Right, this is going to be long! Sorry but theres a lot to fit in....
Friday 2nd March (Happy Birthday Tinkerbell!)
Woke up fairly early, the sun over the sea looked beautiful. Woke up with loads of mozzy bites, not good! I even had the 100 deet on!
I started writing some of my journal in the hammock but then it started raining!! Luckily the bell went for brekkie, we had watermelon, pineapple, sweet bread and doughnut like things. We all received a flower in our hair.
NIK & JEMS FIJI CHALLENGE!
We booked to go on a boat trip to Sawailau Caves, it contains caverns that can only be accessed by swimming underwater!
We had to get a speed boat over, it was a fair way away, the resort leader, Tui, was taking us and told us to strip down to our swimware as the rain was coming. Oh and she was very right! It poured with rain! we were soaked, and with the breeze it was a little chilly!
When we got to the caves we had to climb into the first cavern, it was dim lit and a bit eerie! We had to swim right underwater to the next cavern. When I came up I couldn't see a thing. It was so dark, we all kept bumping into each other! Tui came through with a torch, and told us a bit of history. Then we swam back under into the main cavern. We were interested in a certain cave high up that seemed to lead somewhere. This was called the pregnancy cave, which has past mythical beliefs. Tui said we were able to climb up into it from a different cavern and jump back into the main caven through that cave. So we did! We swan under water again, into a well lit cavern on a different side. Then the climb began, baring in mind we only had bikinis on, it was such hard work. There wasn't anywhere to properly grip, and I knew if I fell I would cause myself serious injuries. So the only way was up! I was shaking I was that scared. At one point I didn't think I would be able to do it. But I got up in the end. To jump out the other side was also hard as there was no proper ledge to jump from, and rocks below we had to try and avoid! Oh and an eel! Nice! I did it though! Gotta say that would never be allowed to be done in England, no health and safety at all!
After we got out, Tui said one person died doing that from a different resort! I'm pleased she told us that after! Had a great time doing it though, brilliant experience! On the way back it was still raining, there were a load of tuna fish jumping out along side the boat we was fascinating!!
Manged to make it back in time for lunch! We had a piella type thing, wasn't a big fan really, little stodgy for my liking! After that (and changing into dry clothes) it was boarding time and off to our next island!
Island Number 2: Yaqeta
Resort: Sanawai Resort
When we arrived the sun was finally shining. 3 other girls from Sunrise were also staying there- Kirsty, Georgie and Claire. The resort was only small, but fairly green, with a small beach. Very basic. The only other guests on the island were a couple from Oz, called Bill and Colleen. We sat in the dining area and had the intro to the resort, well kinda, we were told we could go to the dorms... but still unsure of where they were!!
We hit the beach after dumping the rucsack, I was chilling (sleeping) and listening to my iPod. Jem screamed and woke me up! A crab ran past her and dived into a hole next to her!! Luckily she woke me up in time for afternoon tea (coffee in my case). They didn't have any milk though so it wasn't too good!
All 7 of us were just chatting, and in some of the nearby Bures (traditional Fijian house) some of the locals lived. We started hearing loads of screaming comign from one of the houses then through the window we could see this woman being pushed abput, even into teh side of the bure! It was so worrying. The guy then locked her in, while she screamed countinuously, and he carried on working. They had a little boy who was grabbed away from it all, he was upset though. Unfortunately domestic voilence is something that happens a lot here and there are no laws against it. It worried us all a bit and gave a bad atmosphere.
Anyway, we tried to make the best of it. I went off for a shower... from a pipe in a hut! Then we had dinner of noodles, veg and meat. Not sure what the meat was, a little tangy for my liking! I didn't really want to ask what it was! After we cracked open the alcohol and started the card games. One of the younger locals, Wise, tought us a game called Spoons, which is such a good game! One of the other locals also came to play, Nani, it turned out to be a really good evening! Oh except for the apparent love of Westlife, they had the Greatest Hits on repeat! My ears were nearly bleeding. Help!
