Day 6

Day 6 Mystery Island

In true Fiji style the touring party were ready early and the busses were late, but one we got to the port of Denari is was well worth the wait. We boarded the ship 'The Old Lady' and set off with light breeze and an air of anticipation.

The tea and coffee were flowing (we're all getting a bit beer weary I think). It would seem a couple of the boys made some influential friends on their day out in Nadi and invited then along to join in the fun.

Sadly we realised we didn't have enough tea bags on board for un-announced guests so we had to turn them around. Shame really, they looked like they need some entertainment and I'm sure they were up for a game of beach volley ball, I hope it didn't spoil their day.

On arrival at Mystery Island the boy were itching to jump, dive, summersault off the boat. As soon as the anchor was set and the engine off, the game was on. With an number of international diving judges on the boat, every effort was made to impress, sadly this effort only received a must try harder

The water was warm and the swim was about 100m but the anticipation of a great day ahead kept everyone going and all were accounted for once the beach was made.

The day was then free to explore, swim, kayak, snorkel, play beach volley ball and some had a chance to go scuba diving. The wild life under the surface was amazing, clown fish that would follow your finger when you pointed at them, sea anemones as big as footballs balls, and a myriad of other brightly coloured creatures too numerous to mention.

The day finished with the trip home. In true Fiji style the crew were also entertainers, they had great collection of popular songs and local tunes all sung with equal passion and great skill.

After a day in the sun and the salt water, some of us became quite parched and the only way to quench the thirst was with a couple of well earned local brews.

What a great day, another in a long line of days the boys and dads wont forget in a hurry.

Day 5

Day 5 Free Day

Day 5 was a free day for Dads and Lads to spend some quality time together. Some spent their quality time on the Jet Ski Safri which took them around the islands, including Castaway where Tom Hanks and Mr Wilson spent time together in the film of the same name. Others went into town, ate chilli crab and took in the sights of Nadi. A couple of groups went to play golf in the heat and then cooled of with a couple of cold drinks at the Hard Rock Cafe. And for the dads that really wanted to show their boys what farther love is all about, well, they went Paint Balling and shot the living daylights out of each other.
All in all everyone had a fantastic day and swapped stories and compared battle medals over dinner.

Day 4

Game day.
The atmosphere at Breakfast was electric, all the boys shared the excitement in anticipation of their first game in Fiji.
The bus ride to Namaka Public School took about 30 minutes and the boys let off steam by shouting Bula and waiving enthusiastically at everyone and anything.
The school gave us the best welcome you could imagine. The whole school was assembled on the grass when our boys arrived.

The cheers and screams of their greeting was phenomenal, but nothing compared to the noise they made when their own team arrived. After the welcoming speeches, songs and presentations everyone was ready for a game of rugby.
Our boys were split into 3 teams, Vonu (Turtles), Kekra (Crabs) and Ika (Fish)
First team up Vonu v Mount Saint Mary's Public School
The boys had an excellent surprise Marius Jonker the leading South African International Referee was in town and had agreed to lend his support

For much of the first Half honors were even, Vonu held their line well and their ruck and maul was determined. However, once St Mary's had the ball and some space to run, they were off, the boys put up a spirited defense but the final honors went to St Mary's.

Next Up Kekra v Nadi Public School
Another enthusiastically fought match with guts and determination from both sides, the local press arrived just in time to watch this game, photos were taken and we believe we made the local papers.
Once again the local boys were fast, as soon as they had space they opened up their running game and ran home the winners.

Final game for the day Ika v Namaka Public Schools, our hosts. The game started with an early try for Namaka. Ika had lots of possession and finally turned it into a try. The game ebbed and flowed and half time Namaka were up by a single try. The second half went much the same way as the other games, our lads had lots of ball but Namaka's defense, while lacking discipline, were strong and hung in their to take the win.

Once back at the hotel the boys bathed their aching muscles in the pool and then dinner.
State of Origin was screened in the Zero Bar which is almost at the end of teh island and well away from all the nice people on holiday here, which for a while was a good thing... until the Maroon's raced ahead.

