Toronga Zoo and Harbor Bridge Sunset walk and Harbor views.

We had a good day, ferry ride to Toronga Zoo and then lots of fun animals and good times with our merry travelers.  We do have some good laughs.  We had a mid-afternoon rest and then headed out to the Harbor Bridge walk, there are 7 or 8 lanes of traffic, moving fast even during the rush hour, so fairly noisy.  The views were good, an orangey-gold glow after sunset as the building lights became more apparent.

A nice stop-over on the way home, easing us back into the developed world.  No one greets us much, and no one has talked to us about our missionary badges.  I will miss Bula Fiji more than I would have thought possible 18 months ago.

Fennec Fox, all the better to hear you with my dear.

Kangaroo didn't get too excited by the girls.

The baby elephant is 1 1/2 months old, has gained over 80 pounds.
Gestation is 650+ days, birth weight was about 270 pounds.

The glitter comes out at night.

Sydney Harbor and Bondi Beach

We arrived safely in Sydney and had no trouble getting to our hotel.  Meg arrived just after us, but waited in the lobby until she saw our instagram that we were in our room already. Wednesday we walked to Sydney Harbor for a tour and saw some of the iconic sites.  Then we took a bus to Bondi Beach and watched the surfers, a rugby team training (shirtless to the enjoyment of some), and rode the Bondi Eye, a small ferris wheel.

So far lots of fun in Australia, Meg has the bus/ferry system figured out so today we will go to Toronga zoo.

Sydney Harbor near the Circular Quay

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Near Mrs McQuarrie's chair

Mrs. McQuarrie's Chair

Savala Island Snorkeling and Island Cruise

Probably our best day trip yet, on our last full day in Fiji, how great is that?  Oolala Cruise to Savala island.  Fun people, shorter boat ride, good snorkeling and very good lunch.   Plus beach chairs, small shade covers, and a nice shaded spot for lunch.  Paddle boats and kayaks, baby shark feeding, and finally, a glass viewing port in the small boat for reef viewing and fish feeding.  I may get back to label these pictures, but for now here they are...

Allison and Carrie Iverson on the boat's netting.

I think my mask may be too tight?

Carrie doing some yoga.

Nothing like a deserted island for relaxing.  Fiji for the post card.

Sabeto Mud Pools--AGAIN

I haven't gotten tired of the mudface pictures yet.  The warm water felt good today.

Allison and Carrie arrive in Fiji

We picked up the Iverson girls at the airport in Nausori at 9 am on Sunday.  They had a long but no disaster trip from Boise, and slept well on the plane.  We went straight to the Wailoku Ward, and caught most of the speakers at Ward conference.  The girls had an interesting time and enjoyed Sunday school and Young Women.

After Church we got them into Patron Housing and took a drive to central Suva, for the required picture with the guard in front of the government building.


On Monday we drove to Takalana Bay for a dolphin tour and snorkeling.  There were lots of dolphins to watch.  The snorkeling was enjoyed, not our best coral site but fun to have the girls enjoying it.

Lemon tea and breakfast.

Nemo and his father.

Everyone thinks the girls are twins, Carrie on left with Allison.

The "classic" racing the boat while dodging
 back and forth in front of the bow.

We had a bonus add-on walk to a small fall and swimming hole,
a nice fresh water rinse for me.

Tuesday found us doing baptisms in the Suva Temple and then driving to Pacific Harbor for a stroll on the beach.  The weather was a bit windy and cloudy, so we did not swim. Still a good day.


Wednesday we had a bus ride to central Suva for shopping.  We were able to see Timoci Wainaqola at his work to see goodbye. Liz had sent some memento Temple recommend holders with the girls for us to give to people, with our email on them, so I gave him one so he can contact us if he wants to.

Wednesday afternoon we were all in the Baptistry, this time with the YSA and school youth.  It is so fun to have a mixed cultural group together for the same purpose.  The girls were baptized by a pre-field missionary from Tahiti, waiting a visa for Quebec.  So worded in French for them.


Wednesday morning we did Suva central, shopping, market, lunch with a T-rex.

Thursday we went to the Fiji Museum and had lunch at Bula McDonalds on the way back to the Temple.  The girls did baptisms every day, hearing English, Karibati, Fijian and French.

Banaban warriors with puffer fish helmets.

Thurston Park derelict fountain.

Bishop Savu;s new boat

Bishop Savu and Rodger

Meir, Carrie, Emmy Savu, and Allison