Saturday 3rd March
Was up at 5.15am! Wanted to watch the sunrise. Jem got up too and we went and sat on the beach. It was lovely, except for the big cloud in the way!!! Typical! Anyway we got some pics then headed back to bed for a bit. Then the drums for brekkie went.. time to get up! Today we had pancakes, papaya and coconut. I've never had fresh coconut, it was really nice (I normally hate coconut-despite Malibu being my favourite drink!) After that I just pack my bag and sunbathed but it really was that hot I just couldn't stay out-never sweated so much in my life!! So had a quick shower and went to sit in the shade with Colleen Bill and Wise. They were all amazed and a little worried about the size of my mozzy bites, they were so big and red... and very itchy! Colleen seems to think I am allegic to them as they came up so bad! So she got me some cream and a anti-histimine tablet. They were a little better after that. I played with the little boy for a bit, he was cute, a little snotty for my liking but cute! (hey... can you see an improvement on the kid thing?!?!) Got an ace pic of us and him wearing my sunglasses! So cute!
We got shown how to make a bracelet from weaving banana plant, it was ace! Then we had some lunch, which was veg curry and a piece of pineapple. Not long after was boarding time to out next island. On the speed boat to catch the main boat I was chatting to Wise, it was really interesting as he was telling me about his life, theres only one TV on the island and thats in the village, they have no computers or phones. They contact the boats via radio. I asked his if he ever gets board, as theres not much to do, but he said no, he relaxs and enjoys the simple life. They manage to live off the land so have no real income, but this also means they have limited chance of ever leaving the village or travelling as they have no money to do so. He said he wants to go to Uni to do enginneering on the mainland.
Island Number 3: Naviti
Resort: White Sandy Beach
When arriving at the resort we got a nice welcome-people singing on the beach and playing guitars. As we walked on everyone was shaking our hands and introducing themselves. We all received a fresh coconut, with a straw and flower to drink the milk inside (I wasn't too keen on this!) Jem was feeling very unwell, she forgot her sea sick pill before getting on the boat so not well at all!
In the dining area we had the intro to the resort, then were taken to the dorms. The dorm was very squashed, all with single beds. We put our stuff down and headed straight out to do Coconut Husking (taking coconut from its shell and taking out the middle) we wanted to make bracelets from the coconuts, but they weren't doing that! Boooo!
Afternoon tea time had come round, we saw the 3 lads from Brighton that we had previously met in Nadi Bay. So had a chat with them and soon after I headed for a hammock to chill by the sea.
Time for a quick shower then the drums for dinner went off, what culinary delights were we expecting tonight?!?! Rice, chicken (bones included!) and veg. Getting a bit bored of rice now! After all the staff welcomed the new guests and then performed the White Sandy Beach Bula Dance (the Fijian Macarana!!). And then... we had to learn it and do it!! OMG! Very funny though! Then there was the limbo!! I managed to stay in about a round or two more than Jem, probably because I have a height advantage!
After this there was music on the beach, as the dining area had an indoor and outdoor part on the beach. We got some drinks in and struck up a game of cards... yep Spoons! Kirsty, Georgie and Claire were also there to help show everyone the game. There were about 12 of us playing. I Think the more drinks everyone had the more violent the spoon grabbed got!!
Before I went to bed that night I made a nasty discovery in the loo.... A triancular sized spider! I was black with a yellow strip, and when I shone the torch on it, its eyes were yellow! I froze... and slowly move myself out the loo! YUK!
Sunday 4th March
Think my body clock still knows when its Sunday, when the drums went for brekkie I was still fast asleep and woke up in a daze! Still dazed and with blurred vision I just about managed to put some clothes on and stumble to the dining area. Todays brekkie delights were pancakes, payaya and pineapple.
