Wednesday 20 September
Up at 5am after a shit night sleep - Chris had forgotten to close the windows so we could hear the birds all night!

We got to the airport and there was hardly anyone around.  We found the queue for our check in just before 35 school kids did!!  Phew - that was close - might have been something to do with Chris quickly walking (not pushing) past them to get in the queue first!  We then had some muppet in front of us who was taking ages to check in.  After some grumbling (mainly from Anne) we found out that the whole check in system had gone down and they had to check everyone in by hand.  Licky we were at the front of the queue.

After checking in we went through to duty free.  The first thing we noticed is how better it is than LA's.  The second thing is how many staff there are in the shops.  Chris literally ran out of one shop as the shop assistant followed him everywhere and everytime he turned around the assistant casually pretended they were adjusting the stock on the shelf - creepy.

The flight was pretty full but it was only 3 hours so not a problem.

When we got to New Zealand we went to Base Backpackers where we had a room booked.  We then spent the rest of the afternoon bimbling about Auckland and ended up on the Wharf where we had a couple of drinks.  We went back to the hostel, had a shower and then went back out again.  Anne managed to break the shower door - ooops.

We then got drunk.

 

Tuesday 19 September
After breakfast we packed and then spent our remaining couple of hours just hanging arouns waiting for the Yasawa flyer to pick us up to take up back to the main land.

On the way back we were in the Captain's Lounge - the sheltered air conditioned part of the boat that we took the piss out of when we were on the Flyer going out to Nanuya 10 days ago.  What we did not realise was that the drinks were free in the Captain's Lounge.  Chris set about trying to make sure that he drank enough to make up for the increase in the costs of the Lounge!

The weather on the way back was a bit shitty.  It was really overcast and raining slighty when we set off.

By the time we reached Nadi it was absolutely bucketing it down - the worst rain they had had in a while - apparently!!  well, we got absolutely soaked running down the gangplank and into the coach area to wait for our bags.  For those of you who can remember back to Las Vegas, yes I also thought that Anne would go flying in the rain.  Fortunately (or not as the case may be) there are no stories to tell of Anne gently tiptoeing her way down the gangplank to ensure that she got absolutely drenched but at least she did not fall over.

After waiting for our bags in the chaos that is Port Denerau we ended up back at Nadi Bay Backpackers where our adventure (or holiday) in Fiji started.  A few drinks and some food and we were in bed for our early start in the morning to the airport.

 

Monday 18 September
This was our last full day in Navutu - we are a bit sad.

Chris wenr diving in the morning and Anne came over to Nanuya for the last time and spent the morning on the beach.  We had lunch (fish and chips - lovely) and then said good bye to Terry.  Even though we were not staying there for the last 5 days she always made us feel welcome whenever we went back.  We will be sad to say goodbye to Nanuya.

We went back to Navutu in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day relaxing.

 

Sunday 17 September
Another relaxing day with a bit of diving and sunbathing.

In the evening we got a bit drunk and had "lovo".  Lovo is a traditional way of cooking Fijian food underground.  The food is wrapped in baskets made from coconut tree leaves and put under the ground where it cooks for about 3 hours - lovely.  After more drinks we went back to Annie and Shanes Bure where earlier Annie had managed to break her bathroom door (a saloon style door straight from a Western movie).  Drunk as we were Shane and I set about putting the thing back together.  Shane had said earleir "Ask Chris and Anne for a hammer and some glue - they're travellers, they will have some."!!!  Despite the lack of glue and hammers we managed to put the door back together with brute force and some more Baileys.

 

Saturday 16 September
No diving today so Chris and Anne spent a relaxing day doing a bit of sunbathing.  We went out on some kayaks in the afternoon.  It was quite windy and Anne was getting blown about a bit.  When we had managed to row to the end of the beach Anne decided that she was not going to row back but drag her kayak back!!  We did row back.

 

Friday 15 September
It was still a bit cloudy today.

Chris went diving (had to go back to Nanuya as this is where the dive shop is located).  Chris spent the day over at Nanuya arriving back at Navutu about 4.30ish.

Anne spent the day at Navutu doing a spot of sunbathing (when the sun decided to show!) and spending time with Annie and Shane (a lovely couple from New Zealand that we met last night).

 

Thursday 14 September
We woke up to the sound of someone watering the plants.  No, it was just the rain.  RAIN!?!  Not what we were expecting but we thought "we're travellers, we can handle it"  Secretly Anne was upset that she could not improve her tan and Chris was just a little pissed off.

Never mind, we were moving resort today to Navutu Stars.

Due to the rain we had to wait a bit for the boat from Navutu to arrive.  When it did we were off - across the waters speeding like a fish (?) to our new resort.  Anne said she felt like a celebrity leaving love island(?) - until the boat concked out in the middle of the sea!!  Now Anne felt like a stranded tourist in a small boat with no way of getting help.  We eventually got to Navutu and were greeted with the sight of all the other arrivals waiting for us on the beach as we were late and the locals singing to us.  More than a little embarassed we got off the boat, looked at the sand and pretended that everything was normal.

We checked in and the rooms were lovely.  We were told "food is at 6.30pm".  Oh, OK, we will be there.  A little bit surprised by this we turned up at 6.00 to have a drink at the bar and by 6.30 everyone else was sat down eating - apart from us still at the bar.  We quickly sat down with the others so that we were not different!  This would change!!

