Sections
INTRO
- Being Funemployed
SIGATOKA
- Turtley Amazing – Scuba Diving Qualification
- In Deep With The Sharks - Snorkelling
SUVA
- Four Seasons in Four Minutes – Colo-i-Suva Rainforest
- Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls - Talanoa Treks
NADI
- Marinated Chicken Drumsticks – Lautoka Visit
- Spa Day With The Sleeping Giant – Garden of Sleeping Giant and Mudpools
YASAWA ISLANDS
- Stranded On Castaway – Bounty Island
- The Best Till Last – Naqalia Island
OVERVIEW
- Bula To Fijitime
INTRO
Being Funemployed
On the 1st of August 2017, Natasha and I quit our jobs and began travelling the world, carrying only our backpacks, passports and one-way tickets off the Isle of Man. A hopeful "see you soon" to our backpacks would be our first unfamiliar travel experience, knowing that the 12 kilos inside of it was everything we had for the foreseeable future.
Thankfully our bags showed up in London, which is where our journey would begin. A much-anticipated 12-hour flight all the way to Hong Kong was next on the agenda, where we wouldn't just be greeted by the dramatic tropical landscapes, but also the very early hours of the morning. We were still on England night time, but it was Hong Kong morning that awaited us at the airport.
The trans-Pacific Jet Lag did not bother us one bit; however, as being in the busy Hong Kong Airport was an adventure all on its own! Walking through the airport was like being part of an unseen current, with each person flowing like water to their destinations. Small groups would sometimes stop and cause a blockage, but the others would flow around the outside and continue on their way. The travellators were the most popular channel, acting as the rapids of the airport, making everyone's journey that little bit quicker. I was hoping for the odd waterfall or whirlpool scenario to add to the morning's entertainment. Maybe I'm just easily amused, but it's the small things like these that occupy me best. Even more so while we waited the 5 hours for our connecting flight to Fiji.
After leaving the Isle of Man on Tuesday night, travelling over 11 time zones for a total flight time of just under 24 hours, we had finally arrived in Fiji on Friday morning. Feeling the intense Fiji heat as the Airplane doors opened. I remember thinking that nothing could be more reminiscent of the opening of an oven on baking day, like a wave of heat that makes you check whether your eyebrows are still attached.
The best feeling of all, however, was the feeling of reward and accomplishment. All our hard work in researching, planning, preparing, working, compromising, persevering, believing and most of all, saving now all seemed worth it. This was our moment to relax and to be proud of what we have both already achieved just making it here! The icing on the baked cake was the welcome party: A Fijian Band with their Ukuleles singing us into Passport Control.
Overall, the arrival in Fiji was the welcome touch of warmth we needed, and a promise for the rest of the holiday to come.
Here is a compilation of my favourite memories from Fiji;
SIGATOKA
Turtely Amazing - Scuba Diving Qualification
As you may have read in my Gran Canaria section, Scuba Diving is something I have always been very passionate about. Now we were 'conveniently' on the best side of the world for it too! But, first, we needed the full qualification …
We had initially planned on completing our Open Water PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Course on the Isle of Man, but couldn't resist the temptation of the Coral Coast in Sigatoka; home to the best Sea Life Fiji has to offer! We had only swum to 12 metres previously, so here we would learn to dive to 18 metres, also going deeper into the theory of diving.
The course itself was exciting, but the actual diving was always going to be the real star of the show. Pre-dive checks with my buddy complete, sitting on the side of the boat, one big deep breath, tumbling backwards and disappearing into the water.
Here I was again, able to move in any direction with the ability to just float for as long as I want. Swimming down towards the bottom and approaching our first Coral Garden teeming with fish, my air bubbles make there way to the surface with every exhale; seemingly the only things down here in a hurry to leave. The wildlife was bold yet cautious of figuring out their new visitor, daring to get closer to have a look at the alien creature disturbing their peace. There was one in particular who I caught sticking his head out of his home: a fully grown sea turtle. He was a bit unsure at first but then felt confident knowing we meant no harm, comfortable enough, in the end, to join us. I remember the Instructor being on my left and the turtle of my right, united in a straight line throughout the dive. The only time we would break formation is when we would take turns in exploring the crevasses of the Coral Coast, the turtle was always included, seemingly curious to what all the fuss was about!
