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Wow LA was really cool, Stayed down in Venice beach. Got a couple of runs in and then had a great Chinese massage the day before the big flight to Fiji, unfortunately I was feeling so good from the massage I fell asleep on the beach covered in massage oils and burnt myself to a crisp. Its been really painful the last few days and I look like a total lobster, but Im pretty sure it threw immigration off enough that they didnt think to any questions my blank passport and over stayed entry visa of 25 years....Im freeeeee!

Fiji has been interesting. I'm meeting great people, both local and travelers. Fijians are so laid back. I seriously think if there was a bank robbery and the police chased them down the first thing they'd do would be to say "bola" their word for hello, which they throw out constantly at you everywhere. The guy in my room and I rented a car the other day to get around the big island and we took it for a spin down some tiny little local roads that were only dirt tracks. At times were wernt sure we'd ever make it through. Everyone walks here so I felt obliged to offer them a lift. A very nice lady took us up and she was full of questions and bubbling over with excitement and joy, as she sat in the back bare footed and ragged clothed. They live in shacks and sit on the floor, but are the happiest people.




Graham being Captain Cook

Efi and Yoni from Isreal

Nardi is everything you hate about tourist towns. Indians are predominant in business's. Some are two or three generations Fijian, brought over by the British as indentured workers, but they all are sharks in town and try to drag you into their store with incredible lines to open the conversation with. Graham and I got caught the first day in nardi, but it was such a great experience. I'm not sure what the opening line was to Graham, one minute we are walking down the street and then the next I look round to see him being escorted into a store by these two Fijian guys. I followed in and was about to drag him out, when in a flash they had a sorong on him and were inviting him to sit in the back of the store for a kava ceremony that was going to be in honor of us. We spent the next hour with the most fun scoundrels that went through there whole speal, which of course ended with the sales pitch. But Fijians are too laid back to push things if you refuse. Poor Moses, he put a sharks tooth neckless on me, saying this a Fijian gift because we have drunk Kava together and now we are brothers. I walked round the store a bit listen to the sales pitches and then said my thanks and got Gra' out of there. turns out he got the same sharks tooth, but had felt bad and paid for his.

Leaving for Auckland tomorrow and I wish I had more time here.

Just a quick note before I get my gear together to head to the airport for the 11.30pm flight to Fiji. I wish Id been able to spend more time here in Venice Beach, but really it was such a push just to get out of Georgia yesterday. I left with still so many things undone, half done, or not even touched. Im sure people that see my house think I've gone crazy the way I left. But I think without leaving it all to the last minute I might never have left at all. Now Im on the road and already it feels right. Last night I had dinner with a couple of Aussie's that are traveling the world and then found I still had energy to get a run in from Venice down to Santa Monica. This morning I was up at 5.30 and ran again! It was so perfect to be up before day break with the huge moon over the Pacific. I ran the same route down the beach to Santa Monica, but this time the only people out where the bums sleeping on the beach and a couple of other more serious runners and cyclists. On the run back I saw that guy that plays the sitar on rollerskates. he's been in a few movies and on talk shows and I remember seeing him when I was here 20 odd years ago! He hasnt aged at all. I couldnt pass up the chance to get a private audience with him, so i turned round and caught up to him to say hi. he is either a bit reserved, or maybe the elevator isnt going all the way to the top floor, I couldnt really figure out which it was. I told him I remember him in the Chevy Chase movie and he was like, "oh that was a long time ago". "you look just the same" I said and that got a bit of a smile, and opened him up a bit. Anyway I didnt want to bother him anymore so headed off back on my way.

Ok I wish I had time to write more about Venice and maybe I can come back and edit it, but the guy is waiting to take me off to the airport, so here we go. Time to loose my American identity and take on the Stupid English tourist who doesn't understand why he has a passport with no entry visa.

Gona try to post this video too.