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  Thursday 28th of September 2017 and I was out of bed just after 5 o'clock. Ripped open a can of Pepsi MAX first thing. Then I opened my smoked salmon. 5 o'clock, then I have 2 hours to relax before it is time to leave. They called a taxi from reception and the car arrived after 10 minutes. The taxi driver asked if I had missed the bus to the airport. - How much is the bus? I asked (I knew it was 5 dollars) - 5 dollars, he answered - How much is the taxi? I asked - A very few dollars more, he answered - Yes, and the comfort is worth these “few” dollars more, I said. It was nice to get in to the taxi as it was a wee bit nippy early morning, will  hopefully be better when I'm back in a month. It took us a few minutes to reach the Auckland International and I located Air New Zealand's check-in.
 The taxi arrives
 Air New Zealand premium check-in
 Air New Zealand premium check-in
 Air New Zealand premium check-in
Well, Air New Zealand premium check-in was not what I had expected. Premium check-in is usually a nice and quiet place. But here it was like OK Corral. And the area was full of the SELF SERVICE  kiosks. For sure not what I'm used to from other premium check-ins from around the world. Anyway, I got the express lane sticker on my boarding pass and the immigration and security went smoothly.
I found Air New Zealand’s lounge and I was instantly disappointed. It was crowded and there was no place to sit down so I had to go sit in the bar. No soda water so I made  two cups of tea around the corner and I killed time drinking tea while looking at the bird pictures from yesterday's bird watching.
Departure time is set to 09:45 and I left the lounge 15 after 9 and I went to look for some compression socks, or as we also know them, flight socks. I found a pair in the pharmacy, if I like them I can buy a few more pairs when I'm back here on New Zealand when I'm back from Tonga and Fiji.   View from the lounge
 View from the lounge
 View from the lounge
 The lounge is full
 The lounge is full
I took my compression socks and my new tooth paste and I started to walk towards gate 16. A PA message, flight NZ 52 to Nadi is delayed until 12:45. 3 hours late and that is my afternoon birding on Fiji down the drain. It says BOARDING on the monitors so the monitor guy and the rest of the airport is obviously not in contact with each other. Well, I had to go back to the lounge. I can try my new socks and if they are good I can buy a few more pairs when I go to board flight NZ 52. I was lucky, when I came back to the lounge it  was almost empty. I asked for a toothbrush and I went to brush my teeth. I felt like new when I was back at my table.
I changed my socks and it seems to be of a good quality, and they stay up so I will buy some more when I go to the flight. I had a glass of water and I started to identify some of the birds I had seen yesterday. I had help via e-mail from Wrybill Birding Tours. Time turned quick and it was soon time to go to gate 6 to board Air New Zealand’s flight NZ 52 to Nadi.  Back in the lounge and it is empty
 Well...
 Back in the lounge and it is empty
 Our plane ready at gate 6
 Gate 6 is empty so I'm almost last to board
Original departure time 09:45 from gate 16A. Now departure is from gate 6 so it is much closer than 16A. There was one family walking with me to the gate and when we had boarded the flight they closed the doors. I took my seat and I asked for salmon when they asked what i wanted to have for lunch. - Anything to drink? - Water and tea - No wine? - Tea, Earl Grey tea is OK. Do you have real mugs? - Yes - Please two mugs, no sugar a wee bit of milk thanks.  My seat
 Waiting to take off
 Menu and I go for the salmon
 Let's leave already!
 A proper table and I can work with my computer
 I have never been sitting in this “fishbone” seating arrangements before. I doubt that it will be a hit sleeping. But during day time it was excellent. A nice table, only second to ANA's seat arrangements where you pull out the table in front of you. Easy adjustable for eating and working with the lap top. This table was also very good and I could do my birds during the trip to Nadi. The food and tea was also good. A little unexpected after the premier check-in and lounge experience. And with all the passengers in the lounge and at the check-in I had expected the flight to be like OK Corral. I don't know what Air New Zealand is on about with their lounges and premium check-in. It was like Ullared in Sweden, take as much as you can carry for 2 Dollars. Or a 3 Dollar buffet, free for all and only the strongest survives. I will never forget a German Pilot in the Kiel Canal. He had been on one of those Caribbean Cruises, food included. He had been embarrassed to see the passengers assault the buffet. Yeah, you get the picture on how it looked in Air New Zealand's lounge in Auckland. Auckland to Fiji, pretty much like Scandinavia to Spain, the holiday express and people got drunk. And as all over the world. No one speaks with each other and then it is “Hi! What’s your name?” and an hour in to the flight, hanging over the seat.  - So you take bird pictures? You are welcome to come visit me.
 - Ja o jaså (  Yeah-Yeah Blah-Blah)
And a cheers every five minutes and at the end of the flight it was a couple of times per minute. Well, I got to drink a lot of tea. Well, it was a nice flight and time passed very quickly.  Approaching Fiji
    Nadi International Airport
 Time to get off the flight
 Time to get off the flight
We approach Fiji and I can see the island growing bigger in the window. I packed my laptop in my back pack and I finished my tea. We had to turn back the clock by an hour, good, I might get an hour or so of bird watching before it is getting dark. It was a little waiting for my bag and when I was through the custom I went to look for a SIM card. Digicell had posters about free SIM cards, 1,5 GB and many minutes of talking for free.  Well, if it sounds too good it is probably too good to be true. It was not free and I left the shop. Lo and behold, I passed a fast food place and there was a fridge, wall to wall with Pepsi. I stopped to buy a bag of Pepsi MAX
Here were so many kinds of Pepsi to choose from so I got all dizzy. But I concentrated on the MAX and Light. I paid and I went to Vodaphone to get a SIM card. I got my SIM card and I went to the travel agency to pay for the  taxi I have booked to Suva next time I arrive to Fiji. I was about to piss my pant and I was in a hurry to get to the hotel.
   Taxi at Nadi International
 Taxi at Nadi International
It was not an “in and out” operation to pay for the bill. I grew tired and I left, I went to the ATM and I was soon in a taxi bound for Fiji Gateway Hotel. The hotel is just 200 meters or less from the arrival hall so we were there in a jiff. I got out of the car and I spotted a few Red-vented Bulbuls at the entrance. Birding starts just 3 seconds after getting out form the taxi. It looked to be a couple with a baby so it was kind of fun to watch them. I had agreed with the taxi driver to wait for me while I checked in. I have a few things to do and we will start by going to pay my car and driver for the bird watching in Suva. I checked in and I spent 5 minutes in my room before I went back to the parking lot and the waiting taxi. I was happy with my room and in a good mood when I went to the parking lot.  Red-vented Bulbul - 28 September 2017 - Fuji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
 Red-vented Bulbul - 28 September 2017 - Fuji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
 Red-vented Bulbul - 28 September 2017 - Fuji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
BABY
 Checking in to Fiji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
 Checking in to Fiji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
 Fiji Gateway Hotel, Nadi
 My room
 My room
 My room
Well, the delays in Auckland ducked up my day and plans here in Nadi. Will I see any birds? Will I have the time for birding before it gets too dark? Click HERE to find out.
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
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