Blogs from Mana Island, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, Oceania

Sun, sea, hammocks, scuba diving, drinking games and card games of shithead... read more

Bula from Fiji! We arrived safe and sound on Thursday morning, stayed on the main land in Nadi for one night visiting the mud pools during the day but then an early night ready for the Yasaw Flyer to the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort on friday morning which is on Nacula Island, the furthest island of the Yasawa group. We arrived just in time for lunch to an amazing Fijian welcome. This place can only be described as paradise - the beach was so beautiful, the staff were so friendly and not busy which was perfect. Yesterday we visited some limestone caves, the first of which was open so the sun shone through, the second was closed and you had to swim under water for 10 seconds to get into it! And once you were, you ... read more

After a stressful last 24 hours in the UK realising we need visas for a 7 hour stopover in the US, trying desperately to decide how many bikinis to take and what factor suncream, we made it to the airport and on that plane for our big trip. About 3 days later (approx, who knows!) we landed in Nadi and get ourselves on the first boat of the day to an island, Mana being our first stop. We had to let go of our organised laywer selves and embraced 'Fiji Time', where any time could be +/- a few hours. We were initially excited by our 'private boat' to the island but this soon diminished when we all turned various shades of green. Okay, imagine a holiday brochure with perfectly clear turquoise waters and white sand ... read more

I dag har vi kommet i land fra Mana Island Resort. Det var virkelig med vemod vi dro derifra. For en nydelig plass, for et nydelig folk, det kan virkelig ikke bli mer perfekt! Å skal jeg være ærli så felte jeg en tåre eller to når båten gikk, her kunne jeg vært lenge, lenge!! Vi hart de siste dagene kost oss med fantastisk vær, varme tempraturer både til land og til vann og ikke minst nydelig drikke og mat! Vi har truffet masse herlige, fantastiske mennesker som sier BULA og smiler uansett hvilken tid det er på døgnet. Jeg kan aldri minnes å ha truffet så herlige mennesker, noen gang!! Jeg har den siste uken verken sjekket nyheter eller mail, derfor har det også blitt lite bloggen. En skulle tro at jeg har gått rett ... read more

(Day 726 on the road)Ah - Feejee... 333 sun-drenched islands, two-thirds of them uninhabited. World-famous honeymoon destination. Reliable tropical climate. Main South Pacific tourism destination with 500.000 annual tourists. British colony until 1970. Located over 2000 km away from New Zealand or Australia. 850.000 inhabitants, 57% ethnic Fijians, 37% Fiji-Indians, 6% other. But also: Half the population living below the poverty line. Regular political coups (four since 1987, latest one 2006). Unstable political climate, resulting in profits not being reinvested in the country. Over-dependence on the sugar industry, with sugar prices at all times low. Racial tensions - Fijians from Indian origin ("Fiji-Indians") are forbidden by law to call themselves Fijians, or buy freehold land. Rapid depletion of fish stocks due to illegal longline fishing. Wide-spread domestic violence. ... read more