Hilarious Adventures of Two Germans on a Green Mission in Fiji

Ah, let me regale you with the tale of our recent escapade to the breathtaking Pacific Islands, specifically the marvellous paradise known as Fiji. Now, picture two enthusiastic Germans, yours truly and the ever-optimistic Iris, embarking on a mission like no other. Our excitement was palpable, fuelled not only by Fiji's awe-inspiring beauty but also by our deep fascination with its people. Oh, and did I mention that we were on a quest to combat the climate crisis by exploring the potential of Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology as a replacement for diesel generators in the tourism sector? An ambitious goal, indeed!

Our grand adventure began with a slight hiccup as we struggled to locate our supposed car rental company. After a series of phone calls, a dubious-looking character in an equally questionable car picked us up. Little did we know, the car rental company wasn't even at the airport! It turns out that the beaten-up, dented, and scratched Volkswagen we found ourselves in was our so-called "Deluxe" rental car. Well, at least it had character, right? With cautious optimism and plenty of warnings to a high number of potholes on the road from Nadi to Suva, we embarked on our journey to Suva, where a meeting with the German Embassy representatives awaited us that very night.

We mastered potholes, beautiful scenery and plenty of stray dogs, arriving on time for our meeting. Night sets in quickly in the Pacific and under the cover of darkness driving back from our meeting to the hotel, I took the wheel, and boy, did the lack of streetlights make navigating the treacherous roads a challenge. Fumbling in the darkness, I muttered to Iris, "Now I understand why they advise against night driving in Fiji. I can't even spot the potholes!" It was only then that the realization struck me—I hadn't turned on the car's lights! No comments please!

Morning arrived, and our schedule was packed with back-to-back meetings. Alas, our estimation of travel time proved woefully inaccurate, and we found ourselves rushing to the first meeting, already fashionably late. The New Zealand Trade Commissioner, sporting a forgiving smile, assured us that such delays were par for the course when newcomers graced Fiji's shores. Soon enough, another meeting beckoned, and Iris, opting for a taxi, was taken aback when the commissioner asked if she had cash. Credit cards are not accepted in taxis, be aware my learned readers. Hence, she found herself borrowing cash from the trade commissioner himself, creating an unintentionally amusing scenario.

Despite these minor hiccups, our meetings went swimmingly that day, and we breathed a sigh of relief at surviving the chaos of Suva, which felt eerily similar to a miniature version of Bangkok. On our last day in Suva, determined to avoid any unnecessary surprises, we set off bright and early for our meeting with the Ministry of Tourism. However, finding parking in Suva proved to be a daunting task. As we arrived at the gate where the ministry resided, Iris took it upon herself to explain our entire project to the guard. In response, he simply looked at her and quipped, “That’ll be 5 dollars.” Well, at least he had a sense of humour and the look at Iris face was priceless!

Our journey continued towards Nadi, with a meeting at a resort conveniently located midway between Suva and Nadi. This time, fate placed me in the driver's seat again. Unfortunately, even in broad daylight, I couldn't avoid falling victim to Fiji's legendary potholes. Observing the numerous scratches and dents on our trusty old car, I decided not to complain further. After all, if the vehicle had been brand new, my unintentional contributions would have been far too conspicuous.

Our arrival in Nadi was delayed, and to our dismay, the hotel we stayed in left much to be desired. Fatigue washed over us, urging us to dive straight into bed and switch off the lights.

Finally, the long-awaited Thursday arrived, bringing with it our much-anticipated meeting at a resort that had already embraced solar energy but still relied on diesel as a backup. They were eager to explore the possibilities of Green Hydrogen fuel cells as back instead of batteries. Excitement filled the air as we made our way to the ferry terminal. Suddenly, I thought I heard my name being called, but alas, it was a figment of my overactive imagination. Note to self: schedule an appointment to get those ears checked as it was just the beginning.

The ferry ride to Malolo Island turned out to be a two-hour adventure of ups and downs, quite literally. As if the bumpy ride wasn't entertaining enough, the first hour saw a kid next to us succumbing to the unavoidable effects of seasickness. Unfortunately, the rest of the little ones on board joined in on this less-than-pleasant chorus. Ah, the joys of a ripple effect!

Now, here's the thing about the outer islands—when the ferry reaches the midway point, shuttle boats from different resorts come to collect their respective guests. The procedure seemed straightforward enough. They would call out the resort names, and we were supposed to make our way down. I caught the call for our resort, but poor Iris seemed oblivious to it, note to Iris, make appointment to have these ears checked. Naturally, my propensity for hearing things that weren't there led me to believe I might have been mistaken. However, as the ferry gained speed and started veering in the wrong direction, panic set in. We dashed down, only to be informed that our resort had indeed been the first one called. Thus, the ferry with plenty of other passengers had to perform an impromptu U-turn to meet the boat from the resort which had already left the meeting point and had to come back for us.. In true Fijian fashion, they made light of the situation, joking that we might have to swim to the island instead. Ah, the delightful humor, being on Island time!

Arriving on Malolo Island, we were awestruck by the incredible progress they had made in implementing sustainable practices and technologies, implementing them artfully and very inobtrusive. Pinching ourselves to ensure it wasn't all a dream, we marvelled at the realization that this was our actual job. Imagine that!

As the time came for our return journey, tropical rain decided to join the festivities, drenching us thoroughly. Once again, we found ourselves boarding a minuscule shuttle boat to reach the ferry. However, this time, we were grateful that no one experienced the unfortunate side effects of motion sickness. A silver lining, indeed, By the time we reached the port, the rain had stopped again and night had arrived. A beautiful evening and finish of an unforgettable experience.

Our final day dawned, marked by two more meetings in Nadi. Following the productive sessions, we attempted to harness the fickle and often elusive power of the hotel Wi-Fi to get some work done. And so, our project and fieldwork expedition to Fiji reached its conclusion. All in all, it was a remarkable experience that taught us to approach life with a healthy dose of humour. After all, when faced with the challenges of this world, it's essential to look at the bright side and embrace the laughter along the way.

Julia Mannion & Iris Heinz