Satellite
  • Day 671

    Thank goodness for kind people

    December 19, 2018 in Fiji ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Today could have been a complete disaster if it hadn't been for one man, Peter. It all began with us checking out of our hotel, leaving behind a horrible amount of plastic bottles that you pray get reused or recycled and getting a taxi to the bus station. Our destination was Suva, the country's capital and once at the station we found the stop we needed to depart from. There was one bus already there but it looked so cramped and it was a company I hadn't read about online. We decided not to buy tickets from them and wait for the one at 11am like we had planned. As we were waiting a guy named Peter approached us and offered us some of his Fanta which we kindly declined genuinely believing we were about to have another bad experience with a local like we had the last time we were at this bus station. We engaged in polite conversation and discovered he actually works on a resort on one of the islands and was travelling to see family for 3 days before going back to work again. We slowly realised he was actually being genuine. We soon learnt that we needed to purchase a Vodafone travel card and the only way to get on the bus is by scanning your card and getting a ticket. He said it's a system they introduced recently to prevent drivers overcharging tourists and pocketing the extra. Instead of getting on the bus he took Nick to show him where to get a card. I waited with the bags for an anxious 5 minutes before they came back. It turns out the whole bus station had run out of cards, this meant we couldn't get on the bus to Suva. Not only did Peter miss his bus to help us out he also gave us his spare travel card so we could top it up and get tickets. Unfortunately the next bus at 11:30 was full after going to the airport so we couldn't get on that one either. I felt so bad and kept apologising to Peter for him missing that bus. He said he believes in karma and will always help people when he can. This was apparent when he helped two other couples at the station as well. The first ones didn't want to listen to him at all even when I joined in backing up what he was saying. Luckily they were only going to a beach nearby so could buy a $10 single use travel card, not the reusable ones we needed for a larger amount of money. They were adamant they didn't what to do this as they'd lose the $3 left on the card. They were quite rude to Peter about it and I did say to them that it's an option of losing $3, paying 4 times as much for taxi there and back or not going to the beach. Eventually Peter bought them tickets for the way there on his card, I'm hoping they paid him back, and then they only needed a $5 card for the way back. This all went on for an hour over $3 and even after he helped them they were still very rude and unappreciative. Luckily the ticket sales for the next bus were open while this was happening but Peter wasn't queuing with Nick because he was helping this couple. I managed to get Peter's card and get Nick to buy his ticket as I was worried with so many people crowded around that he wouldn't get on. By this point we'd all been there for 2 hours. Eventually the bus came and somehow they managed to fit 5 seats in each row where every normal bus only has 4. It was an uncomfy ride being half sat on a seat but somehow it managed to go quite quickly. We watched both couples he helped get off the bus and eventually Peter left too and all we could do was thank him with huge smiles and waves. Thanks to him we made it to a rainy Suva, hopped in a taxi and got to our hostel. I'll never forget what he did for us and it's made me want to be more aware of people around me when I'm out and about at home to see if anyone needs someone to stop and take the time to help.Read more