Our confidence would grow with each dive we went on. All the theory we have spent so much effort in learning was now becoming second nature. This was the perfect refresher to help us on any dives we go on in the future. Better yet, we are now both proud to say that we're PADI Qualified Open Water Divers to a depth of 18 Metres!
In Deep With The Sharks – Snorkelling Trip
Snorkelling; another hobby I love doing on holiday. I like to think of it as the lazy version of Scuba Diving. To me, it means that I can drift on the surface with the same effort as sitting on the couch back home, the view in Fiji, however, would be better than the latest Full HD LED Television. As here we would be treated to the company of adult White Tipped Reef Sharks, in a close-up and personal experience.
The snorkelling trip started as normal, approaching the shore from the sun-warmed sand. Then after just one step I'm knee-deep, the waves that move with force but die within a few feet now flowing around my limbs, drinking away my body heat. I would stand here all day if I weren't so excited about what was to come.
I will never forget seeing a shark for the first time, moving with intent along the sea bed - I was happy to follow him, knowing that I was at least 10 metres away! We were assured that these sharks were vegetarian, but I was more than happy taking precautions while I at least got used to them. It turns out the shark was swimming towards a fish feeding excursion, where it wasn't shy in taking more than his fair share. I remember him swimming right for the school of fish, as he neared the scared fish swam away, the smart fish stayed a bit longer to get a bigger share, but there was one greedy fish in particular; so eager to have lunch that he ended up being lunch himself. It may have been lunchtime, but I can't say that this fed me with any confidence.
It wasn't just one shark we were treated to that afternoon. One became two; two became three up until there were six fully grown reef sharks swimming beneath our feet. Such a surreal experience made even more surreal when one wanted to come up and say 'Hello'. My returned 'Hello' was delayed a few moments. Everything was happening so quickly I wanted to take a moment to think about what I was going to do next. Eventually, I built up the confidence to extend my arm towards the shark and then felt this urge to stroke him.
Such a smooth stroke from right to left; left to right, however, was a rough fur-like texture. It felt like stroking the dogs back home (once I was comfortable I wasn't going to get eaten, of course!). Everything I did here was on adrenaline-fuelled impulse, which made the whole experience very easy going and almost comforting in a way. Comfortable to the point where I opted for a close-up and personal experience with the predators of the sea. The shiver of sharks were happier swimming along the sea bed, so I wanted to see what all the hype was about.
An incredible snorkel I will never forget. On the way back to the island I was pinching myself, I had to keep checking I was actually awake. The adrenaline running through me was absolute proof, the most thrilling experience of our travels so far.
SUVA
Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls - Talanoa Treks
After our first week only getting a taste of what Fiji has to offer, it was time to delve deep into Eastern Culture; one of the main reasons we are travelling. This was the Fijian version, and what better way to experience it by visiting one of the most remote villages Fiji has to offer?
Driving towards our destination, we quickly realised that this wasn't the type of village I have spent 24 years growing up in. Instead, this was right in the middle of Fiji, hours away from civilisation with no other cars in sight. I remember us driving past the 'nearest' hospital and thinking "it can't be that far away now", but this would be the first culture shock of the afternoon, as it took us over an hour from this point to drive there!
During our 3 hour journey, we were briefed on how we would be welcomed to the village. We learned that it is Fijian tradition to present a gift to the Chief of the Village; the gift usually being Kava. Kava is the root of a specific plant, which is ground down and mixed into a liquid substance; the effects of drinking Kava are very similar to Marijuana. This was one of our most authentic Fiji experiences, as it was a lot more than putting you in a completely relaxed state. What I loved most was the fact that you are literally drinking in Fijian Culture; a tradition that goes back centuries, encouraging togetherness and Talanoa (storytelling).
So after we were welcomed into the village, we were allowed to explore the area and visit their sacred waterfall. We had done something very similar in Sigatoka which we both loved, so we weren't sure how much different this would be. As soon as we made it up the first hill, we could already see the waterfall lying silently in the distance. I remember continuing closer and being bemused that we couldn't hear a drop of water still, instead here we began to understand the difficulty of our quest, and just how big the waterfall actually was! This didn't put us off one bit; we had a trek on our hands. We couldn't wait to see what the waterfall had to offer!