As it was Sunday there were no activities for the day, except a church service in the morning at the next resort along. It was pouring down when we walked over! Inside there was a laptop with a projection screen for the song words... the most advanced technology we had seen on the island. It was really upbeat with loads of singing. Then the sermon was a little chocking as the preist suddenly started shouting! At the end we all had to go to the front and they were singing again. One woman at the back just started wailing and making the strangest noises! We were a little concerned about it all!
When we got back to the resort it had stoped raining so back to my hammock! Soon after it started again, I managed to sit there for a while with the brolly up, but then the monsoon rain started! So was forced to move to the bar. Thats where we spent the rest of the day and night, just chatting with everyone. We met a great couple called Stew and Alana, they were so nice and very well suited! We also were chatting to an older couple from England called Pat and John. Dinner was really nice, it was a curry buffet! There was a chicken curry and fish curry (which was amazing!) rice, poppadoms, thin pancakes and colslaw. It was so nice. Think the male staff were on heat at this place, a few of them took a liking to me and kept asking me for drinks or if I wanted to go for walks! Kept them at bay though! Portguese skin does it every time!
Monday 5th March
Up early, showered and packed! Brekkie was sweet bread, jam and banana. We booked to go on a village trip, to visit a village on the island. Epi, one of the staff led the trip, it was actually his village, where he is from, that we were going to.
We had to get a speed boat over as it was a fair way from the resort. What a nightmare journey... first we were drenched by the sea coming in, so we put our brollys up for a little protection then it poured (monsooned) with rain!! So gave up with the brolly, we were drenched! We we arrived we were taken to what was like their village hall for a real Kava ceremony (Noooo!!) The guys doing it were in proper tribal wear and chanted various things during the ceremony. We all recieved a necklace of flowers which smelt lovely. Next to the Kava ceremony the women of the village had set up stall of the floor to sell their home made goods which included jewellery, carvings and other traditional bits. I bought a little wooden turtle. So cute, thought it would look great in my house when I get back! Need to send it home though, taking up vital bag space!
We then preceeded to the primary school, where we had to sit in front of all the school children. The headmaster introduced himself and the schoola nd told us some history. The children then sang a few songs for us, some Figian ones and some we recognised such as The Wheels on the Bus!! We got to have a look around the classrooms after, all so basic.
From here we went to the church, passing through the village we could see into the houses. It was unbelievable. The walls and floor were just stone, and so bare. The rooves are made from metal, much of it rusty. It is so hard to come to terms with people actually living in conditions as poor as this. But the people seem happy. I s'pose they know no better, to them this is life. The church was also very basic, just stone and patchy lino for the floor inside.
The journey on the way back wasn't half as wet as on the way. We were all very queit. I was lost in my own thoughts about what I had just seen, and this time it wasn't on TV.
When we got back it was low tide, which meant we had to walk a fair way through the sea before we made it to the beach! Back just in time for lunch, potato salad with a mustard flavouring. Was really nice. After a got changed into some dry clothes and chilled in the dining area waiting for boarding time to the next island. It was pouring with rain again, some of the staff and guests were playing footy in the rain, was funny to watch.
Boarding time, Stew, Alana, John adn Pat were also off to Bounty. On the boat we tried to book the next resort after Bounty Island, South Sea Island, unfortunatly we couldn't book South Sea at all, apparently someone had hred out the entire island (greedy! Not impressed!) so we had to swap Bounty to our last destination and decided to go Kuata that night.
Island Number 4: Kuata
Resort: Kuata
On arrival we got a welcome song and the resort intro. The dorms were much more spacious, although they were a little damp and damp smelling! Great! By the time we arrived there was enough time for a shower then dinner. Todays cuisine is... chicken and rice. I'm gonna turn into a grain of rice soon! It was nice though!
