Travelling with a Group

This is only the second time that I've done any type of group travel (apart from the odd day excursion). Admittedly, the first time was awesome, but then I was lucky enough to have landed in a group of really easy-going people...and we were in Tibet...so...

Let's just say the bar is set pretty high where group travel is concerned.

There are some major differences between the two though. This was a very short trip; 6 days as opposed to 28. This gave us little time to get to know one another, but then most of the group already knew each other. We also stayed in the same place for the whole time. Lastly, We all had at one interest in common - this made breaking the ice a little easier - but I quickly learned that just because you have a common interest with some one, doesn't mean you will get along.

In our group there are 6 girls and 10 guys; a pair of those is a couple and another pair is a father/daughter combo (she's in year 11...my dad never took me diving in Fiji....). Everyone is quite nice, I don't think I would become lifelong friends with some, we just don't have that much in common, but it's not difficult to be friendly and get along with nice people for 6 days.

BUT.  There's one type of person that I really can't stand...The Drunk. I hate drunk people. They all suck. Even the friendly drunks. I can tolerate my friends when they're drunk - except when they try to throw me in a lake, and instead almost put me in a fire...Karen W.  But drunk strangers. UGH. Neanderthals unite. I don't know why I assumed that divers would be conservative in their alcoholic intake, but I was wrong let me tell you!

The ladies were ok and the older gents were, well, gentlemanly in their consumption. The younger fellas (and when I say young, they were all over 35), however, geez it was like being out with a bunch of teenagers. I have seldom heard so much tripe and smack talk. The worst thing was, during our dinners, they were spewing all this garbage in front of the young girl. Dad just sat there and laughed as all this went on. I really wonder what she thought of it all.

Admittedly, after the dives I needed my alone time so I didn't socialise after the dives, but I don't think it would have made much of a difference as they all hung out at the pool bar. As sober people they were quite lovely. Maybe I'm being judgmental. Maybe they just wanted to cut loose while they were on holiday. That's cool, I guess. But I really don't want to hang out with inebriated  people on my holiday. 

Usually I hung out with the more sensible of the group, but one night, through happenstance and bad luck, I was stuck at the "loud" table. I didn't have a good night that night. I'll know better for next time.

Ok enough about drunk people. How about I tell you about the Fijian people?

"Gravity affected coconuts above" - hilarous

I have never encountered a more friendly people. Geez they're lovely. Yeah, yeah I'm an ol' cynic and at first I thought, "They just want the tourist dollar", but no, I don't think that's it at all. Everywhere I went, people would smile, some would say hello, they're just, well, happy.  I'll grant you that they live in a beautiful place - it's hard to be surly when the sun is shining over the palm trees, on the beach. And yes, this was a rather sheltered trip, but still, until I see different my opinion stands - I like these Fijian folks. I would come here again.

You should all come to Fiji. It's a great place and there's something for every one (ok skiers, probably not you). I'll have to come back to do the whitewater rafting!