bula everybody!

bula is the fijian word for hello and they are not shy to use it. We have fallen in love with Fiji and its way of life and our very sad to be already leaving tomorrow!

We arrived early last thursday and after a quick nap we went to an orchid garden and a temple, before a lazy afternoon round the pool. Our hostel is very nice and very quiet so we really feel we are away from home! Our first full day was spent on South Sea Island, which is so small you can walk around it in ten minutes max. We went in a submarine boat and snorkelling but unfortunately the weather was not good in the afternoon so we were undershelter reading our books most of the itme!!

The next day we started our feejee experience, and it was amazing! We went to Nadi and saw all the markets and shops before heading to the beach for a swim in warm crystal clear waters and having a bbq lunch. After this we had our first village visit where we all had to wear sarongs, guys included! Finally we went sandboarding down a massive sand dune, it was a mission to get up and we both felt like our legs would give way. At the hostel we stayed in that night we were treated to a fijian entertainment group and even had to join in some dancing to the Vegaboys! The second day of the experience was a 3 hour (mainly uphill for the first hour) trek. Due to the amount of rain here recently the trek was very slippery and muddy and we both slipped in the mud, though not as much as some others!! After the trek we went tubing down the river and jumping in waterfall pools! The third day of the experience took us to a high school, we were shown around by the pupils as our guides and shown there classrooms, cafeteria, dorms and learnt about their days. they seemed very keen to tell us everything they could and loved having their picture taken. After this it was off to our second villlage visit where we had a Kava cermony. Kava is the traditional fijian drink and is a root plant mixed with water so you can imagine it tasted very earthy!! Jo and I also made banana leave bracelets here before heading of for some bamboo rafting. This turned into water volleyball and water rugby which resulted in one guy with a bloody nose! On our final day of the experience we went to a mud pool and smothered ourselves in the thick gooey mud, before going over to the HOT springs, which truly lived up to their name!!! it was a wicked 4 days and think we both see it as one of the hightlights of the whole trip.

Finally tomorrow we are off to Robinson Crusoe Island, where we are meant to experience Fijian fire walkin and dancing. Then in the evening we fly off to LA at ten in the evening, but actually we then land in LA thursday early afternoon so we live it twice!!

Anyways we will see you all shortly and hope you are all well
love us xxx