Yesterday morning, after a swim with the sharks off Wayalailai, I again boarded the Yasawa Flyer and travelled further north through the Yasawa Islands. I’m now staying on the island of Nacula at Oarsman’s Bay Lodge. It’s now my second day here and I’ve got three more nights here ahead of me. It’s pretty quiet at Oarsman’s. Not too many other people. And generally, there’s not much to do. But that’s okay. I am here for the beach! I’d read and heard a lot about the beach here, that it is one of the best in Fiji. I’ve been to many beautiful beaches in my years working on the cruise ships so I was eager to see just how good the beach here is. It is pretty awesome. I can see what the hype is all ... read more

This morning I boarded the Yasawa Flyer - a passenger catamaran that transports people around Fiji’s Yasawa Islands. I’ve purchased their two week pass that allows me unlimited travel between the islands they cover as well as my accommodations. I had about a two hour ride before we reached the first island I’m staying at. Wayalaiai or “Little Waya” is south in the island chain, between the islands of Kuata and Waya (or the “big” Waya). A large volcanic rock named Vatuvula stands at the top of the island, towering over the backpackers resort and beach where I’m staying. It is an impressive sight up above you all the time. After checking in and exploring the property, I lounged in a hammock on the beach, reading until lunchtime. After lunch I took a stroll along the ... read more

Today is my last day in Taveuni. Last night, when I was trying to figure out what to do with today, I felt torn. I thought I should be “doing” something with my last day, but at the same time I’m pretty worn out and didn’t feel like a big trip and also didn’t want to spend too much more money here (these 5 nights in Taveuni are costing me almost as much as the next 2 weeks will). I flipped through my guide book and my accommodation’s binder of things to do. Eventually I settled on going on a tour of a black pearl farm. The spot to meet the boat is only about a 3 minute drive from where I’m staying, the tour is less than 2 hours and it’s inexpensive but I’d see ... read more

Today I ventured down the other end of the road, along Taveuni’s East Coast. Paul, who drove me yesterday, drove again and Pela, who I’d met yesterday, came along. Both of them are from villages along the East Coast and Pela has worked as a guide there, so I had the perfect hosts to show me the way. We headed to the far end of the road to Lavena. The road only goes about halfway down East side of the island - after that there are too many rocks and streams and waterfalls in the way so a road has never been built. While the road on the Western side of the island is paved, on the Eastern side it is not. Although it’s only about a 20 kilometre drive, it takes just over an hour ... read more

It’s my first full day in Taveuni and I’m eager to see this island I’ve been dreaming about! Today, being Sunday, is generally a quiet day in Fiji. Most shops are closed, some tour companies don’t run. Many people head to church. The Catholic church on the island is in the village of Waikiri. I’d read and been told that even though the service would be in Fijian so I’d have no idea what was being said, it would be a great experience to go - the singing is incredible. So I went to church this morning. Many of Makaira’s staff (where I’m staying) are Catholic but don’t often get the chance to go to Waikiri for services because of the time and expense. So since I was already going to be paying for a van ... read more