Right, quick one as internet is pricey in US!

Sooo, our last days in Rotorua were spent visiting sulphur-smelling geothermal parks, bathing in hot springs (don't put your face underwater!), a quick gym session, 3 goes on the luge and a Maori encounter with the Mitai tribe. So not much then :). Everything i would recommend, especially the Mitai - awesome buffet meal (probably the best meal since we've been away!) A massive thanks goes out to Jean and John for putting us up there, and being excellent guides and companions, will never forget how much they helped!

Next was a drive to Hot water beach, where we found no hot water - just a lot of people with spades playing in the sea! Would've been better a couple of hours earlier apparently!

Back to Auckland that evening, got to stay with Mike again (must have been sick of the sight of us!) got the van sale sorted out and went to see rapper 50 Cent, which was awesome!

The early morning flight wasn't too bad, thanks to Miff for taking us (see sleepy Miff in photos!) Got to Fiji and sorted out all our trips and stuff. Free bus to hostel - more like hotel (very nice!). Spent teh night there then onto the 'Tropical Awegasm' our 12 day trip on the Yasawa's :) - Island by island breakdown:

Bounty Island. Probably the nicest out of the bunch for us. Was teh setting for 2004 celebrity love island - doesnt mean much to me.. Got to perticipate in a tribal cava ceremony (intoxicating), do some snorkelling-table tennis-pool all for free, saw some triggerfish (pretty nasty), drank a decent amount of bounty rum :) and met some girls from Godalming! Will be seeing them in Guildford on a monday night sometime! Bounty was also the first time we met the Swedes (Fredrik and Tobias) who have become our temporary travelling companions.

Kuata. Didnt enjoy as much, dorms and showers were a bit s***ty and the food not brilliant - pink (!) pancakes and cake for breakfast! But on a tropical island - it cant really be THAT bad can it! Spent some quality time in hammocks and met an ex-F1 girl Rohanne from Holland who was a great laugh!

Naviti (Korovou Resort). Lovely pool and food! Lots of it! Apart from a slight mishap in bed allocation - a great place. Came 3rd in the limbo competition, lubricated with more rum (not in a ny sports journal i think), learnt the bula dance, met some crazy USA girls and during my hangover, Faye and Lynsey from London.

Yavewa (Coral View). Weather turned for the worst, pretty much cloud and rain the whole time. Nice walk on first day, saw some gay dogs and wish we wore footwear to get to the viewpoint!! Played some volleyball, got our sleep disturbed by annoying UK gentleman, and met Emma and Olwyn, pretty boring to start off - haha!!

Wanna Taki Cruise. Though the boat didnt move! More rum, snorkelling and managed to get a DVD in! Good drinking games with Harriet and Lucy (UK) like musical chairs and suck and blow (!) who make these up i dont know!!

Beachcomber. The 'party' island, not so much for us apart from one night! Rained the whole time, so played a lot of cards with the Swedes and Emma & Olwyn. Worked out in dorm room and the toilet (!) - only place for chin-ups..

Back to mainland. Went shark diving (like South Africa but without the cage!!!!) Saw loads of Bull Sharks (eat humans) - amazing time DVD's in the post mum if you wanna look at it when it turns up!! haha! A night in Nadi - where we were told not to leave our hostel because it was too dangerous :)

Then flight to LA via Auckland, not too bad - couple of films and some sleep. Now we are staying in Inglewood (Gangster land) in Los Angeles! Off to get some protein bars and camping equipment for the next 2 months!!

Speak soon