[Judgment] I think everyone should go to Fiji.

**Please give me 10 minutes to read this article**

Aren't you tired?

That is probably,

information overload.

I recommend Fiji for unloading your burdens.

Speaking of Fiji, as I mentioned in the Wheel of Fortune, it is a place I was supposed to go to but canceled at the last minute.

After 10 years, I finally had the opportunity to go.

My parents, seeing that our family wasn't coming back to Japan often (!), gifted us a trip to Fiji!
We went on a 7-day, 6-night trip, meeting up there!

Fiji wasn't just a paradise!

The hotel we stayed at was a resort hotel,
with breakfast included, two restaurants attached to the hotel, and one bar.
However,

that's all there is.
Within a 10-kilometer radius, that's all there is.

If you get tired of the hotel restaurants, you can head out to town...?
Well,
Good luck with that!!
(I hope a taxi comes. The bus comes once every 30 minutes. It might come if there's a driver. Of course, the return trip depends on luck too. Or rather, I hope there's a decent shop in the nearby town. It would be even better if it's open today.)
It's that kind of, so-called remote area.

Even the Eagles would be surprised.
It's a resort area that you finally reach after traveling for about 2 hours on a winding (not fully paved) highway from the international airport (in a rather aged shuttle bus).
Just arriving there was
Sweet, summer, sweat!!!! (in two senses)
I don't know what would have happened if the winding road had continued for another 10 minutes...

In other words, it's a place where there is really, really, truly nothing.

Such a paradise still exists in the world, everyone.

It was perfect for unloading my burdens.

The resort structure was a detached villa system,
and we walked from the reception deep into the premises to be guided to our room.
Technically, Wi-Fi is available, but it can only be used where the signal reaches from the reception.
In other words, there isn't even a Wi-Fi signal in the room.

It is a forced digital detox.For one week, my smartphone was just a camera and a diary, so I only charged it once during my six-night stay.

And the experience I gained there was just so beautiful.

Hospitality that defies common sense

I think the local people worked very hard.
One veteran female hotel staff member remembered and called all the guests by name, and whenever we passed each other, everyone would stop what they were doing and say "Bula" (hello in the local language) with a smile.
However, this might be the wrong way to put it, but the MVP staff (?) at this resort were the local stray dogs and cats!

First of all, the ones who checked us in and escorted us were a male hotel staff member who carried our luggage and a stray dog who had likely just given birth to puppies.
She followed us to our room, looking at us with a straight gaze, her teats hanging low and her mouth turned up in a smile.

My twin daughters, who love animals, forgot their travel fatigue and were super excited.

In our room, the auto-lock didn't work and we were locked out a few times, and while one of my family members went to report it to reception, the cats took turns keeping us company.

Even though they were doing unpaid labor, these diligent stray cats would come up to us whenever they saw guests. Even without us giving them food, their service spirit was 10/10.

Our family is the type that doesn't really worry about the little things, but the room felt more like it was overflowing with "lived-in vibes" rather than "cleanliness," and there were only three towels in a room for four people, and when we asked for extra towels, they didn't arrive until the next afternoon.

I was told the tap water was drinkable, but the water in our room was a bit brownish.
(Though it was drinkable. And we did drink it.)

Also, there were hotel staff taking naps in the gazebo set up for guests.

(Even though I'm not picky), there were moments where I couldn't help but have the unrefined thought that I had paid quite a lot for this stay.

But even so, we made the best memories, and it was a trip that made me think I want to go to this hotel again if I have the chance!

What made that possible was, above all else, the location.

We are, after all, in the position of being guests, and I was made to realize that one must be aware that this is a place where complaining about trivial things is pointless.
It means that talking about being a customer, a god, or customer harassment is a waste of time.
Measuring Fijian hospitality by the standards of Japan or "our own" will cause
communication breakdowns and
ruin your fun memories.

In fact, during my one-week stay, there was only one group of customers who seemed to be complaining, and grown adults were shouting without caring who was watching.
As I walked by, I looked at them coldly, thinking, "It's just one missing pillow."
The other 50 or so guests were all in permanent summer mode.
They seemed to know that if you worry about the little things, you lose.

(Yes, the ones who complained lost; they really did lose.)

What I want to tell everyone is that
when in Rome, do as the Romans do is exactly what this means!!!
(Don't act all high and mighty just because you went to Fiji.)

And then, the private beach I mentioned earlier. (There's so little sign of people coming and going that you could call it that.)
What do you think? (See photo) It's unedited.
Shallow water stretching as far as the eye can see. There's a coral reef way out there that acts as a breakwater, so the big waves stop there.

Ah, I am also a part of this planet.

It sounds a bit cheesy, but being immersed in this ocean made me think that.

With my snorkeling mask on, floating,
I just surrendered to the power working on me.
I tried my best to do nothing.

This was the first time in my life I had ever been able to do something like this.

Just swaying, letting the ocean water carry me,
I make eye contact with colorful fish.
They pass gracefully in front of me.
Even the creatures that were hiding come out to go about their business.

I became one with the ocean.

The fish did not see me as
an intruder or an enemy,
but simply as something that exists there.

I feel like I can hear the ultrasonic voices of dolphins in the distance.

On the surface, I feel the ocean water wrapping around my body, stroking me with a rhythmic splashing sound.

It's a sight I've never encountered before.
It's an emotion I've never felt before.
Not as a human, but
by nature, which welcomes me
simply as a part of the planet,
I just sway and surrender my strength.It was a moment that could last forever.

I had forgotten.

This was a tarot essay
where I shared my own episodes based on the meanings of tarot cards.

The [Judgment] card is a card that brings realization.
As for what I realized,
ever since I went to Fiji, I have
stopped worrying about the little things more than ever before.

I wasn't really one to worry about details to begin with (for the third time), but ultimately,
the fact that I am alive is wonderful in itself. I was able to truly feel that.

It's a cliché expression, though.

But, I was only able to have that kind of experience because I was alive.
I'm so lucky.
I'm really glad I'm alive.
I want to experience a moment like that again while I'm still alive.

That's what I thought.

So,

I think everyone should go to Fiji.

You are also a part of this planet.
Because being alive is wonderful.