Fiji

The flight from Auckland was good and we landed just after our expected time at 5pm. The sun was going down already and by the time I had been picked up buy my driver for my transfer to my hostel the sun was only just up. I rushed to get my shorts on pulling all the cold weather gear out of the way. I was just in time to grab a beer and watch the sky turn from blue to bright orange! I was so happy to be back in a warm country again!

That first earning in Fiji was a good one. I met a group of Germans all heading out to the islands as well so we had a few beers! Later on in the night a small band came out and played local music whilst giving out "carva" not to be confused with the champagne! It was a local drink made of tree roots and water mixed together. It wasn't alcohol but more of a drug... The effect was only minor it made your toung go numb and if you had a little to much your whole face!

Unbelievable once again I had met another person from my trip to India. Harriet was on her final stop before heading home and it was great to have a catch up!

We had to be up very early the next morning for the bus to the port and then on to the ferry!
I had booked an "awesome adventure Fiji" whilst I was back in Queenstown. I had paid about £500 for the 10 days but it was all inclusive, ferries, all food, activities and transfers, so it was a little like going on holiday than traveling but I was thankful for not having to organise anything for once!
I met more people on the boat journey out to the island, we passed through dozens off small islands, crisscrossing our way to amazing beaches making drop offs before we finally heard the call for "Manteray island".
The islands are very basic so a small boat takes you to the beach where on arrival we had a group of the locals singing us a welcome song and drink which was very nice!

Manteray island was one of the larger islands but you could probable walk around it within a few hours maximum! The reef was full of life and one of the best I had seen on my trip. They had a great range of activities to keep you busy such a kayaking, beach volleyball, and snorkelling but of course the girls just wanted to get there tan on!
I couldn't believe my luck really, there was around 30 girls on the island and maybe 7 or 8 guys so I found it funny laid on the beach with 20 other girls around me giving me tips on sun bathing, it's a hard life traveling sometimes, but I'm here now, have to make the most of it!

The staff working on the island put on a Fijian dance for us that evening
Which was really good and after that we played a few drinking games we headed to bed early around 9pm!!
The island life had started to kick in and we all felt tired most of the time "Fiji time" was well and truly setting in!

We spent 2 days on Manteray island before heading off to Korovo island which was only another 30 minutes on the boat. This island was very quiet and unbelievable only 10 guests on the whole island!!

Leaving Fiji would be another Long day and one of the longest flights of all 8 hours with a stop over in Samoa for an hour!
The baggage boys were clearly on Fiji time as I watched them slowly removing the bags as we are strapped in ready to leave!! 1 hour delay because of that!

On the way to Hawaii we had a 45 minute stopover in Samoa!! When we landed it was really small, I though Fiji airport would have been small but this airport only had 1 gate and 2 shops! This really is the far side of the world! I really regret not knowing that I had a stop over here when I booked the ticket or I would have loved to spend a day here! The sky and lighting was a strange pink colour not like any I had seen before when we climbed back on to the airport for the final 5 hour leg of the journey. Unfortunate/Typically the late departure from Fiji was made worse in Samoa as the check in systems were down which led to further delays to the schedule!

Vinaka - Thank you!