From a distance, the waterfall was silent. As we drew closer, the white stream cascading over the rocky summit started to fall out of sight, swallowed up by the dense Fijian vegetation that surrounded us. The noise, however, was now steadily increasing up until the point where we could barely hear each other speak, surely we had to be close now? We made our way around the last bend and had in full view a waterfall any mountain would be proud of. A stone's throw away was the curtain of white water, seemingly being poured from a giant bucket that never emptied through the many rocky openings in the stone wall towering over us. The effect was many waterfalls rather than just one, as they believe that every opening represented each member of their village.
Now we were here we wouldn't just stop and turn back; instead, we were given the option of going through the waterfall and into the plunge pool. Within touching distance, we couldn't even shout to one another over the deafening roar of the water, now as wet as we would have been in any tropical rainstorm. Hair clung to our heads and around our faces, we found ourselves involved in a contest between the waterfall and the plunge pool. The sheer force of the water was incredible. It was as if each drop of water was competing to get to the bottom first and flattening us in the process.
Making it through unharmed, we followed each drop of water into the plunge pool. From the bottom looking up, it was awe-inspiring, a force of nature, both beautiful and brutal. Tranquil from a distance but deafening up close. From the top I couldn't imagine how terrifying it would be, making me rethink my pre-planned Sky Dive and Bungee Jump in New Zealand! Instead, we started to focus on the more calming effects of the waterfall whilst taking advantage of the unique photo opportunities.
It was now time to head back to the village, but on our way, we were made an offer we couldn't refuse.
It was now time for the real star of the show … food! We walked into the communal area where the floor was laden with all sorts of treats and delicacies put together by the locals. Everything you can think of and things you have never dreamed of now lying in wait for us to dive into first, all in a traditional Fijian setting too.
This is precisely what we wanted from the start and 'taste' of Fiji we had been longing for. The mouth-watering flavours of Fijian food in a remote, middle of nowhere village is something we won't ever forget. Made even more surprising that this was a completely VEGETARIAN meal, we didn't even realise… it must have been the Kava! :)
Four Seasons In Four Minutes - Colo I Suva Rainforest
We spent five days in Suva: the Capital of Fiji. Looking back now, it was probably our favourite place on the main island (Viti Levu), despite all of the varying opinions of the locals. They said they loved the City, but couldn't get used to how much it rains, even in the dry season we were in now! I remember the first day thinking that this must have been a Fijian myth, as it was the best weather we have had so far on the holiday. The heat was bouncing off the payments; hot enough to cook a full English breakfast I was craving so badly! Such a welcoming invite into an illuminated Suva, making it the perfect day for exploration.
Our days in Suva involved Talanoa Treks (as above), visiting both the Museum and having the privilege of attending the Fiji-famous Hibiscus Festival. We were also very grateful to have the opportunity to meet up and have a few drinks with one of our good friends from the Isle of Man; James Garnet. As much as it was great to see a familiar face over 10,000 miles away, I have chosen to write about one of the best attractions Suva has to offer: Colo-i-Suva Rainforest.
Our hostel was based in the rainforest; a very unfamiliar back garden where every view was unique yet the same all at once. We couldn't wait to explore it, even if today was the much-anticipated rainy-day! In the warm wet weather, the air was at it's freshest when walking into the rainforest but soon became as thick as the water droplets falling from the trees. The sky had now vanished almost entirely, with only a few fragments of blue remaining like scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The towering trees continued to slant over the land the deeper we went, the sun doing its best to pass through any miniature hole it can reach to illuminate the green path in front of us. We must have been deep into the rainforest, feeling the tropical, sticky air with each inhalation; now almost as thick as the vegetation we were fighting to pass through. We then heard the sound of a running stream, the perfect signal for a much-needed water break. Here we took turns in taking a water break to the extreme after seeing where the stream led to … an oasis-type rock pool in the middle of the rainforest.
We then followed the path deeper into the rainforest, where animal noises could now be heard over the trees whispering in the wind. The scent of earth and freshwater drifting passed us through the air, now a lot more refreshing and inviting than before. We continued towards it to learn that it wasn't animals that we could hear, but, instead, the sound of the local Fijians on a rope swing launching themselves into a rock pool. It looked like fun, so I had to give it a go!
