Fiji.... Miles of Isles, Isles of Smiles

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Naz:

Having had a jam packed 2 months in Australia we were looking forward to relaxing and island hopping in Fiji. However, when we got there we realised that Fiji was actually right in the middle of a cyclone and that going on a boat from the mainland to all the smaller Mamanuca and Yasawa islands would not be advisable. After booking a 5 day tour a few days later through what we now know as a 'pirate' and then the boat never existing we decided to demand our money back and just make the most of being on the mainland. The first bit of traditional Fiji which we experienced was the 'Kava ceremony'. This is where you are welcomed into Fiji with a 'legal' powder crushed from tree roots which is absorbed into water before being consumed from a coconut shell, while chanting 'BULA!!'. It was nice to say the least, and certainly chilled us out about the 'whole trip that never' was fiasco. Alhough we spent most days/nights in our dorm because of the weather, we weren't alone in the dissapointment and met other like-minded people who we had a really great time with (usually via Ring of Fire).

The one day when we did get good weather we went, along with 4 other lads we had met, on a luxury cruise to Mystery Island. This place, which would just look like a speck in the ocean if you were to look at a map was truly unbelievable, exactly what everyone imagines when they think of Fiji. There was no permanent inhabitants and only two huts on the whole island which could be rented by tourists. We walked around the whole island in 10 minutes and it was absolutely beautiful. We probably had one fo the best days of our whole trip here, we played volleyball (Tourists v Fijians), sat in the crystal clear water with ice cold beers and had a traditional Fijian BBQ. We were there the whole day but we were having such a good time that we felt like it went by far too quickly.

On our final full day, we decided to go and check out the Mud Baths and Hot Springs in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant in Nadi. It was a really nice day when we left so thought there would be no problem.... we were so wrong. As we got there, the heavens just opened and we ended up in the Mud Baths completely surrounded by water from the river nearby. After spending a few hours there, and actually having quite a lot of fun, we were rescued by some locals along with another family that had also been trapped. In hindsight it was a real adventure, but not a situation we would like to get ourselves in again.

Now it was time to split up and go our separate ways for a few months, Ric was off to Brasil and I was heading to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

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