Day 3

Day 2

After the excitement of Day 1 and actually being in Fiji, the Kangaroo court was in full session. It would appear that a number of boys have become masters of the extreme sport of Aimless Running Around After Lights Out while trying to avoid security! Credit has to be given to a very committed member of the Security detail who endeavoured to capture the law breakers, sadly his case ended without a single lad being apprehended. for those involved justice was delivered in the morning session and to their credit not a single incident was reported for the boys for the whole of Day2.
Unfortunately not the same can be said for a couple of the dads, who decided to reform ACDC in their room at 4:20 am much to the dismay of a couple of other guests.

Day 2 was our Village tour. We were greeted by a magnificent welcome and entertained with traditional songs by the village that can only be described as awesome.
The villages showed us their homes, church and community hall. In recent years the villages have built an extension to their hall to house the community nurse. This project was partially funded by donations from previous Newport Tours, which made us all feel extremely proud to be associated with.
Before leaving the village elders shared their Cava ceremony with the touring party and the boys were given the chance to see how a Fijian village celebrate together.

We then had a great tour of the village, and the local people welcomed us with open arms and great friendship.

To be fair this pic is not at all representative of the village. The people live a good life and while they are not worldly rich, they are rich in ways I can often forget. Having said that, some of teh dogs in the village look a bit tatty.

But this senior member was certainly enjoying all the attention.

Unlike his Granddaughter who was really unfased by it all

On return to the resort several boys and dads had to serve 30 minutes detention on Alcatraz (well Newport rock) for crimes committed on day1

The day continued with free time, some dads and lads went painballing, thankfully there was no loss on limbs but there were several Welts, mainly on the dads, that looked fairly sore.

The evening was rounded off by Beach Olympics for the boys and a formal dads bonding session that has left a few of us feeling rather dusty this morning.

Today is our first game of the tour, all the boys are itching to get started, I'll attempt to write a match report later this evening

Zero Bar

Just walked through palm trees and tropical birds for 15 minutes to a bar that was closed.
How dare they !
10 minutes of Happy Hour missed (5 minutes reclaimed due to indignant walking at pace)!!!
Freddie in the pool still one hour after dark ...

We're Here

After a year of planning and hard work, we are finally here, although it nearly didn't happen. Nearly all were accounted for but Robson Scott was missing. As the tour motto is
"Tour together, Stay Together" the whole trip was cast into doubt. Thankfully, half an hour after the allotted time he arrived and off we went.
Sprits were high on the bus and once through customs at the airport, they remained at an elevated level. In fact for some young blokes they were just a little too high!!

On the plane the party continued and for at least one poor sole the excitement and anticipation was just a little too much.

Arrived in Fiji a hour late and transferred onto busses on our way to our new Island Home of Sonaisali. The bus trip was a bit of an adventure, 5 minutes out of the airport, buss No.3 started to cough and splutter with smoke billowing out of the back end. Thankfully the smoke was an oil leak and not a fire, so far so good, 12 hours in all kids accounted for and no serious injuries as yet!!

Dinner on arrival which the boys made short work of and the straight into the pool. King of the rock was in full force and kids were flung left right and centre into the pool as they fought for supremacy.

By midnight the boys are in bed and dads are having a couple of chilled beers in the bar watching the rain drops making waves in the pool.

Day 2
Breakfast was followed by the first Tribal council and Kangaroo Court, some minor misdemeanours were appropriately dealt with and then came the main order of the morning, in relation to our Chief Security Officer Paul Doyle, using his sons kit bag to smuggle illicit red wine into Fiji. However his clever and cunning plan came unstuck when one of the bottles broke and showered James's kit in shards of glass and red wine. As you can imagine Paul was mortified until he realised the one in his bag was still intact and not all was lost. When questioned Paul showed his remorse and commented "There's a bloody laundry, but I cant replace the bottle"

I'll report this afternoon and this evenings antics tomorrow.

1 sleep to go!!

Just finished packing and worried as I only have 12kg!!
1 sleep to go... Well I hope I sleep as so excited......