Tales from the South Pacific, July 13-29, 2011 - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Oh Yeah - loving the looks of the resort. I would have been tempted to skip shopping and hang at the pool.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Oh, my..... oh, my...... Like landing in paradise! The resort looks (insert word here that means oh-so-much-more-than "beautiful"). Those views across the pool to the water and mountains. Your bungalow looks spacious, crisp and clean. I think I'd have wanted to stay forever and forget the rest of the tour.
I'm not sure I seriously contemplated skipping out on going to Nadi Town, but in retrospect I wonder why! But I was there to see things and to experience Fiji, so off I went. The room was very nice and that bed was quite comfortable. I have no problems recommending this resort. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Pretty much idyllic?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc507
How absolutely gorgeous! I sighed at each picture....just paradise....
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
It's relaxing just looking at the pictures.
I had the same reaction when I was sifting through the pictures to decide which ones to post. I got caught up in looking at them and remembering, and BAM! Half an hour gone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
Found your TR and got all caught up. Your pictures are exactly how I picture Fiji, absolutely gorgeous. If it is ever in my cards, Fiji is definitely a place I would love to visit. And I agree, the sunset looks like it was worth the trip. Can't wait for more.
Welcome! I hope you enjoy it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh wow, it's exactly how I pictured Fiji to be. What a stunning sunset.
Quote:
Originally Posted by my2girls
Beautiful photo's!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
What a beautiful setting. So relaxing and peaceful, and those sunsets...just amazing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Now THAT is PARADISE! So beautiful!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Beautiful photos! Can't wait to see more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
OMG Now that is paradise!! And that sunset is just gorgeous!!
Thanks! The camera did the hard work, though I probably put myself out more trying to compose the sunset pictures than I generally do. I was particularly pleased with Sue's picture because the fill-in flash worked just like it's supposed to! In many ways Fiji was like I had pictured it in my mind, but in other ways it definitely exceeded my expectations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by abubbles77
Got roped in by your sig pic on another thread. Would so love to go to Fiji. The picutres are more then I could have imagined them to be.
Welcome! Enjoy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jillybean
Well Larry, I think you went and found paradise! Just beautiful!
Jill
P.S. And your "Happy Happy" picture made me very happy, happy!
Thanks, Jill. I really look relaxed, but I had been chillaxing on the beach, just letting the breezes waft me away, so it's understandable.
WOW!! Now THAT is what you picture in your mind when you think of Paradise!!
Larry, I've seen your posts in other threads but this is the first time I've followed one of yours. I found it before you got too far along. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your trip. It looks fabulous!!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
When I slept last night I slept well, but I became terribly congested in the night. Things cleared somewhat when I got up, and I irrigated my sinuses with stuff I had brought with me and that seemed to help.
I slathered on sunscreen, dressed, and met Sue for breakfast. I did notice some attenuation of my sense of taste. After we ate, I ran back to the room to brush my teeth and grab my backpack. I headed to the designated assembly point in front of the lobby building for those taking the Captain Cook Tour today. We are cruising out to a private island for snorkeling, swimming, etc. and a beach barbeque. Wine and beer included.
After boating across the lagoon, we hopped aboard the motor coach and made our way through Nadi Town to Denaru Island and the port there.
Buddhist Temple in Nadi.
We disembarked at the port and waited a bit before we were allowed to board our vessel.
Our boat for the Captain Cook Excursion.
We boarded and Sue found us a great spot with some chairs with backs. The crew came around with trays of fresh, tangy juice. At this point I could use all the vitamin C I could find.
We pull away from the dock.
We were given a safety briefing and after a short period, morning tea was served. Besides tea and coffee, this also included fresh fruit (I could not get enough in Fiji--it was all wonderful) and a taste of sugar cane, courtesy of Rony.
After morning tea, I was asked to participate in the Kava Ceremony as the Chieftain. The ceremony is an important one for Fijians. Purely honorary, of course, but now in Fiji I am known as "Ratu Larry", which translates to "Sir Larry".
I think that the strength of the Kava that was used in this particular Kava Ceremony may have been a bit on the weak side, because I my tongue did not get all that numb. Yes, they mush up the Kava root and make the muddy liquid you see in the bowl. the protocol for the ceremony was explained to me, which included clapping before and after drinking the Kava. I initially took a taste, but was told that I was expected to down the whole bowl. Hm, well, I'll let the picture speak for themselves. Little did everyone know that having a disappearing sense of taste might not be such a bad thing....
Ratu Larry and the Fijian Kava Ceremony
Let's just say that I earned the title!
Rony turned out to be quite talented musically, both with the guitar and singing. He and some of the crew sang some island songs that we did not know (and enjoyed), and others that we did know, so Sue and I sang along. The cruise to the island passed most agreeably.
Rony played and sang a wide variety of songs.
The weather was lovely.
Very friendly crew member.
This was one of those very special times that I hope I always remember. We sang everything from "Over the Rainbow", "Kumbaya", "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore" (I sure hoped Michael would, 'cause I wasn't planning to), "Coming 'Round the Mountain", etc.
After a most pleasant cruise, we arrived at our island for the day. "The ship set sail for the shore of this uncharted desert isle..."
Rony pointed to some of the nearby islands that had been used for television shows. I believe one was used for "Survivor".
It was very shallow near the island, so we were tendered across in a glass bottom boat.
Love Me, Tender.
Coming Up: Snorkeling, Swimming, and a "Tasteless" Beach BBQ
WOW!! Now THAT is what you picture in your mind when you think of Paradise!!
Larry, I've seen your posts in other threads but this is the first time I've followed one of yours. I found it before you got too far along. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your trip. It looks fabulous!!
I'm glad you caught up with me, Kenny! I hope you enjoy the pictures and the report.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
So beautiful! 
Now that is paradise!! And that sunset is just gorgeous!!
What a stunning sunset. 
Linear Mode
