Ah Fiji. Sun, sea and sand, just what I need on my way back home – bit of a tan just so everyone does actually know that I’ve been in Australia for a year, my sun kissed skin had significantly faded these past few weeks in Sydney, Fiji had to be done really, rude not to while I was in that part of the world. I am SO glad I decided to do it!
I flew into the mainland but first thing the next day started my Yasawa Island hopping package “the Beach Bum tour” with Awesome Adventures. I would spend 5 days on two islands. Woohoo. The first stop was Beachcomber Island which is known as the party island, good start. Welcomed by the shout of “BULA!” the Fijian greeting (which simply must be reciprocated with as much gusto) and Hawaiian t-shirt wearing, banjo playing Fijian’s it wasn’t hard to see that I had made the right choice! Crystal blue water, white sand and a temp of around 30 degrees, I’ll take that. The accommodation was a dorm of bunk beds that slept 90 people! Sounds gross I know but it really wasn’t bad at all actually, I’ve stayed in A LOT worse, and because a few beds were spare it wasn’t too crowded or anything. My days were spent lounging on the beach, hanging out with a group of girls and a couple of guys that I had met over a friendly game of volleyball. Evenings is what Beachcomber is all about really. After an amazing buffet each night (all meals are included in the package) we moved onto the bar for the ‘Bula dance’ and a whole lot of fun.
After two days on Beachcomber I moved onto Manta Ray Island which was two hours north on the ferry, bid farewell to the girls but the boys I had met had the same itinerary as me so hung out with them for the rest of the week. Manta Ray was another gem. The beach bar was surrounded by massive hammocks and the dorm in the midst of the forest. The restaurant and main bar was situated on the hill so the meals were had whilst overlooking an amazing view. The food was amazing again (although we did hear a couple of horror stories of other Island food!), a massive buffet of salads and fresh fruit (for me the vegetarian! For meat lovers there is plenty as well!). One morning I opted to go on a trip to one of the local villages, Soso. A quick boat trip away, four of us were greeted by Va who showed us round her village. We met the children at the school, were sung to by the kindergarten, met the chief, bought some local crafts and basically just wondered around learning about their village which was really awesome, I loved it. And everyone was so friendly, I swear Fijian people and the nicest people I’ve ever come across, there is always a big “BULA” waiting for you where ever you go and so many smiles! For one of the evenings some of the people from Soso village came over to perform traditional dances for the people staying at Manta Ray which was really good fun! Everyone got up and had a boogie at the end, and the night was finished off with some Cava (a traditional ritual of drinking a root tree drink) followed by drinks on the beach.
Before I knew it, as is usually the way, it was time say goodbye and head back to the mainland for an early flight the next day back to Auckland followed by an evening flight to London, Heathrow (literally longest day of my life!). I was finally on my way home; it was ok now though because I had a tan and A LOT of freckles.
