well in fiji so definately wanted to update from here!! costing a mint in internet time so not sure how long this will last!! ; ) flew in from sydney as was amazed at the humidity!! landed to the singing and music of a fijian band - was a fab start!! the next morning wasnt so great though when we were told we had been given the wrong information and we had actually missed our boat transfer to the islands! gutted...eventually came to an agreement but it meant we had no choice but to stay another night on the mainland...made sure we were up bright and early for the correct transfer (after spending the night kept awake by the torrential rain! ; ) ) and found oursleves on the 2 hour boat journey to our paradise island of Manta Ray!! we crossed the choppy waters and got out onto the island where we were taken for a welcome drink and shown around the resort. sounds crazy and i dont know what i was expecting, it was crazy to be on an island surroundedby nothing else but water!! i dont know what i thought it was going to be like but to be living on a sandbank in the middle of the ocean all of a sudden seemed crazy! fun but crazy!! checked into our beach bure - lush! about 20 steps away was the golden sands and hammocks as far as we could see!! unfortunately for us, there was one crucial thing missing! the sunshine! rubbish! me and maz sat in one hammock bloody freezing, sheltering oursleves from the sand that was being blown across us and staring out to sea - and to be honest, wondering what the hell we doing out there! ; ) we saw the funny side of our not so enviable first day in paradise - definately a 'if only they could see us now' moments!!! our first night was amusing really looking back on it - we were in our beds, covered head to toe in mosquito bites and sleeping under the bed nets that were meant to be protecting us!! ; ) couldnt help but laugh! the next morning we made it for breakfast! we sat there wondering what we were meant to do in fiji without any sunshine! felt like we hadnt seen it in ages when it shone through the clouds! everyone grabbed there towels and headed straight onto the beach! couldnt miss it! it hasnt been sunny here in nearly a month! someone must like us eh! ; ) to our own stupidity though, we obviously didnt use enough suncream cos we are still feeling the pain 3 days later! ouch! ; ) was worth it though to be able to enjoy the most gorgeous shores!! we hired snorkelling stuff and checked out the reef - amazing tropical fish ive ever seen! yesterday we went manta ray swimming! such an experience! they can measure up to 7 metres across and its the most awesome thing swimming in the wild with them! you're not allowed to ride them though - we remembered what you said jo! ; ) i really wanted to do the village trip where they take you to some local inhabitants of the next island but i woke up late and today it didnt run! rubbish! apart from the bad start and the sunburn and the cockroaches in our room!!! - fiji is beautiful and i can see why it is such a major holiday destination...definately more of an experience though than a relaxing beach holiday i think! more like "im a celebrity get me out of here" than "celebrity love island"!!!!! we sure have had a laugh and i wont forget the trip in a hurry! we are back on the mainland for our flight out back to sydney on monday...this is such a contrast to the bustle of city life! i am definately glad we came and saw this country and its kinda cool to be at the furthest point possible from home! saw the island where celebrity love island was filmed too...so thats always a bonus! i think we have done a fiji experience of our own - definately one to remember!! ; ) hopefully the sun will be out tomorrow to make the most of our last day!! ; ) hope all is well with you and i guess i'll update some more from back in the land down under...love all round! Georgie x x x