewhere between Dallas and Fiji. That and flip flops should 100% have been in my carry on. <makes note for future travel, kicks self in ass><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After traveling to several touristy places over time, Cancun, Vegas, etc, it has become a staple move to load up on water, beer and such before you get to the resort. My cost-radar went on high knowing this ultra small island leaves literally nowhere else to go to purchase anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve encountered $32 beers at the Cancun airport(actual price), $50 sunscreen at the pools in Vegas(Same, this is a real number), and general \u2018let\u2019s fleece the tourist as hard as we possibly can\u2019 prices as a shareholder profit maximization mantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe fuck you mean a can of coors light is $16 and it\u2019s 107f outside? $16 ATM fee, with a $200 max withdrawal limit?<Caesars palace pool, Vegas 2024>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I needn’t have worried. Beers and cocktails were entirely reasonable, $5 for a good local beer, $9 for a hand made pina colada that might have been the best I\u2019ve ever had. The pictures I\u2019ve posted of the menus are in FJD currency which is about 0.40 * USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Beginning of day two, I realized they DO sell bug spray on the island and it was the best $7 I can remember spending. WOW, what an improvement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The weather is perfect, but we dodged a bullet on this one. Two weeks earlier a monsoon swamped the mainland of Viti Levu, and the downstream runoff buried the entire beach of Likuri Island in a sea of down tree wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took the staff days to clear the beaches, which look amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The resort is the perfect size, everyone friendly who works or stays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA jogging tour of the island. Huff, puff, huh? I\u2019m done<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
I decide to take an exploratory loop of the island, and do a slow jog. The trail ends after a few hundred yards, and I have to bushwack to the right to get back to the beach. I jog on the sand for the rest of the trip. Total time including a bit of backing up and re-routing around some tidal pool dead-ends\u2026 about 18 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was\u2026short. Peeling off my shirt I dive into the ocean and enjoy the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBattery packs, a small tech hero of this story<\/h3>\n\n\n\nI have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSnorkeling, wrong time of day, right kind of attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLikuri Island Fire show, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
I have a local power to american plug converter, but \u2026you guessed it. It too is in our luggage. The carry-on friendly Inui power bank turns out to be key to keeping our phones alive and snapping pictures during our luggage\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a snorkeling trip mid afternoon out to a local reef. This is included as resort activities and Jen and I jump at the chance. A quick, beautiful boat trip out, and \u2018here we are\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things I loved about this trip, Fiji has not nerfed the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are life jackets up top if anyone wants one. You can just jump in if you\u2019re ready\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are my people, I forgo the life jacket and happily giant-step off the platform. The water is absolutely the perfect temperature. It\u2019s mid-afternoon, and there\u2019s about a 15-20mph breeze. This is churning the ultra shallow water quite a bit. Great time, but visibility was far from optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We enjoy cruising around then return to the boat, sun-soaked and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The island got a lot busier on Wed afternoon and night as many people took the ferry over from the mainland to watch the Likuri Island fire show. The fire show was amazing and easily the best I\u2019ve ever seen. The dancers in the fire show are also the people that make breakfast, lunch, clean the resort, run the daily activities, and man the front desk. Running this small resort on a tiny island is an all-hands in affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93efb8c"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efc6e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efc6e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_island_fireshow1.jpg\" alt=\"likuri island fireshow1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93efecd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93efecd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_moonrise.jpg\" alt=\"likuri moonrise\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji Airlines website bad! Likuri staff amazing! Obey My Dog! <Best Zoolander Mugatu voice here><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Fiji Airlines website continues to unimpress as they and the app have zero tracking information about our bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we try to confirm our bags have landed and are being directed to our next hotel, Tim from the Likuri front desk calls baggage at the Marriott for us -> THANK YOU TIM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE BAGS MADE IT!. They are holding them for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marriott didn\u2019t recognize the bag tags and were contemplating sending them back to Fiji Airways. Jen had booked the room using a Marriott friends and family discount, so the bag tags in my name didn\u2019t add up for the handlers at the resort as the room was in Jen\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days on Likuri were a mix of just relaxing in the quiet and activities offered by the resort. Coconut processing over a fire barrel was interesting and the results amazing. Mostly I decompressed and spent time in the water, but there were many things to do if one so desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0522"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0522\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_toasted_coconut.jpg\" alt=\"likuri toasted coconut\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was a buffet 3 times a day, kicked off by the drumming of a Fijian communications log\/drum called a Lali. When the buffet was ready, they\u2019d play about 30 seconds of drumbeats to announce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trivia: The Lali was used for inter island communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food was generally excellent, with good variety and we enjoyed the meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Everyone is awesome here, except the French<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resort is small enough to where you meet everyone on the island, resort staff and other travelers. