Malolo island and Walu beach resort has a much different feel to Ratu Kini on Mana. It's more of a resort than a backpackers, I mean there's a pool and sunloungers and everything! My room this time is in a lodge at the top of mount Everest. Nice to go from a 14 bed dorm to my own room, even if I do have to conquer Everest daily. Had the whole lodge to myself one night. Realised that was the first time I have been properly alone in 4 months. Dorms do have their...

I arrived on Mana after an horrific hour long speedboat journey to singing Fijians putting a flower in my hair and all of a sudden the world is good again. I was shown to the dorm I'd be staying in. It was past the school, past the church and a couple of bures. Luckily got used to this prospect pretty quickly. Made quite a few friends on Mana, so many Germans! We spent our days on the beaches the other side of the island which were blissful. One of them was at ...

Arrived in Fiji to welcome singers just as you'd imagine. Had slight drama at the airport when my card wouldn't work in any ATM machine. Met my pick up from the hostel and they drove me there via an ATM that actually worked, thank god! They're so friendly and happy and even share around their drinks with me, Fiji style. Arrived at Bamboo hostel and I quickly realise there's nothing here. Checked in to my pretty basic room. My 2 nights in Nadi were uneventful....

Caught my last ever big green kiwi bus from Rotorua to Auckland. Stopped off at 'Hobbiton' on the way. I've never seen Lord of the Rings so this pretty much went over my head. Arrived into Auckland early afternoon and I was on a mission to get everything sorted before Fiji. Pounded around the shops for some New Zealand tat, sun tan lotion and most importantly a vaccum pack for my warm clothes. Spent the rest of the afternoon trying to cram my clothes into my bag...

Rotorua is the first place in New Zealand that has a strong Maori presence. Partly because one of the girls I got off the bus with got shouted at by a crazy man with the full Maori face tattoos. But mostly because we went to a Maori village 'experience'. It was really good, watched the hakka and ate a feast that had been cooked under ground. The evening was made by the amazing driver of the 70s bus who knew hello in every language going and even managed to crack ...