Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
BULA (hello)
We have spent the last ten days living on fijian time, relaxing in the sun (well for the first couple of days :( ) and experiencing the local culture. It has been like a vacation within our vacation! No more dorms and no more cooking and living off pasta...until America! It was nice to come somewhere with a completely different culture, it felt like being back in Asia as australia was almost exactly the same as being at home!
Our flight left brisbane at midnight and was only three hours, however we landed at five in the morning fijian time. Fortunately we were greeted with a big smile from the man picking us up from our hotel and after a short journey we arrived a smugglers cove, and were able to check in right away. During our time in fiji we decided to stay on the mainland and do day trips as to stay on the islands was too expensive.
As I am sure you have guessed we went straight to bed for a few hours, our room was lovely with an ocean view and it was like paradise to actually have our own space. After catching up on our sleep, we woke up feeling refreshed and to perfect clear skies so headed down to the pool. All the staff were absolutely lovely and we immediately loved the place. We spent the afternoon soaking up the sun, and we both made the most of the comfy sun beds, as we couldn't remember the last time we had been on one!
That night, after tea there was a kava ceremony taking place. The locals were singing and playing the guitar and after every song, the people in the circle would all clap shout BULA and drink a bowl of kava. The kava ceremony is a scared age old custom and fijian tradition, it isn't alcohol it is made from paper roots which takes seven years to grow. I got dragged into the circle and lee somehow disappeared into thin air. The kava looked like mucky water, but I couldn't refuse It i done a few rounds but I must admit it tasted horrible although it was great to experience the local culture. I said to lee I will make sure he tries it before we leave, you can't come to fiji and not have kava!!!!
The next day we ventured into nadi town on the local bus we couldn't quite believe the gear box (the photo will explain it better). It was so sad seeing all the houses here it was like Cambodia, with children playing in a dirty river. When we got to the town we had completely forgot what it was like to be harassed to go into shops or buy things (you never got any of that in oz). The children In the street loved lee they all kept coming up to him touching his skin and giving them high fives they were adorable (we couldn't wait to go on a trip to a local village).
After a few days relaxing and especially enjoying not having to wash up haha we had our first trip booked, pj sailing and snorkelling adventure. We were so excited to get out and explore the islands. Unfortunately the weather was a bit cloudy, but the sailing around the islands was still amazing. The staff played their guitar and sang to us as we were sailing in the clear blue waters of the mamanca islands.
Then it was time to snorkel which me and lee both love, and we had by far the best guide we have ever had. The snorkelling was unbelievable so many fish and the coral was beautiful. First we held bread and fed the fish there was hundreds all around us, our guide even fed the fish from his mouth ( we weren't allowed to try this). We then found an eel, stingrays, puffer fish and nemos. It was so good and we got some great pictures.
We both didn't want to get out the water, we then sailed to plantation resort on malolo island for a lovely lunch. It was beautiful despite being cloudy and the water was so clear. The guide really liked me and lee and asked if we wanted to go in another secret snorkel trip with one other man, we couldn't believe our luck and of course got straight back in the boat and in the water. The snorkelling was great again we were so lucky. Before we knew it we were heading home, the day had gone far too quickly. At the end of the trip Kalvin our guide gave me a beautiful shell he found in the ocean, he told me they are very lucky and hard to find!
We had an amazing day and we were so excited to book more trips, however the weather had different ideas. Every day after our trip, it was thick cloud and rain, no sign of sun, we couldn't believe it. We didn't want to book a trip when the weather was so bad and also for many trips the sea was too choppy. We spent the next week basically not doing much, as all activities are outside. We were gutted as we really wanted to get to the islands and villages to explore fiji.
Our last three days were predicted to be better weather, so we thought we have to make the most of it as we feel like we have wasted the last week so we booked three consecutive trips. We were so excited to get out the hotel and for all the trips we booked, we were literally going to be non stop until we caught our flight.
The first one was Robinson Crusoe island, a day and night tour, it sounded great fun. It was about an hour and half away and it included snorkelling, bush walks , fire and knife dance shows and learning about the fijian culture. We couldn't wait to be on an island and for a change of scenery and a night of entertainment. We woke up all excited until we opened the curtains, it was the worst weather to date, torrential rain. It was therefore a waste of time going on our trip as all activities were cancelled and we would be sat inside all day. We were both so upset as we were so excited. It rained all day long it actually didn't stop, we were praying the rain would stop so we could at least squeeze in seaspray and octopus resort. What's more by now we had the worst cabin fever!!!
So on our penultimate day we had seaspray tour booked, this is the one me and lee wanted to do the most. The tour involved going to modriki island where castaway was filmed to explore and snorkel. Next is going to a local village, a welcome kava ceremony, a village tour on how they survive on the island learning all their customs and a visit to a school. The tour also offered all you can eat and drink including alcohol!
We woke up bright and early and jumped out of bed to check out the weather. It rained so much in the night until we fell asleep so we were very anxious and praying for a miracle! To our delight despite being cloudy and very grey in some places it was a huge improvement from the previous day, and we could even spot some blue sky. We were so thrilled, and got our transfer to the port ready for our seaspray tour. After queuing up we eventually reached the check in desk, to be told the tour was cancelled due to poor weather and windy conditions. We couldn't believe it we were both absolutely gutted!