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the size of the resort, or the type of people who choose a small remote resort, but everyone was friendly. Smiles, hellos, and easy smalltalk were everywhere all the time, of course preceded by the omnipresent \u201cBula!\u201d greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable exceptions, a group of about 6 French people who looked to be professionally unimpressed with everything showed up day 2, and tended toward scowling and dismissive hand gestures and muttering as their default mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I did have a great conversation with a 60-ish year old man in that group, who had lived in Bali for the last 30 years and who also notably had 50% of his face heavily tattooed. A north\/south dividing line between regular skin and creative tribal designs. I think 3 decades in Bali had improved his world view in a way not shared with the others from France. He was utterly charming and I enjoyed my time talking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fijians are my favorite people on earth, full stop.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The staff, Mess, Margarita, Sai, Tim, all fantastic. They make the small island resort magical. Friendly with a non-stop \u201cBula!\u201d greetings, they made the trip feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving too soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two days was not enough, we\u2019re really missing our 3rd day that was eaten with travel woes. Sadly we check out, trade a lot of hugs with the staff, and hop on the ferry back to the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f0b30"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f0b30\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/likuri_checkout.jpg\" alt=\"likuri checkout\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high performance sex machine Toyota Vitz is waiting for us, and we begin the trek to the Marriott in Momi Bay. I try to contain all 60 of the horsepower of this raging vehicle\u2026.awwww yeah. Wait, I need to wedge my thighs under the steering wheel\u2026please hold\u2026.ok, legs in, gave cheese to the mice in the engine bay, now we\u2019re going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best copilot driving directive ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re cruising north to Momi Bay enjoying the lush tropical views on very small winding roads. We turn a left hand corner with surrounding dense foliage and my copilot Jen forcefully yells<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cCOW\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sure enough, a cow was stepping out of the dense greenery and right into our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most perfect, directive, ever. Literally zero fat on that. 1 syllable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hit the brakes hard. We stop then slowly pull around. The cow was nonplussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1021"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1021\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09064401.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09064401\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple drive up the coast with a stop to reload water and beer and we continue north with the chant of \u201cStay left, stay left\u201d coming out of the Vitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google maps let us down again, which led to a \u2018quicker to go the 20 min back\u2019 conclusion while questing for water and beer. U turn, drive, buy, continue north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Momi Bay is a bit remote, the last 10-15 minutes of the drive are a low speed affair through green hilly countryside on to a peninsula that is the resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f13bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f13bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/20260504-09062701.JPG\" alt=\"20260504-09062701\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stopped at the first building at the sign \u2018parking lot\u2019 then find out from a super nice local who smiled and introduced herself, we\u2019d stopped in the hotel conference center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFollow me\u201d and the Vitz is trailing her golf cart to the actual parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marriott Momi Bay, wow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They got this resort right. It literally looks like the brochure. The groups of rooms are blended with the natural water, and the pricier over water bungalows are amazing. They blended this resort with the natural beauty in a seamless way that is stunning to behold. Rather than a concrete and steel cube placed in paradise, the lines of everything blend in a harmonious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f1732"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f180e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f180e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_grounds_landscaping.jpg\" alt=\"momi grounds landscaping\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1a74"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1a74\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bula_boat.jpg\" alt=\"momi bula boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check in is without incident, and we GET OUR LUGGAGE BACK!!!!! I literally hugged a suitcase, judge me, I don\u2019t care. I\u2019ve been living in a pair of not that great fitting quick dry shorts with no razor or deodorant for a few days. I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t call the hobo police on us when we were in the lobby trying to check