It Even Rains in Paradise

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Hi everyone,

You know you are in paradise when its beautiful even when it is pouring down rain. Apparently our trip falls in the monsoon season, so we have been experiencing some rain!

After breakfast on South Sea, the rains started coming in, and the little island became a really wet and windy place. Rachel and I thought we should do a 'sun dance' to get the sun to shine.

We said Movai (fijian for goodbye) to all our new found friends on Southsea and got on the ferry to the next island. Ryan changed his plans to meet us in Manta Ray, our last island of the trip, so we could all hang out for a little longer. The hour long ferry ride was wet and rough, and i spent the ride sleeping on the floor near the fire exit, since all th seats were occupied.

By the time we reaced Kuata I was ready for the sun to start shining! Even though it was raining, we were welcomed by the singing and ukele playing villagers. The islands are so much fun! We settled into our thatched roof bure and caught lunch at the dining hut. Luckily, the sun started coming out and we took advantage of the good weather. Our Sun dance worked! Lauren, Rachel and I all explored the island, and walked around the volcanic shore.

We spent the day louning in hammocks, taking walk around the island and reading on the beach. At night we were again welcomed with a huge polynesian feast and some dancing lessons by the natives. After dinner and dancing (and cocktail drinking) I decided to get a massage. This was a strange experience. I will sum it up quickly: A really awful 'massage' (more like a bad back rub) by a woman named Spunky who liked to use too much cocnut oil. Two hours later I was finally washed clean of the oil and I still felt like a piece of fried chicken.

That night we fell asleep in the thatch roofed bure...we nodded off to the sounds of ocean waves, sea breeze, and the fijian family who lived outside our bure, singing songs to eachother before bed time.

Sigh....oh fiji. how I love thee!!

Bula, shelly

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Photos

Hammock...whats paradise without it?
I spent some quality time here.

Me, on the hike around Kuata
these big black rocks were volcanic. they felt and looked a lot like pumice stone... the stuff you use for pedicures

Me in front of our Kuata bure
dont you love my sun hat?

Dinner is served!
Spunky the masseuse is on the right!

It was a rainy ride!
Here, we are wet, cold and....happy we are in FIJI!
(but we wished it was sunny!)

Adorable Fijian girl
she was such as little camera ham, she wanted her photo taken so much!

Comments

[Carynn Jackson]

BULA!
Well, you have only yourself to blame for that bad massage...you should have ran when you heard her name "Spunky"

[anonymous]

Hey Shelly We're still waiting for another blog. You left us hanging in Fiji. What are you up to now? I'm glad you had such a good time in NZ. Take care and fill us in on the rest of your trip, Please!

[Christian]

Moin Moin!
Moin Moin is Northern Fresian for Bulla Bulla! However, the pictures are awesome...