We woke after a 12hour sleep! Our air-conditioned Bure and huge comfy bed had ensured a great night catching up and ensured we were ready for the taxing effort of an afternoon in hot sunshine in a violet blue cloudless sky around the pool with occasional lazy swims and the sound of the waterfall flowing and birds calling! We watched a staff member gather pawpaw's for the kitchen - using a long stick he dislodged and caught them in one hand.

The tropical gardens are beautiful, exotic flowers, coconuts, majestic palms and massive rain trees, aloe vera, hibiscus and evergreens all blend effortlessly into its own 'mini botanical garden'. The resort has a beach facing west which promises to give us some great sunsets behind the Mamanucas islands opposite us. According to local legend, the first Fijians arrived around 1500 BC, landing on the beach at First Landing.

Nearby is the Vudu Marina and a stroll around it enabled us to gawp and oo ah at the yachts registered in far off places - Jersey, Panama, Freemantle, Rotterdam, Suva, Hobart, Auckland and California to name a few. A happy drunk (white) drunk shuffled along the edges and we waited for the splash as he navigated the moorings....didn't come on our watch.

Back to book some trips with Ada on the tour desk; we are appreciative that almost all of the Fijian staff and local people we've met appear genuinely interested in us, each one we pass says hello, those we are speaking with always introduce themselves and ask after 'our day'. We are learning that tourism is vital to the country and visitors welcomed accordingly. On resort the main guitarist from our evening dinner entertainment is called Seta, our waiter is Joe, the chef Darren came out to speak with us and Dave has a 'mate' behind the bar.

We've read that Fijian's have a natural affinity with children and noted a little toddler being entertained and carried around by a number of the staff - quite happy and relaxed in their company -and so giving her pregnant mum a break.

Around 6 ish the sky darkened and a storm grumbled and crackled in the hills and mountains behind us and we hoped this isn't bring a change in the weather.