If you've been following my blog you probably know that I'm not much of a beach person. I like to head inland to the mountains and the cooler climate. But in order to do a proper RTW trip, I thought I should take in as many different places as I could, including island nations like Fiji.

But I had to get here first and that almost didn't happen. After arriving at Auckland at 5 a.m. on March 23, I learned that my connecting Air Pacific flight to Nadi (pronounced Nan-dee) was cancelled and the passengers would be split up and put on two later flights. Already groggy from little sleep, I now I had to wait even longer to leave for Fiji.

Things got even more frustrating and confusing when Air Pacific used the same flight numbers for the two new flights. When I looked up at the monitor and saw FJ 412 to Nadi departing at 7 p.m., I relaxed and didn't think about going through the pre-boarding ritual of having my carry-on bag x-rayed and going through customs.

And then about 5 p.m. I heard my name being paged over the intercom at the airport. "Mr. Scott Lauck, please report to Gate 6 immediately. The passengers and the flight crew on Air Pacific flight FJ 412 to Nadi are waiting for you so that the plane can depart."

What? Were they moving up the time of my flight? Without telling me?

I gave the departures monitor another look and sure enough there was another FJ 412 leaving at 5 p.m. My FJ 412!

I raced through the security check like never before and I made it through customs in lightning speed as I was paged a second time. Once free of the customs booths, I sprinted with carry-on in hand to Gate 6 where the airline personnel were getting information over a walkie-talkie that the crew was taking my bag off the airplane.

My bag was put back on the plane and although I wasn't a favorite of the other passengers, I made the flight and enjoyed visiting with Bev and Colin, a nice couple from Hamilton, NZ. One more exciting travel experience to add to a year filled with them.

Once in Nadi, I stayed at Nadi Bay Resort, a backpackers hostel with all of the accoutrements of a nice hotel: two restaurants, two swimming pools, a spa and a small cinema for watching movies. This place helped make all the effort to get here worth it.

The city of Nadi is nothing to write home about. It has a pretty good airport and it is the place that most people fly into when coming to Fiji, but the main strip downtown is rather short and it’s lined with con men and hawkers ready to take someone. Being more seasoned to their tactics and having much thicker skin than when I began this trip, I dismissed these people in short order.

I did partake in the welcoming ritual and shared a bowl of kava with the locals. Kava consists of some type of vegetable root reduced to powder. It’s mixed with water so that you can drink it. It’s a mild narcotic that makes your lips and tongue numb for a little while. Bula!

Fiji's drawing card is it's archipelago of islands. There are more than 300 of them varying in size from small to tiny. People come here to bliss out on post-card perfect beaches and make themselves look darker. It’s sun, sea and sand for as far as the eye can see.

I did some island hopping on Treasure Island and the popular Mala Mala Island, both of which can be reached within an hour from the nice Port Denarau. Treasure Island has a lodge and restaurant, a spa and plenty of accommodation options for all budgets. Mala Mala is only four acres in size and it is undeveloped except for the straw umbrellas and a large hut that is used as a dining hall. People come to Mala Mala for day trips only.

I enjoyed swimming and lounging at the beaches of these two islands and I enjoyed the people that I met from different parts of the world. Most of the travelers that come to Fiji are from New Zealand and Australia since those countries are not too far away.

Some Fiji tidbits: the population of Fiji is 830,000. There are 28 airports, three of which have sealed runways. And women were given the right to vote in 1963.

Now I return to Little Rock, re-assimilate into American life and look for employment. Borrrrrring (ha!). If anyone knows of any jobs available in any field--doesn’t have to be in the law--please let me know. I can live anywhere in the U.S. Anywhere in the world for that matter.

I have some final thoughts about my year-long journey in my next entry.

It’s never too late to be the person you want to be.

-- Benjamin Button

If you have discovered your purpose in life and the one thing that you have immense passion for, you will be a great success. Your spirit will point you in the right direction and you will conquer that which you desire.

-- Richard A. Singler