17 - Sunday 17th June 2014, White sandy beach, Fiji.

Bula!! I'm in Fiji, I have been here for about a week now and it's a great experience very different to what I expected but unique in its own way. I arrived last Monday and spent the first few days in Nandi which is on the main land in Fiji, it seems to be a place people only really visit on their way to and from the islands. The hostel smuggles cove is good though right on the beach and full of people buzzing for their island adventures. I spent the first few days just sun bathing and talking to people in the hostel about the islands, getting excited about what I had in store.

On Thursday I set off to the island, my first stop was gold cost right at the north of all the island, it was just over 5 hours on the ferry from the mainland. Wow well when we got off the boat I was defiantly shocked and surprised at what Fiji was like. My first impression was how beautiful the sea and surrounding area is. However I don't think I really anticipated Fiji to be such a 3rd world county as it was, rather naively I expected to land on a resort much like the one I stayed in the Maldives and I was very wrong. Although the island was not in any way luxurious it was beautiful in its own way, it was tiny and the accommodation was basically sharing with the family who lived there. Although the toilet was a hole in the ground, the shower was cold, there was not lights or electricity and sharing a bed with geckos was normal I soon realised that here I will learn far more than I did in the luxury of the Maldives. Initially it took some getting used too, but when the family played instruments and sang while we ate a typical Fijian meal, I began to realise this place was more than just a hostel. These people shared everything with us, yet they seemed to have nothing, and what was best about it was they were happy. It makes me think twice when I moan about such unimportant things, like when i can straighten my hair. I think when I decided to go to Fiji I just expected it to be beautiful beaches and cocktails, with it being only a 3 hour flight from Brisbane you can't even begin to imagin the difference between the two places.

It was then time to leave Gold Coast and head to my next island White sandy beach and I knew this island was meant to be more of a holiday location, and more what I anticipated. When I arrived I was relived to see hammocks, flushing toilets, and lights. Although a totally different experience from Gold Coast I have equally enjoyed my time here. Again the surroundings are fantastic, beaches incredible ( probes about as good as great kepple big div) although the food is minimal and basically always rice with different fruit or veg. I was also about to go snorkelling in the blue lagoon, it was awesome I felt like I was swimming in a fish tank, and I found nemo!

Tomorrow I'm so excited as I am booked on a trip to go swimming with the manta rays, I think this will be awesome I just hope I can keep up with them! After that I head to my final island which is meant to be the most luxurious of all wialli island! Where I can do a shark swim and a summit walk!

Il keep you updated

Laura xxx