DSLRUsers.com

Hi everyone,

Well Kate is pushing for a trip to Fiji, somewhere that work can't harass me, and well I'd rather save for more lenses, but having seen Kevins photos late last year I'd be excited to shoot in such an exotic location.

Anyways, I was wondering for those that have been, what would you suggest we plan to do over there... other then relax and take 1000's of photos I really wish I had learned to drive already (as I'm sure a WA lens would be very handy over there) but it's not possible in the time frame which Katie is looking at. Katie is hoping to go late May.

Alpha_7 wrote:Hi everyone,

Well Kate is pushing for a trip to Fiji, somewhere that work can't harass me,

Hmm...do work know how much you post????

Sorry Craig - haven't been to Fiji but if you go, can't wait to see your images!!

Don't know much about Fiji, but I can tell you a little about Vanuatu. I've been told that it is very similar, except a little less touristy, so the tips should be equally useful.

- See if you can get away from the normal tourist haunts. Apart from being able to take photos with less slack-jawed yokel tourists in them, the far-flung places are often the nicest. Go where the locals go, they are the most interesting places...

- Stay in a nice place, but don't go overboard. Ideally you will be spending most of your time away from the hotel, so there's no point going for 5 star luxury and not being able to afford anything else All hotels look and feel about the same anyway.

- If regular tours/cruises stop there, find out what days they are there, and then avoid the tourist areas.

- If you can cough up the dollars for helicopter flights etc.. do it! Very cool scenery and a unique perspective on things.

- Sample the local cuisine. Don't be a wuss.

some photos of our 2004 trip - http://blog.thesystemisdown.com/photos/hol/

Taken with a Canon Ixus 400 though, so nothing too special

Enjoy:

Lush Chris - LUSH!!

See Travel Warnings
Quote from the AGE http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/ ... 694.htmlWe advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Fiji because of current tensions involving the Fiji military forces," the advice says.

Fiji's military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama earlier this week threatened to remove the government, accusing it of imposing racist policies in the ethnically divided country.

He said the military was prepared to take power in the island nation's fourth coup in 19 years.

The government is currently in talks with the military to iron out differences.

Fiji was once a beautiful place I now hesitate to go their for holidays With this situation in the back of your head it makes it HARD to completely RELAX
LOZ

G'day Craig

I'm not sure about Fiji, but in the Cook Islands I got a motorbike licence for $10 & all i had to do was prove to the police I could ride around the block on the 80cc Honda...which I learned to ride on the way to the police station

& following Loz's post, I'd recommend the Cook Islands if you're a bit apprehensive about Fiji - it's about as laid back as you can imagine on the main island & they have flights to the outer island Aitutaki, which is even more picturesque & laid back.

Wow - that's a ripper Chris

Hi Craig

1 - Relax and take 1000's of photos
2 - Dont drive use taxis or local bus
3 - Have a good time
4 - We stayed at the Shangri-la

We were married in Fiji in 1992.

Stayed at the Fijian for one week (married there), then spent
a week on Plantation Island.

It was all fine, although not as much fun as Thailand or Malaysia
for example.

Plantation Island was good, a week is enough, the Fijians
are infuriatingly slow doing anything until your system
slows down enough to tolerate it.

We didn't get around much - I understand Suva can be a bit
tricky and you need to watch out for the various typical tourist
type cons.

Have a go of the Kava if you get the chance - tastes like old socks, but gives a nice buzz.

When I took that photo in Fiji I had just gone through a military roadblock with a machine gun fully manned

sirhc55 wrote:When I took that photo in Fiji I had just gone through a military roadblock with a machine gun fully manned

Where was it taken Chris ? And do the machine gun toting guard mind if their photos are taken ? I guess you have to be a little careful of who you take shots of during periods of unrest, but I think I'd find it an interesting challenge.

November 2001 Craig and no worries with the troops they just love tourists - in other words that are not totally stupid

All I did there was eat, swim and sleep. It was relaxing. BTW if a guy ask you for your name then starts writing you name on what looks like a straightened boomarang, then make like a tree and leave.

I have been in Fiji before and stayed at the Fijian.

- Local people are very nice and restricted things to do within the resort.
- Fresh seafoods

Won't go back there second time:

- Too expensive for all foods, drinks and other activities.
- Not much things to do and see outside the resort.
- Suva is worst, not much interesting place to visit.

If I go again (island holidays) I'll go to Tahiti, Cook Islands, New Caledonia (Noumea), I've been all on these areas and wish to comeback, not Vanuatu.

