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Great beach
View along a beach on NavitiBula!!!
Bula to you all. Fijian’s said that all the time, didn’t matter when it was used it seemed! It means hello/cheers or anything really. Fiji was amazing, beautiful scenery, fantastic people and superb hospitality. We had a wicked time in Fiji, met some awesome people and had a great laugh.
I was quite sad to be leaving the US after spending so long there but loads of people we met in Hollywood raved about Fiji so we were excited to be going there. The fact that it was gonna be hot was appealing! America was hot but too humid in some places. Anyway, flight was smooth-first time on Air Pacific and they are quality, all the air crew wear Hawaiian shirts! Obviously not the captain as that would be a bit too casual….! Touched down at Nadi Airport on the mainland Vitu Levu after flying through the dateline and completely losing the 4th of June, that was a bit crazy. We won’t ever get that day back either which is surreal…
Well, we knew the Fijian’s would be a friendly race as soon as we arrived at the airport because there was a band to serenade the
Our first island
The view from the beach at Nanyua Lai lai passengers as we queued up for ages and ages and ages to get through passport control and customs. We actually spent several hours in the airport as when we landed it took them ages to get the walkway connected to the plane! Got a free shuttle to our hotel which was a backpackers place but was so nice! Two pools, bar’s and a couple of places to eat, all good! We got chatting to a couple of girls who were waiting for their room to be ready like us and we would link up with these ladies a bit more on our trip (Hello Sarah and Stacey! Hope you are both good). We, like many others staying here, were using this place as a base to book our trip to many of the islands that surround the main islands (Vitu Levu and Vanua Levu). We went for a trip called the ‘lazy threesome’ (nice name) which gave us a couple of nights on Nanuya Lailai, Naviti and South sea. But we also booked two nights on Bounty Island and two on Beachcomber Island. In total we had nine days to explore some of the islands which were part of the
Fran and sunset
Beautiful sky, taken from Naviti Yasawa’s. Before we went on our trip we checked out Nadi first, to see what it was like as we had been told it wasn’t that pleasant. We found it to be fine, they do hassle you to buy stuff and go in shops and get taxis but you just have to say no! The taxi drivers were annoying though, you say no to them and they think that means yes so they follow you and follow you until there’s a road to cross and they go back to their cab and get ready to pounce on another tourist! We got a few gifts for our family’s and drank some Kava with some local dudes in the back of a shop. Sounds a bit shady but they drink that stuff like water and it’s seen as an insult to turn down an offer to drink some so we indulged. Now, we had heard that strong brews of this stuff are meant to numb your tongue and generally make you feel all relaxed and mellow. We obviously didn’t have a very strong brew as we did it for a couple of hours and we didn’t really have any kind of reaction!
Me doing some Kava
Me drinking the local 'delicacy'...debateable. Bit of a shame as it tastes like dirty puddle water and there seemed to be no mental reward (if you can call being drunk a ‘reward’) for continuous drinking of muddy water from a dirty bowl. Shame. It’s actually the root of the pepper plant or something like that and it is meant to have positive effects on the human body and apparently it can cure some diseases…..well that’s what they said.
After our Kava ceremony we caught a bus back, and that was an experience. It had no windows so all the dust and dirt from the road found its way into your mouth, tasty. It took ages as well, that was our fault really because we got the one that went the long way back…..it took all the kids form school back to their houses up random driveways and went right down to the beach. A trip that should have taken 15 mins took nearly an hour! Felt like being in a zoo as well as all the children kept looking at us and laughing! Probably never seen a ginger before. Anyway, it sounds as if I’m moaning but it was a good trip to the
Fran and Christine
The girls before they went kayaking main town, something which had to be done to experience the local culture. There is also a large Indian presence in Fiji, especially in Nadi which is something which we both didn’t know or expect.