Fortunately we managed to swap our tour we were due to do on Friday (our last day) and pray the weather would be better to do seaspray on Friday instead. So we went to octopus resort for the day which is located on the yasawa islands. We couldn't wait for a day living on the island despite the cloudy weather. It took us two and a half hours to get there, and due to the wind it was very choppy and poor lee needed the sick bag once again!
During the journey, we passed various of the different islands and it was so lovely to see them, some included south sea, beach comber, bounty and vovo. When we pulled up to our resort, the sun was out for literally twenty mins which was a great bonus, and it was just as beautiful as we imagined with crystal clear waters. The waves however were massive, and we had to transfer from the catamaran to a tiny boat to reach the island. It was so scary and we all thought we were going to tip out!
Unfortunately due to the rough water we were unable to swim or snorkel, we were so upset as the island is famous for it's snorkelling. We spent the rest of the morning walking the beach and taking in the scenery, hoping the waves would calm down to snorkel in the afternoon. After a delicious lunch, the rain came :( so that completely ruled out any sea activities. We met some friends, who we spent the rest of the afternoon with. Just before we left, a man was weaving baskets, he showed us how he makes them and gave me one. We couldn't believe how sturdy it was and how it transforms, unfortunately it is too big to bring home to show you all!
You will be pleased to know the journey home was much calmer and lee was absolutely fine. We took in all the views and saw a lovely sunset. It was a great day although we both wish the sun would have been out but we are so happy we got the chance to see some outer islands. We both were crossing our fingers all night that we would be able to do seaspray the next day, as there would be no other chance.
So our final day in fiji and we opened the curtains to blue skies and sun, to say we were thrilled is an understatement. We hopped onto our transfer to the port. The sea was much calmer this time and lee was fine which was great.
We got a catamaran with south sea cruises to mana island, which was about an hour away, and we cruised by some beautiful islands. Once we arrived at mana, the largest island in the mamanuca group, and it was beautiful, we hopped into our schooner sailing boat, called seaspray. We began sailing in the crystal blue water, with champagne and a fresh fruit breakfast with the sun beaming down on us. We were already having the best day, and it is what we imagined fiji would be like.
Our first and much anticipated stop was modriki island, famous for the location where Tom hanks filmed castaway. It was absolutely stunning, it's hard to put into words how beautiful it was. Lee was the first to jump off the boat and we snorkelled our way to shore. We spent around an hour exploring the island, taking in the scenery and swimming in the clearest water we have ever seen. It is definitely one of the best places we have seen on our trip. As usual the time went too quickly and we didn't want to leave. Me and lee decided to swim back to the boat which was a fair way instead of taking the taxi boat. After about five minutes when I actually realised the distance, I thought why didn't I get the boat!
We then had a lovely BBQ lunch on board with the beautiful island as a backdrop, it was paradise! Then it was to our second and final island yanyua, which is home to a local village. This was a truly memorable experience, we were welcomed to the village by the chief with a kava ceremony. Lee finally tried the kava, he absolutely hated it! 600 hundred locals live on the village and it had a primary school. It was great to see and we learnt all about their traditions and lifestyle which is very different to ours! The locals were so friendly especially the children and they sold their crafts to us. Then it was time to sail back to mana and catch the catamaran back to the port. The day had gone so quick and we are over moon we managed to squeeze it in, it was the highlight of our time in fiji. We rushed back to our hotel for a quick shower and grabbed a taxi to the airport.
Fiji has been lovely however we are both slightly disappointment as we feel due to the weather we haven't been able to experience it as much as we both wanted and wish we had a few more sunny days. However we have loved coming here, seeing a new place and experiencing a new culture. Tonight we fly to la where we are praying we leave the rain behind us! We fly at ten in the night but we arrive at one in the afternoon on the same day after a ten hour flight, so we go back a crazy 18 hours and gain a day. We can't wait to explore America but we are very sad it is our final stop of our adventure.
Speak soon with all our USA stories,
Xxxxx
- comments
Katrina Despite your disappointment with the weather you have still managed to provide us with an insight into Fijian life. Another exciting instalment and fab set of pictures. The underwater sea life shots are brilliant. Truly a beautiful island that you have been lucky enough to visit. I wonder what the next chapter has in store for you.....Glad you have made it safely to LA and I look forward to the next update. Missing and love you loads xxxx
Stuart & Julie Just caught up with the Blog (had withdrawals!!) - great read and piccies once again! Sorry to hear weather wasn't it's best in Fiji but glad to hear you still managed to to do some wonderful activities. We love the underwater shots - so, so impressed :) Looking forward to reading about your USA adventure. Miss and love you lots xxx
Mike Staite What wonderful experiences, despite the weather. I was sorry to read that Lee had another bout of sea-sickness but at least that won't be a problem in the States ! Very much looking forward to the next instalment of your great Adventure.