Through the heart of Viti Levu to Rakiraki Monday 3rd November 2008 The alarm went off at 4.15 a.m. and we groped around in the semi-dark dressing and getting our gear together (by torchlight) because one of the guys from Rukuruku village was picking us up at 4.45 a.m. to take us down to the ferry in his truck; somewhat early because it is only a twenty minute ride and the ferry wasn’t due to leave until six but he had to get back by 5.30. The ferry didn’t get away until nearly seven and the bus that was supposed to be waiting the other side on the mainland wasn’t there and arrived forty minutes late so we didn’t get to Korovou until about 8.30 a.m. which didn’t matter because it was a beautiful morning and ... read more

I have been unable to get online so haven’t been able to send any of my blogs for over one week so what follows is the backlog! Before that, however, I have a message for my cousin, Veronica in the USA: I was SO delighted to get your email through the travel blog and hear all of your news after so many years. Unfortunately, my replies to you keep getting sent back so if you have another email address please can you send another message. I would love to get in touch. Now for the journal… Levuka, Ovalau Island, Fiji Tuesday 28th October 2008 The journey from Leleuvia to Levuka on the small open boat was quite rough. Close to the islands and within the coral reefs the water was calm, clear and smooth but as ... read more

Leleuvia Island Friday 24th October 2008 Yesterday we journeyed here to Leleuvia and are staying three nights until Sunday. The journey was quite an experience. We left Rain Tree Lodge at 8 a.m. and got a bus to Nausori. The bus was full of local children going to different schools so it detoured to different villages; this was great because we saw so much of the local culture, the kids, some as young as six and travelling alone, were so polite and well behaved (very different to hoards of English or Spanish schoolchildren) and the countryside was stunningly beautiful. It wasn’t raining! Yet again, we were the only white faces on the bus (the young backpackers at Rain Tree had hired cars, which are quite expensive in Fiji) and our recommendation to anyone coming here is ... read more

“Bula” we are on “Fiji Time” Friday 17th October 2008 People here talk about “Fiji Time” meaning you take it slow and everyone says ‘Bula” (“Hello’) with a smile. We are in Paradise and we’ve hardly seen anything yet since this is only our third night here. Fiji wouldn’t be everyone’s ’cup of tea’; unless you are in an excusive resort, of which there are several, it is a bit scruffy, very rural and inefficient, the public loo in Nadi is unapproachable if like me you have a sensitive nose and the local busses are crowded and rickety; the mosquitoes are ferocious (we have the coils alight) we’ve been without power for the last four hours and cooked by candle-light (it has just come back on and the thunder and lightning has only just stopped and ... read more

Seeing Jupiter I forgot to mention a most exciting experience. Whilst waiting to see the sunset on Mauna Loa volcano, we got to see Jupiter. One of the rangers had a very powerful telescope and he let us have a look once he had set it up. First focus was on Venus and then on Jupiter. We could see the planet clearly with it's four moons in orbit. Brilliant! Here are some of the photos of Akaka waterfall, the stunning coastline near Hilo and some of the exotic Hawaiian flora.... read more