We continued on, once we were out of range of all chanting and wolf-whistling from the Fijians we took shelter in a remote picnic area, relishing every minute in our first taste of paradise.
We were exhausted, but it was such a great day out we didn't care one bit - even after the 2km walk back out of the rainforest! A fantastic experience, something I would recommend to anyone visiting Suva!
NADI
Marinated Chicken drumsticks - Lautoka visit
By far the most spontaneous moment of the holiday, for me, this was the most rewarding feeling during our time in Fiji. I want first to explain why I am including this as part of my book...
In the Isle of Man I signed up to something called Couch Surfing, this is a website which gives travellers the opportunity for free accommodation almost anywhere in the world. Once you sign up – whether you are hosting or surfing – you all have to complete a profile and go through a regulated verification process. I then took the time to write about myself, the countries I was due to visit and the dates I would be in these countries. I left it overnight and woke up - to my surprise - to all these offers from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. This specific one I am referring to now was an offer from Namaka in Nadi. I clicked on her profile to see that she had written about being passionate about sharing stories, cooking traditional Fijian meals for her three generations of family, can give us the best advice on what to do in Nadi etc. She seemed the perfect fit for what we wanted, but maybe our expectations were too high because it was sadly our worst experience in Fiji.
From ringing the doorbell all the way to leaving two days later, we were never made to feel welcome. Every time we entered a room, it was always their queue to leave. The only person that was even remotely interested was our host, who was very inconveniently at work for most of our stay. Maybe a lot of the previous Couch Surfers were more persuaded by the free accommodation, but we were genuinely disappointed that we didn't get to at least know their names! We stayed for two nights until we booked a hostel for the rest of our time in Nadi.
There then came our trip to Lautoka with our new friend Anka, where we got a lengthy bus ride to the market, picked ourselves a packed lunch and ate it in the nearest field we could find. It was a High School field which we knew we wouldn't be allowed in, but there was nowhere else we could go in walking distance, so we chanced it. We managed to finish our food just in time before the security guard chased us away, this wasn't to be our first bit of luck for the afternoon … We crossed the road from the High School and walked past a family laughing and joking in their front garden. I – probably quite rudely – poked my head over the gate to see what all the fuss was about; they were all playing Badminton in the Fiji Sun. Just as I ducked down to walk away, I was given an offer I was never going to refuse … "Do you want to come and play?"
I didn't hesitate in opening the gate, Natasha and Anka also followed me in. Within seconds we were handed rackets and playing in a 6 V 6 game of Badminton. We even tried our best to play after the sun went down, trying to hit the shuttle in the dark was far too much fun, we didn't want to leave! We then got a second offer that we were never going to refuse, to all come over again the same time tomorrow for Badminton and an evening meal.
As lovely and genuine as the offer was, I didn't want to get my hopes up too much, so I went with no expectations in an attempt to avoid another Namaka episode. The Hindi Family, however, were so welcoming, just as they were yesterday. The only difference this time was the food they generously laid out for us on the table (and their two Dogs Leo and JB!). After weeks of budget-eating noodles, cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit, a chicken curry was definitely what we needed! Butter Chicken Curry, Jasmine Rice, Roti, Okra, salad and veggies – everything that I would order in the Taste of India Restaurant back home, but for the marinated chicken drumsticks (which were an added bonus, of course!) I didn't know where to start first; it all smelled incredible and promised a delightful taste. I then picked up my knife and fork and got stuck in. I was so pleased that I could at least fit one of everything on my plate! The father of the family (the Chef) contentedly sat with us, taking in compliment after compliment – when our mouths weren't stuffed with food, that was!
We must have been pleasing guests, as not only did we eat all the food on the table, we also received an open invitation to come back and visit whenever we wanted. The following day we had already planned to go Island Hopping up until the last day we were in Fiji, so this was, unfortunately, the first offer we had to refuse. As upsetting as this was, we were buoyed by the fact that we had finally got the hospitality we were looking for. It turns out it didn't need to be a Fijian Family, but instead a Hindi Family in Fiji. We are so grateful for the incredible memories, and most of all, their kindness to let us be part of the family.