Special Note
As we were leaving Nanuya Island Resort we thought back to the 5 nights that we have stayed there.  The resort was extremely peaceful and relaxing.  The beach was perfect and the staff were so friendly that you enjoyed talking to them as often as you could.  Max and Terry were the perfect hosts and we would recommend this resort to anyone who was visiting Fiji.  A big thank you to everyone at Nanuya.

 

Wednesday 13 September
Anne sunbathed and Chris dived.  We ate.  Day over.

 

Tuesday 12 September
This morning we decided to do something cultural and we went on a village trip.  This trip takes you to a traditional Fijian village and allows you to look around and see how the Fijians live.

We went to the island across from ours to a village where we met George.  George lives in the village (and also works at the Nanuya resort), greeted us from the boat and took us to see the village Chief to ask permission for us to look around the village.

We had to say "dua dua dua" as we approached the door as this is more polite than knocking.  Anne had to come in after the men which is only right!!  Anne did not seem to think so.  We presented the Chief with a cava root as a token and he allowed us look around the village.

At the end of the trip we were waiting for the boat to take us back to Nanuya.  Anne decided to make friends with a local boy who started kicking around a piece of polystyrene.  Anne joined in and immediately got a huge thorn stuck in her toe!!  Only anne.

Back to Nanauya for the rest of the afternoon.

In the evening we went line fishing with Niko (who was the resident diving instructor who also did fishing trips and lived on the neighbouring island Tavewa).  We had been talking to a couple from Colorado (Joe and Megan) who had been out the previous 2 nights with Niko.  They had caught lots of fish and even brought one back to the resort for the chef to cook for them.  Lots of fun so we decided to give it a shot.

We went out about 5.30ish just as the sun was setting and settled into the fishing.  By 7pm it was time to head back and by this time it was completely dark.  It was great and extremely peaceful 0- sitiing in a boat watching the sun set and looking at all the stars in a completely clear sky.  After all this we managed to catch NO fish!!  Chris had a couple of nibbles (!) and when he drew his line in there was no bait at all on his line - the little buggers had eaten the bait.  Anne had no nibbles and she was very upset.

What a busy day!!  Exhausted (or perhaps just a bit tired) we had dinner and then another early night.

There is not much to do after it goes dark so lots of sleep and early mornings are always on the cards.

 

Monday 11 September
Another day in paradise with Anne sunbathing and Chris diving.

We even managed to have dinner together this evening!

 

Sunday 10 September
After breakfast Chris went to do the first of his dives.  It was good that the dive shop was literally a short walk along the beach so not far to go.  It was also good that the majority of the dive sites were within a 10-15 minute boat trip from the island so he had more time to spend with Anne.  Not sure if Anne thought this was a good idea or not!!

Anne spent the day in the sun but in the afternoon did not feel to well and went up to the Bure.  Chris was doing another dive.  Anne was still not feeling well in the evening and did not have the evening meal.  Chris looked like a pillock having a meal on his own and Anne decided that "the sun does not like me anymore".

What a start to paradise!

 

Saturday 9 September
Another early start today but this time it did not matter - we were going to paradise (hopefully!).

We got a bus down to the quay side where we were getting the boat to Nanuya Island - could not miss it - bright bloddy yellow monster surrounded by other more majestic white yachts.  Hey ho - it would do!

After a 4 and a half hour trip we arrived at Nanuya.  The trip went quite quickly as we bumped into Lee and Lisa who were moving islands so we sailed in the sunshine with them.  It was a beautiful trip as we sailed through out the Mamanuca Islands and the Yasawas to get to our resort - gorgeous blue/green water dotted with small white sanded islands covered in coconut trees.

When we got to the island there were a number of small boats milling around in the sea.  These boats in turn came up to the main boat to pick up or drop off people and supplies.  It was a cool sight to see.

We checked in to Nanuya and were shown to our Bure (Bure 7).  It was set in the hill side with a balcony overlooking the small lagoon and ocean - perfect.  It was not big but very comfortable with an ouside (almost) bathroom which was cool.

Settled into Nanuya, having met Max and Terry who owned the resort, and felt immediately relaxed.

Friday 8 September
The alarm went off at 6am and it was just like waking up to go to work - frightening.

I wandered around the room still pissed and Anne just lay in bed groaning about having to get up.  We caught the bus and started our 4 and a half hour bus journey over to Suva which is the capital city.  There was not much to see in Suva and after 3 hours of walking around in the heat we got the bus back for another 4 and a half hours to Nadi.

In bed by 8.30 knackered but tomorrow we go off to the islands.


Thursday  7  September
Where  did  Wednesday go - spooky.  Never mind, we are in Fiji!!!

We got to our hostel at about 6am knackered but determind to stay up for the day so that we did not get too out of synch with the time differences.  The hostel room was basic but comfortable but the facilities were great - 2 pools, lots of bars, games room, cinema, little terrace places to eat - just what we wanted.

We did not do much during the day apart from a bit of sunbathing and reading and then in the evening we went to the main bar for a few drinks and something to eat.  We met some great people who we spent most of the evening with, in particular Lee and Lisa.  Little bit(!!) pissed by the time we got to bed after midnight.

Stupidly we had booked ourselves onto a tour for tomorrow that meant we had to get up at 6am.  Anne passed out as soon as she got into bed and I was not far behind.