The resort team were doing some entertainment... yep the Bula dance-and guess what... we had to learn and perform it too! It was funny, we all looked as stupid as each other! Then they did anothe rgame where male and female had to pair up and walk around in a circle (wiggling to the music too) when the musioc stopped the guys had to run and get a differnet partner, whoever was left without a partner had to stand in the middle with a broom! Bit odd! Then we did musical statues! Not done that for quite a few years!!
The rest of the night we spent with dorm mates Emily and Fraya (we already knew Fraya from Sunrise). We went out on the verander where the Fijian residence were chilling and playing the guitars. It was a nice night.
Tuesday 6th March
Up by 7.30am for brekkie which was pineapple, watermelon and a manky piece of toast. It was not nice! We packed our bags up and hit the beach. It was such a hot day, could not stop sweating! Jem went to sunbath and I went for a walk along the beach. It was so pretty and came to a dead end where it was just rock. Nice to have a bit of time taking in the beauty of this island.
Walked back down to join Jem sunbathing. She went in the sea and was playing with a couple of local children. A little girl called Josh who was 3 and a little boy who was 4. They were so confident in the water and had no one watching over them! Josh kept picking the white jellyfish up! They don't sting. I picked one up-it was so slimey and soft! YUK!! Jem carried on playing while I had a sunbathe... well need to keep on top of the tan! he he!
Lunch today was a burger with different vegetables in it as well as colslaw and watermelon-really nice!! Wasn't really Jems taste though, she was disappointed with this meal!
After I had an afternoon kip in the hammock... lovely! Woke up just in time for coffee, with Emily, before boarding time. I caught the sun loads today, the sun here is extremely strong. Jems shoulders are badly peeling now, the skin underneath is a completely different colour! Ohhh dear!
Boarding time! For entertainment Jem counted all my mozzy bites on the boat.. I have over 200!!! Thats so bad! We averaged it out to 50 per limb! Most of them are getting better now, more like little pimples than red blotches!!
Loving the music on the boat... oh yes a bit of Lional! First off was My Destiny which is a very special song (xXxXxXx) Then the rest of the greatest hits... little bit of Easy etc... made me sit back and think of my guys and girls (you know who you are-Bulgaria!)
Island Number 5: Bounty Island
Resort: Bounty Island
As we arrived at Bounty the staff and some guests were singing on the beach! The boat we were picked up from teh main boat on was much more advanced. It had a glass bottom to look at the coral below. Our bags were on top of the roof (slightly worrying!!) We sat in the restaurant to have the intro to the island and allocated our beds. Our bags were still bobbing around on the boat! we were hoping they were gonna get them off sometime soon!! Eventually a tractor (yes tractor-the onoly set of wheels we'd seen for a week!) leaned over the sea and the bags were trasferred. I couldn't watch in fear my bag was going to drop into the sea! It looked like they were!
As we were going to our dorms we saw Hayley and Josh from Hawaii! So exciting! Quite a lot of people we had met were here, Stew and Alana, Bolleen and Bill, Lads from Brighton, Emily, Freya and a fair few others. It was so nice seeing everyone and like a little community!
This island is so much more built up than any others. This is the one where Celebrity Love Island was filmed, so we thinking they must have made a lot of money from that. The dorms were proper buildings and not thatched roofs! The facilities were all fully equiped too.
We were in a small dorm with a couple from England, one was a fashion designer and one a graphic designer, so we all had something in common. We got showered and went for dinner, no drums or bells to let us know its ready!
Dinner was amazing... proper food! They had a massive buffet with real salad, swordfish, veg mix and roast potatoes! Yummy! Then cake and fruit for dessert! I stuffed myself!
Colleen gave us a mozzy net for the room, as this was the only island that didn't provide them! We had a look around her Bure which was nice. Even had a mini fridge! They had a front garden type thing that led onto the beach and had their own hammock. When I have more money I'll be staying there!