Spa Day With The Sleeping Giant – Garden Of The Sleeping Giant And Mud Pools
Nadi (Nandi), located on the left of Viti Levu was without a doubt the hottest of all the cities we visited. I will never forget the morning sun always mirroring our breakfast, sat in the sky like a perfect, unspoiled egg yolk (and minus the rashes of bacon!). The local Fijians told us that Nadi was the adventure capital of Fiji; we didn't hesitate in putting it to the test.
We have tried our best to be budget-conscious through-out the holiday (I have our Budget Book as proof!), however, we are much more interested in getting value for the money we spend. I mean, we're not going to come all this way just to sit on the beach are we? There have been days where we have spent as little as FJD 10 (GBP 4); there have also been days where we have spent over FJD 100 (GBP 40). I am proud to say that we have enjoyed all these days equally and that there has been the perfect justification for spending these amounts. Today was to be a bit of a spoil, where we would do two excursions in one day: The Garden Of The Sleeping Giant and The Nadi Mud Pools.
We continued using buses as our main transport, where a 45-minute bus ride would cost as little as FJD 4 (GBP 1.60) between us. There was then the opportunity to get a taxi for the 5km that was remaining, but it was the best weather we had so far in the holiday, so we chose to walk. Trekking towards our destination and drinking cold water felt like the greatest luxury on earth in this heat. After every mouthful I would get a refreshing chill, running down my spine and giving me the involuntary yet welcoming head-shake. As good as all this felt, nothing could stop the paranoia of getting sunburnt on our first day in Nadi - that was until there was a taxi driver who stopped next to us and gave us a FREE ride for the rest of the journey. One of many examples of how friendly the Fijians are!
We had arrived at the Garden Of The Sleeping Giant, which was best described as when a Botanical Garden and rainforest meet. At the entrance, we weren't just greeted by the aroma of the flowers, but also the first of many complimentary fruit juices. On entering the gardens – probably in between the flower beds and the canopy trees – was this imaginary time machine where the fragrance would grant me a fleeting visit to my Nana's garden in Port Erin, back home on the Isle of Man.
Heading deeper into the forest now, as my sense of adventure intensified, so did the atmosphere. Noises could be heard from every direction but were all hidden from the dense vegetation surrounding us. My mind races to attach a creature to each noise, always leaping to the most deadly thing it could be first. The vines now taking on the appearance of snakes and every shadow was now a crouching tiger. I had to remind myself that there wouldn't actually be anything as terrifying as a Giant, we learned that the actual monument was destroyed in Cyclone Winston last year. To me, it just goes to show the never say die attitude of the flowers! The effects of the Cyclone have been catastrophic in so many places in Fiji. Yet here all the flowers were; standing proud in regiment as if called and ready for their momentary inspection.
We then found a path leading out of the forest; the views on offer were sensational.
Here we got a better idea of where the path we were on would lead us, and it just so happened it led to another one of the complimentary fruit juices and a way to the Mud pools!
The Mud Pools were well worth the effort spent in getting there. The hours walk in the scorching Fijian heat would be rewarded in the best way possible, as I'm sure you've heard the expression "as happy as a pig in mud"? We were the pigs, and here was the mud. If you have never been covered in rejuvenating mud from head to toe, know that – before you write it off – the locals claim it has age-defying benefits, healing notions and natural beautifying elements. So here we are, fresh out of the most therapeutic and natural spa in Nadi, I will let you come to your own conclusion on how we look now …
There was then the washing off process, not quite as fun but much more relaxing! The process was to let the mud dry for 15 minutes, then to bathe yourself in three different pools; each one at a progressively hotter temperature – plenty of time to think of ways to how we could avoid a 5km walk back to the main road too! The stress of this would soon melt away with the mud, as we met a group of American volunteers taking a much-needed break with us, who were also planning on making the same journey, but conveniently in a minibus with two spare seats! Their Fijian guide very generously offered these to us - we were completely taken back, and even more so by the reasoning for it too. Just like our taxi driver this morning in showing a completely unexpected act of kindness. He explained to us that this is not just something that has been passed down through his family, but more importantly, that this is Fijian tradition. To be continued in my Overview section …
YASAWA ISLANDS
Stranded on Castaway
The mainland (Viti Levu) was an incredible experience, unrivalled with anything we had done before. This, however, was only 1 Island. We later learned that there was still another 331 that make up the whole of Fiji! We accepted that 12 days wasn't enough to visit them all so instead settled with 6 Yasawa Islands, to round-off the end of the beginning of our travels.
