Bula,
The day of our flight started out really well because we got all of our insurance deposit back for the campervan ( therefore the lady checking it luckily didn't see the cracks in the windscreen + we did manage to drive away from a campsire with the electricity cable still in, stupid I know!!) Thankfully she missed that too!!
However, our day soon went downhill when we got to the departure screen to find out there was not a flight to Auckland at 9:50am! We were a little suspcious before arriving at the airport because we were flying with Jetstar New Zealands equivalent to Easy Jet and Ryan Air!! A little worried we asked at the desk + they said the flight was leaving at 10:30am. Bearing in mind we had to change planes in Auckland to get to Fiji! Therefore it turned out we would have only 30 mins to get off the aeroplane, collect our luggage and travel the 15 mins to the international terminal! After a panic phonecall to Hannah we'd come up with a plan that I would run off the plane to the other terminal + hold check in whilst nic collected the bags!
We were reassured by the Jetstar staff that the flight was on time and we would be boarding at 10am. When it reached 10:20am and we still hadn't boarded, Jetstar were definately living up to their reputation! We took off 10mins late which doesn't seem like a lot but in our time scale it was huge!! We asked several dumb stewardesses what time we would be arriving, all of which didn't get back to us but turned out we were 5 mins late! So as soon as we landed I rushed off the plane! I ran as fast as I could but being unfit this resulted in some brisk walking at times! Amazingly I reached the check in and the woman happily asked me the necessary questions but Nic still hadn't arrived! Eventually he made it just as check in closed, then it was a sprint for the gate ( it really felt like something off a film!) We made it on the plane and were particularly impressed with the stereotypical Air Pacific polynesian music and outfits the stewardessess were wearing! We were then definately in the holiday mood!
We had the heat hit us as we stepped out of the plane which put a smile on our faces and before we knew it we were at the hostel and booked our island hopping adventure for the next day!
We got on the boat at 8:30am and headed north for 5 hours to our first resort (if you could call it that!) We arrived to a Fijian welcome song + sat down to eat our first lunch which consisted of mushy rice! We then were showed to our dorm which had about 30 other people in it! And the outdoor shack which was the cold showers and toilets! We were however 5 hours from civilisation so I was impressed they had electricity!!
That afternoon Nic spotted some guys playing rugby so jumped at the chance to throw a ball around! He was even happier to find out later that day there was touch rugby against the Fijians! I even joined in the volleyball but soon stopeed when I felt my height restricted me + they were definately talking and laughing about me in Fijian about my volleyball skills!
The next couple of days consisted of the same get up eat, sunbathe, eat and sleep! One resort we were able to walk to the other side of the island through the bush! On the way were saw lizards, insects and even came across a pig penned up! We finally made it to the blue lagoon the set for the film "blue lagoon" which starred Brooke Shields! (We'd never seen the film but it was Fijians claim to fame!) But it was like paradise, white sandy beach and crystal clear waters and the best thing was we were the only ones on it!!
That night the resort only had 7 people on it which compared to the 60 in the one before it was very small. We did however take part in a Crab Race whereby they collected a number of hermit crabs and numbered the backs of them and set up a ring. There were 3 rounds + the top 3 in each round went through to the next. The aim was for the crab to get outside the sand ring. When it came down to the first round niether Nic's nor mine barely moved whilst everyone elses raced for the edge! So that was the end of that game for us!!
One day we had the opportunity to go swimming with Manta Rays ( a friendlier version of a stingray!) So we jumped at the chance!
We got our snorkling gear + got out on the boat! Within seconds of being in the area they were the guy spotted one and shouted to everyone "get in". So literally it was a case of jumping in and swimming after it! It was one of the biggest things I've ever seen + at one point we were following one and we were probably about one metre away from it! It was incredible! I did however always had the thought of Steve Irwin at the back of my mind but luckily they didn't have a long stinger and we were informed they were harmless! One of the guides even dived down and touched it on it's back!! It was however extremely difficult to keep up with the Manta Rays but there was 1000's of fish to look at too!!
That evening we were entertained by some Fiji dancing which included fire dancing! We were even made at one point to get up and dance too which meant Nic was able to show off his lack of rhythm!
After 6 different islands and resorts we headed to our last resort Beachcommber for Nic's birthday which is known as the party island. We had bought a bottle of gin before leaving the main island to save on the pennies! We met a lot of people and played lots of drinking games but sadly they found out it was Nic's birthday and it turned out he was drinking a lot more than the rest of us and sadly couldn't handle it so was in bed at 11pm passed out!! I however had a great night and even ended up in the sea at 1am!! But I soon got out when I found out that the reef sharks came really close to the shore as they were attracted to the light!
The next day, very hungover, we headed back to the mainland ready to catch our flight to Oz the next day! So after 14 days of sun, a lot of mosquito bites, we were sad to be leaving Fiji but are looking forward to our next adventure in Australia, where nic is hoping to watch a lot of the Ashes!!
Hope all is well at home!
Lots of love
Jen and Nic
xxxxxxx