So the 4 of us in the dorm had great fun putting up the mozzy net.. oh what a mission! After we headed to the bar. It was really busy. Happy Hour meant half price cocktails, I had 2 really nice ones... can't remember the names! We all sat around the pool, it was a lovely last night on the islands. Jem kept nodding off... she didn't have sunglasses to hide the fact this time!! So she went to bed a little earlier. I stayed up and chatted. Before we went to bed Alana was dying to show me the baby turtles the resort was looking after! They were in a pond behind the restaurant and soooooooooooooooooooo cute! Most were asleep, just floating on the water! We watched them for ages, and eventually headed for bed!
Wednesday 7th March
I got up at 5.15am to watch the sunrise on the beach. Was really disappointed though because it was too cloudy to really see anything. So headed back to head for an hour then got up for brekkie... they had CEREAL!! WOOO! very happy! :o) So I had muslie and OJ. yummy!
We had lots to do today, so after packing our bags up, we went Kayaking. We Kayaked all around the island, only took us about 20 mins. Was good fun. Went past the "Love Shack" of the Celeb Love Island set, left to decay!
After that we went snorkelling with Alana and Stew. I didn't find Nemo. But there were plenty of other stunning fish. I really liked a multi-coloured one. Jem saw a Ray, but I missed it!! Saw some blue starfish though!
After that we chilled by the pool and went for a swim, it was an extremely hot day. Lunch was another yummy buffet of salad, spag bol, tuna and some other bits. After lunch we tried to hire a sail boat but couldn't because the tied was too low. So just continued to chill by the pool. Hard life eh?!!
I fell fast asleep and woke up with a start... everyone was gone! Yep it was afternoon tea time! When I went over (a bit dazed) Jem (bless her) had my coffee all ready and a cookie too. (cookie was like rock though!) After Jem just wanted to chill and do postcards etc so I went on a walk with Stew and Alana around the island. We went to the Celeb Love Island set, the jacuzzi and everything was still intact, although left to ruin. It was such a shame. We had a wonder around, and could see behind the scenes where all the cameras would have been. Its sad they left it in such a state, it could've been made into something else. Wish I'd watched Love Island now to be able to compare it! For those that did watch it look at the pix and see if you recognise anything.
As soon as we got back it was boarding time. Hayley and Josh were on a sailing day so we didn't get to say goodbye to them, but said goodbye to everyone else. Colleen, Bill, Stew and Alana were also heading back to the main land so we all went on the boat. Again the crazy tractor took our bags to the boat... i couldn't watch!
On the main boat we saw a fair few other people we had met throughout the island trip. When we got back to port it was a bit of a shock having to carry my own bag again! By the time we got our bags we'd got separated from the others and didn't get to say our goodbyes. But we hope top see some people in NZ and meet up with Collen and Bill where they live in Sydney.
Back off to Nadi Bay Hotel we head, with amazing memories and really stinky bags! Washing is a priority! Everything smells because of the humidity and I was in desperate need of a shower.
I think this was the most amazing experience for me. I have realised just how luckily I am and what I greedy society we live in. The kids I saw have nothing, they get what they are given, which is hardly anything, and want for nothing-but most of all appeared so happy!! I didn't see one child throw a tantrum, because they know they won't get the attention. Kids in Britain are greedy, competitive and spoilt (from what I can see). They want to have the best brands... the coolest Nike trainers and the newest Playstions, and most of the them they get them, as without these they are classed as the odd ones out amongst their friends. Imagine not having the oppotunity for any of this. Its really sad, as there will probably be no change in this lifestyle. We are so lucky we live in such a hi-tech world, but money isn't everything and material things don't always bring happiness.
I have learned so much, and I am so happy to have experienced what I have seen on these islands. I really hope to come back one day, I have an amazing time and am truely gutted to leave.
I think my favourite island was Naviti (White Sandy Beach), I think because we stayed there two nights I settled in more. But I liked each island for different reasons.
Thanks for reading, sorry its so long. If you ever get the chance, visit the islands. Its amazing. x
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