The Yasawa Islands are based towards the left of Fiji in-between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The locals promised that they would be the most beautiful islands we could hope to visit in Fiji, and based on first impressions from our catamaran, they were right to be so bold!
Despite the heat, I found myself frozen in place on the deck, taking in all these iconic images of paradise as we weave through them. The colours were almost too intense to be true; the blue of the ocean, the immaculate white beaches surrounding the tropical green of the palm trees. Even from first glance, we knew that this had the potential to be the perfect climax to an already amazing travellers experience in Fiji. I managed to thaw myself just in time for our first stop, where our water-taxi was waiting for us both and – despite bobbing uncontrollably on the waves like a toy in the bathtub – it couldn't be any more inviting! We both knew it was our first of Six golden tickets to paradise; this one being the Bounty Island version.
Here we were greeted in a way that became very familiar to us towards the end of our Island Hopping. An entrance taking us back to when we first arrived into Nadi Airport - both the Ukeleles and the Fijians were out in full song again and welcoming us in the most genuine way possible. From this point, I can remember our first moments of paradise like a Fijian knows his Kava, from entry to Bounty all the way to my first beer (surprising how I couldn't remember much after that!). Lunging with one foot out the wooden boat followed swiftly by the next, our sense of balance being tested immediately against the ebb and flow of oncoming waves. It wasn't all that much of a struggle staying upright, as our feet decided to plant themselves into the sand. It looked like we were going to be stuck in paradise forever until we caught sight of where we would be staying in the distance, so we attempted to fight our way up the beach. Every step towards our (luxury) accommodation the sand shifted - would be easily mistaken for freshly fallen snow if it wasn't so crisp and sun-warmed. With each motion forwards there was some backwards and down. As if there was this gravitational force from the sunset behind, pulling us back to shore and away from the impenetrable forest ahead. We passed through it, no problem. Our accommodation now waited at the end of the path, everything else, however, had now disappeared from view. The island couldn't be more than half a mile wide, but the sea that was only a minute away was now lost behind this surrounding forest, giving it that more remote and tropical island feel, where we were moments away from paradise's door. Now to see what awaited us inside...
If you have read this far, you would have noticed above that the word 'luxury' was in brackets, the reason being that this would not have been considered a luxury before our travels. We opened the door to see that we had not only a double bed but also a HOT shower and a toilet in our OWN bathroom! We have loved every bit of the traveller's experience so far, but being on this side of the world does make you appreciate the smaller everyday things which we take for granted, and exposes the hidden joys in having all your amenities again. For example, the air conditioning in this room would be described as a bit over-eager – more like a blustery winters chill than a cool summer breeze – but, instead, we were made up that this was our first night in two weeks we could sleep under the sheets! It was, however, the perfect coolness to keep our minds right here in the present, where we were - without a shadow of a doubt - at our happiest.
It wasn't just the air conditioning and the chips to compliment a full English breakfast that got us excited on Bounty Island. More so the attractions such as Kayaking around the island and our first main excursion together: Sea Spray. Honestly, we did not research any excursions we were doing. Here, we just assumed that we'd be on a speed boat getting sprayed by the sea (can you see why we thought that??). We weren't even close. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that this was a full days excursion, involving unlimited alcohol all the way to the island where Castaway was filmed (you know? the Tom Hanks film … "WILSON!!"). Even after the fourth beer of the morning, the island was instantly recognisable – and not just because there was a big HELP ME made from coconuts on the beach! Everywhere you looked you could picture every Tom Hanks scene; the beach where he was stranded, the cave where he and Wilson first bonded, even the summit of the island located all the way up in the clouds! What they don't show you in the films, however, is all the neighbouring Islands located no further than a stone's throw from Castaway. Which then led to the running joke of the afternoon … "Why didn't he just swim to the Island with a Hotel?!"