in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f1ed1"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f1ed1\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_bay_check_in_lobby.jpg\" alt=\"momi bay check in lobby\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the friendliness of the locals everywhere is a thing to experience. From the roadside 7-11 equivalents to the other people shopping to the resort personnel. Everyone is just awesome and damn happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The property is beautiful, literally picture perfect. Water everywhere, but not much beach. Lots of land into rocky tidal pools around the perimeter, with lagoons separating clusters of rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 4-5 restaurants on the property. The food is excellent and not terribly overpriced. The Fish Bar restaurant has the best views of the sunset, and the sunsets are out of this world. The bar at the Fish Bar is amazing for both the food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2237"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2237\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_restaurants.jpg\" alt=\"momi restaurants\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day or two into the trip, as we walk around the property, we duck behind a dive shop to get a peek at the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two guys out back, and we start chatting. One of them is the owner’s son and he tells us about the shop. They do surf, fishing, and snorkel\/dive trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decide to do a 3 hour snorkel trip and check out the legendary surf stop Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(YES! <checks bucket list item as \u2018scheduled\u2019>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local food, humble establishment, great food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We decided to take a break from the resort and try a local restaurant just outside Momi bay for a \u2018something different\u2019 lunch. A quick jaunt down the road, avoiding the horses walking down the street and we arrived at a roadside restaurant, which was mostly shack-ish in nature. Google reviews were positive, so we embraced it and I got some amazing fish curry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f25e3"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f26bd"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f26bd\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/horses_on_road.jpg\" alt=\"horses on road\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2920"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2920\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/dreams_shack.jpg\" alt=\"dreams shack\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f2b71"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f2b71\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_curry.jpg\" alt=\"fish curry\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This place was totally worth experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sand bar, Turtles, Cloudbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hop in the small skiff and start away from the resort with the owner Eddy at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f310b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f310b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_eddy_snorkel_trip.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen eddy snorkel trip\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we zoom to the horizon, he points to a large bag near the front \u201cFins and masks in there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First stop, sandbar. We\u2019re a few miles off the coast, Eddy stops the boat and says \u201cyou can hop out here\u201d We are now in knee to waist deep crystal clear warm blue water and standing on wonderfully soft sand bottom, miles from shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hang out for a bit, then go to the first of our two snorkel stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First snorkel stop is over a very shallow reef. Good fish, but it takes a bit to realize my mask is fogging when I thought it was reduced water visibility. A quick wipe\/rinse and ahhh\u2026that\u2019s better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second stop is AMAZING. There are sea turtles everywhere. The only downside are some small, gnat-like stinging jellyfish in the water that love Jen\u2019s skin. I\u2019m doing ok, with only a few hits here and there. The snorkeling is so good, I can ignore this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After about 30 min swimming about with Eddy directing us toward groups of turtles from the boat, we get back in and take a short trip to Cloudbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3595"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3595\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/snokle_boat.jpg\" alt=\"snokle boat\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are about 20 surfers in the water enjoying the insanely shaped perfect waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3879"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3879\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak.JPG\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being several miles offshore, I was surprised there was a 4 story tower built in the water for the surf competition judges to occupy. Eddy explained they built this at low tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3b56"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3b56\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_cloudbreak_judges_tower.jpg\" alt=\"fiji cloudbreak judges tower\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back at the resort we enjoy pool time, drinks, sunshine and happy people everywhere. There are fantastic Aussies and New Zealanders everywhere. Just friendly outgoing people. For them, this is a 3-4 hour flight. I am Jack\u2019s green envy. I\u2019d be here 4 times a year if the flight was only 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e93f3d78"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f3e5a"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f3e5a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_infinity_pool.jpg\" alt=\"momi infinity pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e93f40b2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e93f40b2\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fiji_pool_feet.jpg\" alt=\"fiji pool feet\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fijians continue to be my favorite people on earth. Warm and happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We make friends in the bar and pool. The resort is small enough with just a few bars\/restaurants\/pools so you tend to see the same faces, like a larger version of the Likuri resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400299"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400377"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400377\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/tevita_cocktail.jpg\" alt=\"tevita cocktail\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94005da"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94005da\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_house_pool.