Good flight from Auckland but missed Katie dreadfully. Bad start in Fiji - rain. Taxi driver from airport to hostel ranting on about the fare will only be $5 and the hostel should be picking me up instead they were paying him to collect me. Told him it was nothing to do with me but he kept on ranting. Slammed the door on him when I arrived. I wasn't in the mood to try and apease him.

Arrived at Nadi Bay Resort at about 5pm. Lots of staff not many guests. Bit of a culture shock. First impressions was that Fiji main land very reminiscent of parts of Africa - poor roads, crazy public transport buses, rickety buildings and people just hanging around.

All staff very quickly knew my name and used it all the time! Bula Anne, how are you Anne, can I get you anything Anne, sounds great but it made me laugh the way they say my name, they seemed to have trouble with it and almost seemed to be shouting it. Had a few days at Nadi Bay Resort where they had a pool and restaurant before starting my trip. It rained most of the time so did a lot of reading and catching up with my journal, couldn't do blog as internet very expensive.

First trip was a 6 day pass on Ysawas, a group of islands to west of mainland, each with its own idilic resort. 26 resorts to chose from. The weather was still bad, apparently due to tail end of a cyclone, so I decided to play it safe and rather then go to my first choice of island at the top end of the group (a 5 hour boat trip) I would go to my 2nd choice in the middle of the group, just a 2 hour boat trip (preying that it would not be too choppy).