The Fish Debacle

A diva is female version of a hustla...


The day started off by the pool. We relaxed and swam, finally making it to the far sides of the pool. Alyssa spent the morning getting her hair braided and losing her front tooth! We had all decided today that we would take water aerobics. Every time a new activity starts here, someone bangs on the drum next to the pool. When we heard the pounding drums we swam over to the meeting area. Katlyn, Lindsay, Grandma, Lisa and I jogged across the pool, carried each other on our backs and swam around in circles holding hands. Overall…great class. After that we walked down the beach and laid out. I made a nice dent in my book and I think I see the beginning of tan lines.






I can see the results already!






Workin it with the instructor...what is grandma doing?

We came home and changed and decided we wanted to head to the main town to get a nice fish dinner. First we headed to the grocery Store. It was a good market, with almost everything we wanted. It was much better stocked than the ones we visited in Peru. Although much to Robb’s dismay Frosted Flakes (aka Frosties) were FJ$16 or US$8. We stocked up on supplies for the room for dinner later this week. After the supermarket, we decided to head to a fruit market in our “limo”. We had heard that while they have great fruit at this market, they also have great fish. Dad bought “fiji bread” made from cassava root on the way there. It smelled like rotten cheese, but tasted pretty good. Kind of like a string cheesy textured jelly where we had expected a tamale.



The limo probably on the wrong side of the road.

The fruit market was interesting. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. We passed out our first ring pops to a couple of cute kids sitting in the stalls. Grandma and Uncle George made a deal to buy some fish from these men in the stalls. While everyone else was shopping, Grandma stayed to make sure the fish was being cleaned. A few locals came in and couldn’t believe how much Grandma was paying. They started telling her that she was being ripped off. Only then did I notice that something was going down. We all came back and Grandma was standing up to the vendor. The conversation is as follows:

Grandma: You didn’t tell me when this was even caught!
Vendor: You didn’t ask.
Grandma: okay…fine. When did you catch this fish?
Vendor: I cannot tell you. Give me FJ$70 for it.
Jeff Maillo: WE’LL GIVE YOU FJ$55. THAT’S IT.
Vendor: No only FJ$60
Jeff Maillo: WE’RE OUT OF HERE. LETS GO!

So we left. He ran to the car after us, still trying to swing a deal. But we piled into the limo and burned rubber out of there. No fish after attempt #1.



MENTIROSA!!!! Slime balls...try to pull one over on Dorlene and you end up shanked.

We decided to head to the harbor in the hopes of finding a fresh fish. We drove through the town and back by the resort to the harbor, singing Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers in the back of the “limo”. We pulled up to the Port and walked down the Harbor. Apparently there was some sort of fishing tournament so the harbor was bustling. Still when dad headed down the harbor to the fishing boats there were plenty of fish, but none to be bought because they had to be weighed and cleaned for the tournament. No fish after attempt #2.
So where did we end up? Sitting outside Grandma’s room eating fruit salad and snacks until we came back to the room for grilled cheese.



this was not our dinner...

Tomorrow we leave for a 3day/2 night cruise to the Yasawa Islands. I’m pretty sure there wont be any internet connection but I will be sure to take copious notes and upload the posts to the blog the day I get back. But stay tuned. Now I need to pack.

Bula!
posted 7/24/09 9:04pm