A final free week in Fiji. This week was spent just relaxing. I spent five days at bamboo travellers on the beach at Wailoaloa. Chatting with other travellers, reading my book, swimming in the sea or the pool. Did another day trip, this time only out to South Sea Island (the first one on the ferry's journey) for some more snorkelling as there's not much to see off the beach at Wailoaloa. For my last couple of nights I moved to the Hilton on Denarau, a fantastic...

This weekend I finished my second stint of volunteering. This time on a care project in Nadi Fiji. Now I start 5 weeks of independent travel, covering five countries (including Fiji). Have moved from host family to a hostel, Bamboo travellers (Charan's recommendation!). Waking up in the morning I can see the beach and sea out the window along with blue skies and bright sunshine, the sun gets up here soon after 6. The task each day is to not get sunburnt! No real...

Week 4 on the care project and with all schools and kindergartens finished for the year (they have their long break now, not going back to the new school year until end of January) we start holiday school. Organised (?) by projects Abroad in one of the local settlements for kids from 5 to 14 yrs to come to. It's in their community hall, think wooden shed with corrugated metal roof, no tables or chairs, it's a sit on the floor job. We have limited supplies and l...

Third weekend here in Fiji and this time it's just a short boat ride to one of the Mamanuca Islands, beachcomber. There is a small hotel here with various sleeping options dorms, bures, small normal hotel block etc. they also have a turtle pool where they are currently nursing three young turtles before releasing them back into the sea. We have a bure on the opposite side of the island to the bar and restaurant, the island is not exactly big though....... The w...

Today the kindergarten kids all graduate - this should be interesting from a sitting still point of view!! Things are supposed to start at 1pm, but finally get underway around 1.30/1.45 and despite the pastors long sermon (I think he thought he was in church) the kids managed to sit reasonably still before getting their certificates and gifts, then it was over to them to do the dances they had been learning - they did a pretty good job. With no kindergarten Thu...