So Fiji!!! Paradise one might say....until...you are stranded on an island due to tropical cyclone storm weather!!!! Wet season yes! But terential storms we did not expect!!!

We arrived Friday 2nd...all was well even though it didn't stop raining the sunset at 7pm was phenomenal. We were on our way back from Lautoka and thats when we fell temperarily in love with Fiji.

We were told none of the islands have Atm's so we decided to stay in Nadi an extra day so we could withdraw enough money for our 14 days of Island hopping. We set off on Monday morning to get the boat from Denarau marina when Elaine got a call that her Grandad George, god bless his soul had passed away, just as we were about to step on the Awesome adventure boat. Most of the Islands have no signal and no payphones, so we decided to postpone our trip to the islands and make our way to the airport for Elaine to get a flight home, to be with her family at this horrendous time! I went with her to make sure she got on a flight safely, as we were in the middle of nowhere. We didn't realise how far away from the rest of the world we were until this day!

After many ridiculous and intrusive phone calls to our insurance company (which was recommended and sold to us through STA), Elaine decided the stress of getting home for the funeral was too much! One of Towergate Insurance companys representatives, Tiffany, asked coldly "how did he die?" which she then followed with 'we can't fund your flight home unless your Grandad died suddenly!" So personally I would never recommend this insurance company to anyone going travelling!

Eventually after many talks and phone calls home Elaine decided to stay as it would have been what her Grandad and family wanted. So we set off to Tavewa island where we stayed at Coral View resort where we were welcomed with a song and meal. this island had a great atmosphere and made us fell at home. We were treat like family and had great evening entertainment. Elaine and I were introduced to International crab racing , the Bula dance and amazing Fijian food. Bula means 'Hello' by the way! I found this strange as one of my made up swear word expressions (as Justin knows) is Hula Bula!!! haha I'm strange I know, nothing new there!

We then moved onto Waya island as this is one of the bigger islands and thought Elaine might be able to get signal here and also see a doctor as her mosquito bites were huge and one had been bitten by what we think might have been a spider...I was calling her Shrek foot!!! Never seen such bad bites!

Octopus Resort unfortunateky had no signal and no doctor but it did have Germans who had every cream ever made for bites! Octopus resort is Aussie owned and has been voted one of the top ten beaches in the world! Fantanstic place and excellent food, we ahve eaten like Queens, I tell thee!

We were only menat to stay for 2 nights but then the storm hit!!! We heard people were being evacuated from most of the Islands and nadi was flooded so no noats were running, which meant people were missing their flights home! Andrew one of our Single crew (Octopus was full of couples so we formed a singleton gang!) exited the island via helicopter which was fun to watch haha...

After 5 days the storm quietened down (is that a word I give up my grammar and vocab is awful!!!) (hahah) and we said farewell to our Octopusi friends and began our sickly journey to Beachcomber resort on Mamanuca Island, well know for its 80 bed dorm!!!

Beachcomber was wet, stinky, and the staff were miserable! But everyone there was up for partying and when te clock struck 12am on 13th January my birthday celebrations began! I had one of the best birthdays ever and thanks to Elaine I'll never forget it.

We have now left flooded Fiji, never to return again but it was fun adventure and we met some greta people, I think without the people we met we wouldn't have had half as much fun. Especially David from Wakefield aka Toad from Wind in the Willows his northern gay sense of humour definately wont be forgotten!

We are now in sunny Singapore staying in The Inn Crowd backpackers in Little India, which is very nice. We had the longest dauy pof travelling yesterday ended up in a hotel sharing a double bed as we were wrecked and couldn't find anywhere else! Thats what happens when you become a laid backpacker who don't arrancge accomodation in advance hahaha!

Well I will update you all soon and add to this blog as there is so much more to tell you about Fiji...

Take care peopple and please send me some gossip of your xmas hols

PS congratulations Sophie and Dan on your engagement and baby news XXX