Rescue!!!

So we got back to Nandi and across the bridge again and they put us in cars with all our stuff on our laps. There were 3 major floods to get through. But we made it. Waved to the otters in the car behind.

Never been rescued before! As soon as we were through we called up to see if we could change our flights and amazingly got through to the Fiji office and booked to fly that night rather than sit for 2 days in the hotel as the weather was much worse as soon as you got to Nandi - rain pretty torrential!

Everyone really relieved to be back - a drink is in order!

Up and down the Queens Highway

So we had to turn back again! Getting a bit fed up of driving back and forth but nothing to be done about it I guess! It was weird because we'd only seen really a bit of rain or constant drizzle but clearly the other bits of the island were getting hit pretty hard.

Really didn't want to go back to Mango Bay again but luckily our guide Kay got news that they'd found accommodation for us in another place.

So we headed that way and stopped off for lunch in a town as we had time to kill. The others didn't like the look of the local food and bought crisps but we went to the local chicken curry with kasava - not bad actually - nice not to have to eat in tourist resort and it was cheaper too!

Well after lunch got news that they had got some cars which might get us through the floods so we turned back again and headed for Nandi. Getting to know the road quite well now!

Well there's a glimmer of hope....

Its a disaaaahster daaaaahling :(

So left Mango bay at 10 as there was a chance of getting over the bridge at low tide midday.

Road covered with landslides and fallen power lines. When we got to Nandi we could see all the flooded houses as the river had burst its banks.

We managed to get over the first bridge and to the bottom of town but the locals said there was no way to get any further as the water on both roads was too deep to cross.

Everyone still going around smiling and waving to each other looking quite happy really. Amazing!

Stranded!

So got near to Nandi and our guide Kay got the phone call to say that Nandi was now cut off due to massive floods so there was no chance to get to the airport. By this time some people with flights soon were starting to get worried.

We went back to Mango Bay for the night with our spirits damped. There were no private rooms so we all had to stay in one big dorm which was pretty basic. For some reason they thought it a good idea to build the dorms over some lovely stagnant mosquito breeding water - romantic!

Some played volley ball but other than that we were really waiting around to see if we could get away. Everyone starting to thinks about changing plans and flights not sure what to do.

Change of plan

So as we didn't get to do the village visit went to the main city and we went to the museum there for a bit.

We then needed to get back to Nandi where the airport is so we wouldn't be stranded. On the way out of town and the radio was reporting mass flooding on the island and all the offices were closing and sending people home. Hope we get there!

Hurricane stops play

So up and out in the bus for another days sight seeing and then we hear the news that there were storms last night and the village we were going to visit was cut off due to flooding. Oh no! Then it turns out that the whole of the north of the island was also cut off so we couldn't get to where we were going to stay and do our diving! Double bugger :-((

Then news came through that there hurricane Thomas in the area - probably wouldn't hit but was the cause of a large depression hitting Fiji.

Hurricane?!?!?! Help!

Uprising resort

To new accommodation for lunch as we were starving! Fiji time struck again as had to wait an hour for our food!

Tropical thunder showers in the afternoon so spent the afternoon cleaning our boots and catching up on the blog. Nice room though - a little house with outside shower - cool!