After hours of scouring the island and snorkelling the waters, and only when we were absolutely sure that Wilson couldn't be found, we made our way back to the boat. Here would be the most interesting part of the day, where we would accidentally re-enact the 'over the reef' scene in Castaway, as we seemingly ran into a bit of chop;
As you can probably tell it didn't 'dampen' anyone's spirits; in fact, it gave us more of an excuse to drink the bar dry! We both had a great time, made even better by the crazy and like-minded people on the boat with us.
The Best Till Last – Naqalia Island
As mentioned before, there was a common trend with all the Islands we visited. Yes, they were all very similar in appearance, but they each offered something different - something special that makes them stand out from the others. There was caving and a night spent cracking open coconuts in Nabua Lodge. Snorkelling the coral gardens in White Sandy beach and partying on the famous Beachcomber Island. However, I have chosen to write about my absolute favourite Island instead … I have mentioned in my Lautoka section that we were looking for the more family orientated experience in Fiji, well this is exactly what we got from Naqalia (Nan-ga-lee-a).
Writing this book, it's obvious that with Bounty Island, I was more caught in the moment. It was so easy to remember each step towards our first experience of paradise. Entering Naqalia, however, despite recalling the intensity of a lonely sun in a clear blue sky, this was somehow overshadowed by something I appreciated much more. For me, the kindness and genuine nature of our welcoming party will never be undervalued - it was so much more than singing us in with their Ukuleles. My soon to be my favourite person (Mary) barely gave us the chance to plant our feet in the sand! She came up to us straight away with the biggest hug you can imagine, followed by a "Welcome Home". Home, to me, is a place for family and friends, filled with love and laughter (and most importantly, food!). In Naqalia we would get all of these and more. Little did we know that the welcoming party was only the start of what was to come. What we were absolutely sure of, however, was that we had found somewhere else we could call home over 10,000 miles away, in Fiji.
As mentioned above, there was so much more to our favourite island. The offer of snorkelling every 2 pm being one example. The 'main' excursion on Naqalia was the summit walk – a trek up to the highest point. It was worth all of our effort spent getting there!
The end result is always that bit sweeter after some graft and good old-fashioned hard work. I always appreciate excursions like these so much more when I've had to work for them. It would take only a matter of minutes to search for something similar on Google Images, but I'd take the breath-taking version every time – in the sense of the views and how hard it was in actually getting to the top!
In the end, I found that I was more mesmerised by the moment over the incredible views on offer. Here I was, living the dream in the most remote location imaginable, surrounded by my newly adopted Fijian family.
OVERVIEW
Bula to Fijitime
There have been strange things happening since we left home, everyone is happy, and no one is stressed…
Fiji isn't just all about the sun, golden beaches and the greener than green rainforests. I can honestly say that, instead, it's the people who have made our Fiji experience so incredible. It's hard to believe that only 100 years ago cannibalism still existed in this country! Now, however, it's apparent that their generation has all been brought up to have a caring ethos; to put others before themselves with so many examples in this book alone. Whether it be through a handshake or a "Bula" (Hi in Fijian), they are never too busy to welcome you into their beautiful country. I find that it would be so easy for them to pre-judge a foreigner with pale white skin, skimpy shorts and a silly hat worn backwards, not knowing which way is up on a map. Instead, they are much more interested in helping and taking each silly question in the stride of their relaxed, walk-in-the-park lifestyle. I wish 'Fijitime' would operate all around the world; a "No Hurry No Worry!" mentality would be perfect back in the UK!
I have found that all these reasons in this book have contributed to why Fiji has been the perfect destination to kick-start travelling. At no point have we been unsettled at being over 10,000 miles away from home in this relaxed and welcoming environment. But perhaps that is why I love to be here on the other side of the world - travelling has stabilised the rapidity of any thoughts or concerns. This extended holiday has grounded me in a place where the ticking of clocks and everyday demands are unregarded.
Mobile phone and Tablet off (hence why it has taken me so long to write this!). Just the sun, beaches and trees surrounded by all these amazing, unforgettable people.
Reboot. Reset. All ready now for New Zealand …
Vinaka Vakalevu!
For all my Youtube videos from Fiji, please click here.
