We're in Fiji and it's amazing, beautiful, spectacular, paradise (apart from the current thunderstorm)!!

I'd heard that Fiji was known as 'The Isle of Smiles' and it definitely is. There was a traditional Fijian band singing a welcome song as we walked through customs! We arrived in Nadi having misjudged the time difference resulting in losing a night's accommodation due to our stupidity! It turns out that when you fly from Hawaii to Fiji, a day somehow disappears somewhere. We flew at 8am Sunday morning and, after a 6 hour flight, arrived at 1pm Monday. It was very confusing! We're now referring to it as 'The Lost Day'. I'm sure we'll find it again somewhere along our way.

Smugglers' Cove, the hostel we had booked, provided a free shuttle so as soon as we arrived at the airport we had a nice, easy transfer (after the driver had stopped numerous times to pick up his friend, some potatoes and a few crates of beer). The two English guys sat in front of us seemed a little too happy about the beer, making me a little concerned about the type of hostel we were off to. We were staying in a 4 bed dorm and I just knew that my luck would dictate a few cosy nights with a couple of drunken louts. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at a modern, clean hotel looking hostel that was right on the beach. It was one of the best locations we'd had so far. After explaining the time difference mishap, the woman at the desk was not sympathetic and basically said 'tough' then put us in a room with a socially awkward American (a better result than the drunkards). We dumped our bags and went to explore. I dipped my foot in the swimming pool to test the temperature only to be confronted by one of the Fijian staff members who told me off, asked me to follow him to security then cracked up laughing. We'd met the local joker - Tofu. He was a one man entertainment team who then roped us in to sarong wrapping, fiji lessons and coconut jewellery making.

A few Fijian words for you (phonetically spelt) -

Boola - hello/cheers (we hear this one A LOT)

Vinarka - thank you

Kerrykerry (with a roll of the tongue on the r' s (which I can't do)) - please

Tofu was full of innuendos and loved to use the f word but we quite liked him. He seemed to like us too as we couldn't get rid of him for the next few days. I had a great day taking part in the activities then relaxing on the beach and there seemed to be a fun atmosphere going on in the hostel so we decided to have a few drinks. That night we ended up making friends with the 'drunken louts'- Clint and Leigh, who have since changed our first impressions of them and we're now travelling up the Yassawa islands together. It's good for George too as I think he needed some male banta around (especially after Tofu dressed him up in a sarong). We were living the dream at Smugglers' so we booked another couple of nights there.

The next day brought more of the same; crafts, hammocks, crude comments from Tofu, meeting new people and beer. That night they held a traditional Kava party. A group of Fijian guys sat us in a circle, sang us songs, played their ukalales and gave us a drink of Kava (not the cheap champagne!) Stick a straw in a muddy puddle and you've got kava. The locals love it. I'm not convinced.

Luck was not on our side on Wednesday. George went to have a shower, slid the door open and the shower screen fell off its runners then shattered in his hands. The owner reassuringly told us we wouldn't have to pay for the damage (rolls eyes) then, after noticing my contempt, moved us to a private room. I then had a shower and plugged in the hairdryer. I hadn't realised that the voltage needed to be changed, it subsequently exploded. Loudly. In my hands. Bad luck comes in threes evidently. We'd got some sand in our camera lens which then led to it malfunctioning and breaking (sorry Chris :( ) trying not to let all of that get us down, we then went to hire a paddle board and some kayaks with Leigh, Clint and a guy named Josh. I fell off numerous times but it did the trick and cheered me right up. Tofu had been talking about the Wednesday night fire show for days. He told us he was learning and wouldn't be in it but nevertheless we shouldn't miss it. We'd seen him practising with his fire pole, dropping it and trying again. Turns out, he was the star of the show - classic Tofu.

The following morning, we were up early ready to go to the next island (Mana) with Leigh, Clint and Josh. We left our big backpacks in the store room and just took our small day bags as we'd be doing lots of island hopping on big boats and little boats for the next week (this took much convincing from George and an argument but actually was for the best). We took a bumpy 40 minute speed boat ride to the island. We arrived at the most basic looking accommodation but the water was crystal clear and the beach was beautiful, swings and roundabouts. We had two days in Mana with food included. We shared an incredibly basic room with a geko and the toilets and showers were the dirtiest I've ever seen. My first trip to the toilet entailed a previous lack of flushing and a giant crap. It stank. My idea of heaven and hell within 50 foot of each other. We spent as little time in the hostel as possible. My favourite activity was our trip to the set of the film Castaway. A motor boat took us to the island and we then hiked to the top of a very steep mountain (Tom Hanks took a helicopter!), admired the view, sweated A LOT, hiked back down, ate green coconuts then snorkled. I can't describe quite how amazing that day was but it's something I'll never forget. I was pushed to my limits, didn't give up and felt extremely proud of myself.

We're now on an island in the yassawas at Mantaray Island Resort. We have a 7 day island hopper ferry pass, known as the Bula pass. The accommodation is a world away from our previous hostel. George and I treated ourselves to a night in a tree house but tonight were in a 32 bed dorm. Compared to our room in Mana, it's luxurious. Food is included and is incredible. We can choose from a menu for lunch which has things like fish curry, beef burgers, beer battered fish and chips (the best I've ever eaten) and fresh salads and soups. Dinner is 4 courses and breakfast is buffet style deliciousness!! We've met back up with some guys we met at Smugglers and spent most of our time chilling out and chatting. Last night we played cards and drinking games and this morning George swam with mantarays and started his diving course. I start mine tomorrow. Now I'm looking forward to another delicious dinner!

Missing home but loving life, Kelly xxx