We had to be up early to catch the boat to the Yasawa’s and we almost missed the bus which would have been annoying. But we didn’t and we checked in at the port, got on the huge Catamaran and set off for our first island Nanuya Lailai. It took so long to get there, four and a half hours!! Worth the wait though. They pick you up in little speedboats and take you to shore where the local Fijians were waiting for us on the beach, with some food as it was lunchtime! Interesting combo of rice, veg and meat all mixed up, much needed though after a long journey. This resort was called Sunrise Resort and it was good. A bit basic, but we didn’t expect loads from a small locally run resort on a island four hours away from the mainland! We were booked in to stay in a dorm but when we were checking in, they put us in a
Cool coconut holder
The lady we followed into the village beachfront ’Bure’ which was a nice surprise! We chucked our stuff down and explored around. As soon as I found the hammocks I spent most of the time in them, seriously hard to get up and do anything when its warm and your lying in a hammock…! Highlights from this island include…….
Lying about on hammocks doing nothing!
Being woken up by the waves was awesome
Being woken up by the beating of the food drum at nine every day was not awesome
Met some quality people (you know who you are!)
A cave trip which involved us swimming under some rocks to get into a tiny cave, good fun
Watching a show by two local guys who were drag queens. It had to be seen to be believed. They were so funny, bit surreal though
Going to a village and seeing some local Fijians and their traditional way of life
The cold showers were a bit of a shock but quite refreshing when you get used to them!
Trying to find the toilet in the dark
Trying to wee in the toilet in the dark
Whacking my head on the corner of a hut and cutting my head
Looking good
Smooth look. Notice my really tanned body..... open…..and being told that they could put a bandage on my head but that would involve shaving a patch of hair off…no thanks
Watching the Fijians struggle with saying Thommo….!
Getting introduced to ‘Fiji Time’….which means that nothing ever happens when they say it will!
Next up was Naviti. The resort was called Korovou Eco Beach Resort and it was awesome. Idyllic setting and on a gorgeous beach, again they welcomed us ashore with a traditional song and we were in a dorm on this island. Dorm was cool, quite big but fine. We also met up with some people we had met previously and had a great time at this resort socialising and drinking together and got introduced to a wicked game called ’spoons’ (not as rude as it sounds). We mainly sunbathed and swam in the pool and chatted to people while we were here. What was quite random was watching the England game in the middle of the night outside the managers house with twenty or so other Brits! They had to turn on a small generator for us to watch it, we had to wake them up which was probably quite annoying but we had
Slightly dangerous
Little local kid with a huge knife, not exactly safe! to see it, even though it was a dire game. Anyway, we both really enjoyed this island and were sad when we had to move on but we had to.
Next stop was South Sea Island, and it was superb. It must be the smallest island in the Yasawa’s but it was great fun. We were only there for a night but wow, what a night! By half eleven we, and several other people, were completely naked. Dave, the Fijian host, got us all playing drinking games and we all demolished lots of alcohol and there were Aussies, Kiwi’s, Brits, Canadians and Germans all naked. We even went for a run around the island….naked. Apart from getting wasted we met up with people we had met on previous islands and had a great time snorkelling and sunbathing just off the island. The reefs that surround most of the islands are gorgeous and pristine, with loads of fish and marine life to see. All the water activities were free which was a bonus.
Also, did you all see how tanned I am? I really do not tan, so annoying. Got lobby though. Great.
To be continued…………….
There
Dave, the host of South Sea island
This monster got us all drunk and naked is more to come folks, this is just part one! We haven’t got loads of time so I will post the next bog asap. There isn’t a lot of wireless action here in the south island (New Zealand) but will get it done soon. It’s cold here so I hope wherever you all are you are enjoying the sunshine, I hear there’s a heat wave in England at the moment, fantastic. Well done to England for getting one penalty in, was it worth me getting up at three to watch it? No. Anyway, maybe one day we will win a shootout.
Anyway, hope everyone is fine and dandy and by the way…. New Zealand is awesome, really enjoying it. Right now we are in Motueka and we are moving on to Westport today which is on the west coast of the south island. Peace and love to you all.
Take care
Flame Haired Stallion (Thommo)
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Rozzie
non-member comment
Bula Bula Bula - WOW!!!
Looks and sounds like both you Adam and Fran are having an awesome time. Keep it up guys. Brill!!! We all hope here ie me, tim, timmy, nick, margaret and your dad, that Italia come up trumps in the World Cup footie this weekend. Keep everything crossed!!! Enjoy yourselves and the fantastic experience. With all my love XXX