Birddog is right everything is very expensive VB 70 Fijian dollars local beer fijian gold is 32 fijian dollars if you can eat outside the resorts

Been to Cook Islands. Aitutaki is very nice with its magificent lagoon, this should be the destination when talking about Cook Islands.Rarotonga is worth only a couple of days... Loved the trip.
Cheers,
Gerard

Did you here about the cannibal in Suva he passed his neighbour the street

Getting excited now as there isn't long to go. I'm hoping to get some nice sunrise and sunset shots over the water, might be the first time I actually see the sun set over the water, been looking forward to that moment since I was a kid.

Also hoping to do some bushwalking but Katie might not be upto it, I think her plan is to hang by the pool most the time and recovery peacefully. I also have 2 disposable underwater cameras for swimming / snorkling.

Not sure I can free up enough space on my laptop... going to have to do a huge clean up.

I hope you enjoy the photography and that Katie enjoys the rest and speeds the recuperation. You'd better get a bit of a rest too Craig since there will be gazillions of posts to catch up with when you return

When are you going Craig?
We're going there for our Honeymoon on the 11th of June, can't wait!

stubbsy wrote:I hope you enjoy the photography and that Katie enjoys the rest and speeds the recuperation. You'd better get a bit of a rest too Craig since there will be gazillions of posts to catch up with when you return

Well I'm taking my laptop so I might be able to surf the forums while I'm away, although a short break would probably do us all a bit of good

Nice one Craig.. Avagoodone

Remember to experience some of your holiday without the camera! I've seen most of my holidays through a viewfinder, so I know what that's like..

Going on the 21st and will be back the weekend after, so its just a brief stay but a welcome break from work

LOZ wrote:Did you here about the cannibal in Suva he passed his neighbour the street

Oh man!

Craig,

I think we stayed at the Shangri-la also. Not much to do outside of the resorts (we only bothered to venture out once), but great resorts if you like relaxing on the beach doing not much and sipping cocktails while you're at it.

Take a tripod to help with the beautiful sunsets.

Enjoy yourself.

Craig,
I say: Stay home and change your plan!
Buy lens instead og going! not much good overthere this time of the year, might stuck inside the room all day long and boring.
Rain, shower, storm are ready to welcome both of you!

I have to agree with Macka - Fiji has to be one boring place if you want adventure and photographic delights (go to Bali for that). The resorts are superb and a boat trip is a must out to the islands.

sirhc55 wrote:I have to agree with Macka - Fiji has to be one boring place if you want adventure and photographic delights (go to Bali for that). The resorts are superb and a boat trip is a must out to the islands.

I agree in part this this as well, make sure you take a boat trip to the Islands off Nadi. You can book at the Shangri La hotel. The day trip is quite good as the snorkling is better off the Islands.

The wildlife park was quite entertaining as well.

Just watch out for the black and yellow banded sea snake - they are deadly

Thanks for all the feedback and ideas. I'm hoping to visit the Gardens of the Sleeping Giant and perhaps take a hot air balloon trip above the islands, I also would love to go gamefishing but I think the price will probably stop that one getting through

Alpha_7 wrote:Thanks for all the feedback and ideas. I'm hoping to visit the Gardens of the Sleeping Giant and perhaps take a hot air balloon trip above the islands, I also would love to go gamefishing but I think the price will probably stop that one getting through

Craig,
Anything in adventure overthere is killing your $$$$$, they work and count in US$ and expensive.

Stay back at the resort and doing some wandering around by foot, it's boring though. Save up your cash and spend on something more needy.

As I said earlier, I won't comeback to Fiji, I know somewhere else in the world that I can have more fun with my cash.

Hi Craig,
I have been to Fiji about 3 or 4 times. I have always stayed at the Fijian, because I love it. Eating, swimming and great snorkling. Don't tend to do more than that. On one trip, I did get talking to a local school teacher who was pom, doing an stint in Fiji on a teaching exchange program. He took us out one day - hired a car, and drove to the middle of the island somewhere. We had to walk to the top of a hill, and there were lots of local kids who joined the walk. At the top was a waterfall into a lagoon. Spent the day there, it was beautiful.
Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the place, but most of the locals know about it. Look for the sunset shots, especially with palm trees in silouette. Gave a great time!
Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne, the waterfall and lagoon sound great, I'll see if I can track it down, swimming and snorkling and just lazeing around are in order too!

Have a great time Craig... I'm sure Kate will enjoy it after her recent experiences... Bring back lots of cool images...

leek wrote:Have a great time Craig... I'm sure Kate will enjoy it after her recent experiences... Bring back lots of cool images...

