Middle-aged flash packers

Arrived in Fiji last night to a tropical storm.
Rained all night.
Stayed near the airport and in the morning we went over to the airport to collect our hire car and drive to our hotel, the Bedarra Beach near Sigoktga.
The rain continued to pour down and I began to get very concerned re the flooding risk. Those worries were soon confirmed when we were turned back about 5 miles outside of Nadi because the water level was too high to get through.
We then heard on the radio that the road into Nadi was shut. Aargh!
Quick stop at McDonald’s and decided we needed to get somewhere to stay tonight and then weigh up our options. like get the hell out of here!
Found a place 10 mins from McDonald’s called smugglers cove. Full of young uns looking glum. Plus an annoying American woman who insisted on holding court in the restaurant playing her guitar, whether we wanted to hear her or not. Why do that? I heard her talking about rebuilding a church roof here so I’m sure she’s a nice lady but please don’t assume we all want to hear “Una Paloma blanca.” Grrr!
Spent the day using the Internet to get off the island. The rain is due to last until at least Thursday with some reports predicting a possible cyclone.
We managed to book flights to Brisbane for tomorrow morning. Flight so far scheduled to fly.
Dropped the hire car back to the airport as we can’t get anywhere and road is still flooded. The taxi driver said it should subside late tonight as the flooding is apparently linked to high tides. Let’s hope so!
It’s Like a refugee camp down in the bar/restaurant. Full of people who should have been going to the islands or elsewhere and can’t get there.
Shame but at least we are not suffering this living in a temporary shelter like those affected by the last cyclone here.

The bar/restaurant was cosy and after all the stress it was nice to unwind with a beer or two. Really like the Fijians – in the main so friendly and fun-loving. Tempting to stay up but have an early start tomorrow and maybe wading to the airport so need wits about us!