Advertisement
Published: June 22nd 2008
Beachcomber Island
Darren, Matt, me and Gerd having a fairwell vodka with Matt on Beachcomber!!I left New Zealand for some tropical heat in Fiji......so it was back to wearing just shorts and relaxing on the beach nursing some hangovers!!
The Fiji locals are really cool people......they will do pretty much anything for you and are always smiling!! I headed to Fiji with a few of the Irish I was in NZ with, Gerd, Louise, Darren and Gemma. we got booked up for some of the islands on the west coast.....first island was Beachcomber Island which is the most lively of islands.....a band playing every night and a disco like thing later on. We were staying in a dorm which had 120 odd beds in it.......really tight for space but livable for a few nights. We also met Matt and Zanna from NZ there as well so the first night was a heavy one with lots of fair well drinks.........chillaxed on the beach during the day and partied at night!!
after 2 nights on Beachcomber it was off to Mana Island......alot quieter and family run.......very welcoming with the whole family about 15 and all different ages singing to us and telling us that Mana Lagoon Resort was our home from home
Beachcomber Island
me and Gerd with Mary the bar tender!! so enjoy!! You pay up front for all food and accommodation.....most of the time it was curry.....but it was good so we ate it. because the 'resort' was so small you got to know most people so it was quite friendly.....at the welcoming meeting with the family singing, everyone introduces themselves with name country and if your single or not.........saves you trying to get that out of a girl when chatting to them.....instead you know exactly who the singletons are......all good.
we played volleyball with the sons one afternoon.....and as I tried to keep the team in the game and I dived for the ball I battered my leg off a rock which was just under the sand.......talk about taking one for the team.......so I had to go and see 'Mama' who got a bottle out the bar and it read...'Nani.....the miracle tonic'....not sure what it was but it stung like hell when she put it on my cuts and grazes!!
then after a few nights at Mana it was off to Robinson Crusoe Island for 3 nights.......a bit more lively than Mana but not as lively as Beachcomber.......Louise had left so it was only 4 of
Mana Island
the family singing to us!! us left but we got in toe with more Irish, Welsh and Scottish people so the group got a bit bigger as the days went on. there was alot organized on Robinson like......snorkeling trips, coconut drinking but you had to peel the coconut then crack it open with a machete.......good fun......these activities were down by a local guy called Ziggy...legend!! at the welcoming ceremony we had to drink 'Cava' a local drink which makes your lips, tongue and cheeks numb and tingly.....I had 2 cups of it.....they say if you have more than 5 you'll be on your back.......a bit like Ziggy and his mates...they were always off there face on the stuff.....it comes from a plant and is mixed with water, the plant is put in some fabric then used like a tea bag until it is strong........it looks like dirty brown water.....not the most pleasant of tastes!!
we went snake hunting with Ziggy as well and we found a large sea snake........if it bites you have about 10secs till you die.....but they can only bite you in a few places, like ear lobe, and between you fingers.
every night when the bar shut at 12 we all headed
Mana Island
tropical paradise!! to the bonfire on the beach where Tux would play some oasis, the beetles and the eagles and we'd all sing along.....good nights!!
since I've been in Fiji I've not had a hot shower...only just cold water and the electricity is only on between 6 and 12 at night......but the showers on Robinson Crusoe were something else.......it was a bucket with a tap and shower head that you had to fill up using another bucket.....some experience and a pain in the ass at the same time!!!
Had a really good time in Fiji relaxing and having a few beers at night.........well more than a few!!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.153s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0471s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