I think it will do her the world of good John, I'm a little bummed today, I was up from 5am, exhausted after walking around with all my gear all day, and I have some crap images and a dusty sensor to show for it. Arh well, I'll dedust tonight and see what the weather brings

Alpha_7 wrote:

leek wrote:Have a great time Craig... I'm sure Kate will enjoy it after her recent experiences... Bring back lots of cool images...

I think it will do her the world of good John, I'm a little bummed today, I was up from 5am, exhausted after walking around with all my gear all day, and I have some crap images and a dusty sensor to show for it. Arh well, I'll dedust tonight and see what the weather brings

How's weather in Sydney?
Not so good up here at Boat Harbour.

And how's the meet today as Trieu organized?
Hope you guys had lot of funs with the festival and other venues.

birddog114 wrote:And how's the meet today as Trieu organized?
Hope you guys had lot of funs with the festival and other venues.

The meet was excellent, we did plenty of K's on foot and by car and it was great time chatting, shooting and sharing gear around. There was a good turn out at the festival (lots of people with DSLRs but didn't seen any other members).
Thanks to Trieu and John for inviting us along, and Andrew (ABG for the lift) and Keith for the D200 lust We also visited La Perouse and had a great lunch out there, all in all an exhausting day I had to head home to katie and John and Trieu were still shooting!!

birddog114 wrote:And how's the meet today as Trieu organized?
Hope you guys had lot of funs with the festival and other venues.

Craig pretty much summed it up nicely Thanh. We had a great morning. Craig and Keith both need to be held accountable for leaving me lusting after their wonderful gear. Unfortunatley, I had to shoot off early to take my kids to the usual weekend sports activities.

Alpha_7 wrote:Thanks to Trieu and John for inviting us along, and Andrew (ABG for the lift) and Keith for the D200 lust

You're welcome Craig. I noticed you've left some fresh fingernail prints in the leather of the car seats (joining many other sets from hotlapping it at Oran Park)

ABG wrote:

Alpha_7 wrote:Thanks to Trieu and John for inviting us along, and Andrew (ABG for the lift) and Keith for the D200 lust

You're welcome Craig. I noticed you've left some fresh fingernail prints in the leather of the car seats (joining many other sets from hotlapping it at Oran Park)

Come to think of it I probably was hanging on but I certainly enjoyed the right, but a lot more up and go then our little Astra, I'm sure a hot lap and Oran park would be even more fun!

I am a fijian by birth but have not got back there yet.

I am told there is an alternative to resorts that takes a bit of planning a lot of homes on the coral coast are available to let. A maid and cook can be hired for a reasonable cost. Locals with fishing boats will generally take you out for the day for petrol money and a good share of the catch.

I am still doing my research but get the lonely Planet Guide book and see what they have to say and do some internet research if you are interested.

I find this a better way to holiday as you get into the local culture better than in a resort.


Island Time!! Don't expect anything to happen too quickly, just kick back and go with the flow.


I would not worry too much about the political situation Fijian coups and turmoil are usually pretty friendly affairs Smile and just go with the situation, Ask for help if you need it anyone there will oblige they are that kind of people.

Google Fiji home rentals for stuff like this.

http://www.greatrentals.com/Fiji/6999.html


MMMM I must get a trip organized soon

birddog114 wrote:And how's the meet today as Trieu organized?
Hope you guys had lot of funs with the festival and other venues.

As Craig and Andrew have noted, it was a great day.
Thanks Trieu for organising it and for Craig, Andrew and Keith for coming along as well. It was great to meet some DSLRUsers. Thanks too for showing me how to do that trap focussing with my d70, Keith.

Got my sensor cleaned for free by Maxwells while I was in town. Free warranty clean even though it's out of warranty. Took about 30 shots on Friday night before I realised they'd left the camera in low res jpeg mode. Must remember to check these things after someone else has touched my camera. Guess that proves there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Cheers
John

We are back safe and sound, it was a good trip but when I returned I copped a bad bout of gastro, so sorry no photo's yet

Alpha_7 wrote:We are back safe and sound, it was a good trip but when I returned I copped a bad bout of gastro, so sorry no photo's yet

Glad to see you're back!

Alpha_7 wrote:We are back safe and sound, it was a good trip but when I returned I copped a bad bout of gastro, so sorry no photo's yet

of the gastro? I should hope not!!!

Good to see you're back Craig, I trust the trip was fabulous. btw... I don't need to try out your 80-200 at the walkmeet any more

Welcome back Craig - sorry to hear about the gastro.

Just make sure you keep the fluids up - flat lemonade, lucozade or cordial will do the trick. Get better soon matey.

glad your back craig that seemed quick, it must of been awesome