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish house pool\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Random joy from having a suitcase sneaks in often. SOCKS, I HAVE CLEAN SOCKS. This is amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best sunset of my life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner at Fishbar overlooking the water. The red tropical sun dipped visibly as we watched it descend in a wave of color and clouds. This was literally the best sunset I\u2019ve seen, full stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e9400a7b"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400b52"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400b52\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_sky_clouds.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset sky clouds\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400db6"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400db6\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/fish_bar_sunset_fire_ceremony.jpg\" alt=\"fish bar sunset fire ceremony\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9400fef"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9400fef\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"momi sunset1\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94012a2"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401344"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401344\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e94015d9"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e94015d9\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/joe_jen_fish_bar_sunset_hug.jpg\" alt=\"joe jen fish bar sunset hug\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music, Fiji does it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somehow Fiji gets the volume right everywhere. Music is great, but not overpowering. Live music, which I typically despise, was extremely enjoyable. There was a notable singer at the resort, Queenie. She had a voice so perfect I didn\u2019t think a human could make those sounds without auto-tune and sound engineering. Just hypnotizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we cruise through the days, I simply can\u2019t get over how well the entire resort is done. It\u2019s big-ish, but not like Vegas or Mexico resort huge. The landscaping is perfect and unlike other places we\u2019ve stayed, there are plenty of poolside chairs available. Pool service is excellent for both food and drinks, I dig this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"galleryId":"6aea4e94019dc"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401a7e"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401a7e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_chairs.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort chairs\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9401cf8"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9401cf8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/marriott_beach_chairs_near_sunset.jpg\" alt=\"marriott beach chairs near sunset\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People, Fiji gets it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TL;DR to this whole area is: People tend to know how to act. Perhaps it\u2019s the cost and difficulty getting here that self selects out the Spirit Airlines and Carnival Cruise crowd. Sure there was the random idiot around, but it was so much the exception and not the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone here seems happy, and it radiates around in waves. Not sure how you can have a bad day in a perfect climate looking at the Fijian-blue water. Maybe I should ask the French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our trip back was without incident. We went Nadi -> Los Angeles -> Denver. The flights were on time, the bags made it. What an adventure. Oh yeah, freak snowstorm in May had me hand scraping off the car while in a Bula(Hawaiian) shirt in 38 degree weather. So bad it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiji parting thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed all of Fiji that we experienced, but I think I need to come back to explore some of the other 300+ islands in the chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{"imageId":"6aea4e9402233"}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6aea4e9402233\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/gallery\/fiji2026\/momi_resort_sunset_perfection.jpg\" alt=\"momi resort sunset perfection\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warmth of the people, the stunning beauty of the land and the water. I look forward to returning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" id=\"trip-montage\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"fiji2026 Trip in 4 minutes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cDj2Dsa6ics?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short on time? Skip to the 4-minute trip montage at the end. \u201cSHhHHHH!!!!!!\u201d \u201cWhat do you mean SHH?\u201d \u201cSHHH!!!!\u201d \u201cWHAT?\u201d \u201cWOMAN, SHUT, THE FUCK UP!!!! I\u2019M TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!\u201d (You really do need an Eddy Murphy doing … <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/2026\/11\/03\/fiji-2026\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3677"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3722,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3677\/revisions\/3722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pasko.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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