Well the internet in Fiji is just about as bad as Raro, so I will try to cram as much info into this post as possible.
Well so much has happened since the last update which was at the beginning of Rarotonga. We are both now fully PADI qualified which was one of the best things that we have both ever done. Jade was a bit worried to start with, but soon overcame her fears and loved every minute of it. It's such a great feeling being 20m under the sea swimming with all the fishes and sea creatures!!! We both can definitely recommend doing it for anyone that hasn't done it before, although I would wait until you are somewhere hot first, as I'm sure the North Sea/Atlantic (depending who's reading this) doesnt have the same appeal!! :o)
We both breezed the exam as well - Jade got 98% and I got 100% (what swots!).
We are both missing Raro as we had it rather cushty while we were there. We were staying with Jades grandad and partner in their house which was great, they lent us their car for the entire 2.5 weeks we were there, and we also got 3 nights accommodation in a very very plush beach front apartment (thanks Betsy!!) that literally opened out onto the beach. I'll put up some pictures soon as we are off to New Zealand in about 45 mins.
We also made some good friends out there who we will hopefuly be meeting up with later on our travels.
Now some home truths about the apparent paradise island of Fiji. Nadi is a BIG no no!!!! If any of you guys happen to be travelling through this neck of the woods, avoid this place like the plague!!! It's a dump! It's like being in downtown Calcutta! The only good thing about our time in Nadi is the accommodation was dead cheap, so we saved quite a bit of cash. We have been paying 3 quid a night staying in the Horizon Beach Resort, which for the money is damn good value, and that even includes a pick up from the airport and breakfast! The place has a nice atmosphere and the people that work here are really friendly and helpful. We've also met some really nice people here too.
The beach at Nadi is a joke - literally. It's dirty, has horrible dark sand and no one goes there unless it is to get p*ssed at night around a bonfire. The sea is the hottest sea I've ever been in though, it was like walking into bath water. Quite strange!!!
The good thing about Nadi though is that it is a great base to get to some of the really good islands. We only managed to get to Robinson Crusoe island while we were here because we didnt plan our time very well (surprise surprise), but am quite happy to be leaving this afternoon.
Robinson Crusoe island was amazing and we had such a good time there. Everyone is really chilled out and the "islanders" are really friendly, helpful and a real good laugh. The island is great for relaxing with it's beach front hammocks, pool and massage beds. There is only one resort on the island so it never gets overcrowded and you get to know everyone really well.
There are loads of free activities to do as well, such as snorkelling trips out to sea, volleyball competitions, fishing trips, island games etc etc. The whole place is just really cool. All meals are included in the price as well, so no cooking is needed! :o)
The showers are really funny as well, you have to use a series of buckets to fill up your shower which is just a bucket on a rope which you hoist up above your head (or not if you are over 5" tall) and then turn the tap on the bottom of the bucket and voila, you have a shower!
The weather has been boiling here and in Raro. Our last day in Raro was 38 degrees and it has easily been that here too, if not higher!
Oh yeah one more thing about Fiji is "Feejee Time" which basically means that there is no schedule for anything. It's a running joke with locals and tourists in the fact that if something is running late, it's running on FeeJee time. They also have 1st last call at the bar, then 2nd last call, 3rd last call and then final last call and final final last call, which is great for getting a few more drinks in before the bar closes! :o) I think that is also FeeJee time!
One funny tradition we have encoutered over here is "Kava Time" which is this ceremony type thing they do where they basically all sit around a big wooden bowl and drink muddy water in empty coconut shells. It's supposed to be some dried root from some plant, but it tastes like dirty water. It numbs your body as you drink it, so the more you drink the more numb you get. It's supposed to relax you. Quite a weird sensation and everybody is Kava mad over here, or Kavaholics as they like to call it. We are now officially Kavaholics! :o)
Anyway, internet is about to run out and we've got a plane to catch to NZ, so we'll say bye for now.
Hope you are all well.
K&J
xxxxxx
