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Published: July 21st 2005
Beachside Hotel
The hotel where we stayed on our first nightHi everyone!
Well, we've now been in Fiji for 2 weeks and it's been amazing! Wicked start to the trip - great people, yummy food, incredible scenery, beautiful islands and HOT HOT weather. Blah blah blah, right? We're both pretty blonde and bronzed (of course!) - although Charlie does have a better tan line than me. Something he's very proud of 😊 So, in the past 14 days we've been jetting between the islands and enjoying a cocktail of Fijian experiences alongside the usual backpacker banter. Here are some of the highlights so far...
* We spent our first 4 days discovering Fiji in a big green 'Feejee Experience' bus with a crazy Fijian tour guide called Luke who worshipped Charlie (but was kind of scared of me) and a tiny-yet-outrageous Indian driver called Arvin - who one day disclosed that he has 2 children (legally) but probably many more as a result of "hit and run". Brilliant.
*With the Feejee peeps we've enjoyed some cool activities like sandboarding, bamboo rafting, river tubing and getting dirrrrrty in thermal mud pools. We also visited a Fijian village up in the hills, where our 'tribe' was invited to join theirs
Natadola Beach
Relaxing on Fiji's Coral Coast for a Kava Ceremony (a disgusting drink that they mix in a huge bowl and that we then had to chug down). Luke nominated Charlie as the spokesperson for our tribe, which means he had to do this special clap thing and say a couple of Fijian words to the village chief. Very cool. And also very funny since all the boys were forced to wear sarongs out of respect. Charlie had a lovely green one. He really pulled it off.
* The nightlife's been pretty cool in Fiji, especially partying with the other travellers. On our first night there was a proper old school disco at the hostel (hosted by a transvestite called 'Julie'.) Unfortunately I felt really ill that night 😞 so I had to leave Charlie in the bar - where he spent most of the night teaching our tour guide Luke 'alternative' ways to consume vodka... I headed back to our dorm but didn't have far to go since it was right above the disco. Urgh! After 'Red, red wine' was played for the 3rd time I decided that I'd had enough. To cut a long and tearful story short, I upgraded my $20 dorm
Wainibuka Village
Chief Jeff and Spokesman Charlie during the traditional Kava Ceremony. bed to a $99 private villa. Two days into our trip and I'm doing it in style! Following the vodka incident, Luke was the last person on the bus after Arvin had to go and wake him up - naturally Charlie found this very funny!
* Perhaps unsurprisingly, a recurring theme in our travels so far has been Charlie's attempts to teach me how to chill out and embrace the laid-back Fijian attitude. Harder said than done my friends! Within the first 3 days i almost had a nervous breakdown trying to book us onto buses and hostels left, right and centre and spent more of my time in the phone box than at the bar. Charlie soon banned me from doing this. He also banned me from trying to take a gone-off carton of orange juice back to the (remote Fijian village) shop that I'd bought it from. Luckily enough these 'minor' episodes haven't cost me my relationship. But as Charlie has pointed out, we're only 2 weeks into the trip. Oops!
* Since leaving the 'Feejee Experience' we've been chilling out on some idyllic islands, as you do. Sipping Fiji Gold beer and wondering what time
Hanging out with the Natives
Charlie with some guys from the village it is at home and whether we'd be at work. Hah! And getting sunburnt... ouch.
* And to all of you who know just how cheeky Charlie is... nothing's changed! When this guy Peter (from Holland) asked us how we met Charlie began to explain (totally straight faced) how he'd spotted me dirty-dancing in a window in Soho, trying to earn extra money for university. Mum and Dad this is NOT true! But for a split second I think Peter actually believed him. God help me 😊
Next stop New Zealand. Can't wait! Will try to make the next entry a little shorter - well done if you even made it this far!
Take care of yourselves,
Anna and Charlie x x x
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Alex (A.K.A - Digga)
non-member comment
LOOKING GOOD!
Guys, Glad you are having such a great time!! Love the idea of the blog page with the pics. Anna, i'm glad that you are settling into the travelling mentality and chilling out Fjian styleee. Charlie, keep up the work with chilling on your travels! Enjoy it you guys and keep us all updated. Alex xxx