ok guys sooo we left auckland, oh but not before charlene (with bag on back) bent over to pick something up couldnt take the weight of her own clothes and toppled backwards onto the floor SO funny, her little arms were flailing about and laura laughed so hard she fell off the bed. Anywho next funny thing, the cab company sent a huge cab coz the order had gone in as 'jess x3' and they thought that i was going to be really fat... which is always nice! so off we set with a very annoyingly chatty cabbie, who kept laughing his head off about the 'fat jess' stuff. At the airport we bought a lot of books to occupy oursleves while we soak up the sun.

we arrived in fiji and were greeted by a very camp fijian guy waving his hands about and calling "charlene, charlene" at which char was slighty spun out. we spent a while waiting for a cab to our hostel (nomads skylodge), and when we finally made it we were greeted by ben and luke (2 boys from kiwi exp) who told us that steeeeeeeeve, our favourite devonian was also staying there. so after locating our room, which also (thank god) contained a very tired charlie (frined of laura's who came to visit us in fiji all the way from merry old shoreham) anywho we have a knock on the door and we open it to a very surprised steeeeeeve, afetr lots of shrieking and jumping about we were all reunited out, we had dinner and drinks and thrilled charlie with tales of the kiwiland.

So the next day the time had finally come to bath in the sun to our hearts content, armed with factor 30 (nan you pleased?), books and ipods we decked out in the sun and lasted the whole of about 15 mins before diving in the pool coz it was 'fackin hot'. after the boredom  and restlessness got hold we went of in search fo fruit and ended up at a local market where the fruit was soooo overripe it looked like it would fall apart in our hands, so we decided against it and just headed back for another dinner. that night we took part in a quiz (longest hour of my life) and steve and charlie won some wine which diplomatically they shared with us girlies.

another day another meal and after brekkie we decked out in the sun again, and managed it! that was our last day with steeeeeve coz the next day we started the fiji exp (round the main island in 4 days) and steve was off to the cook islands. so after another goodbye (we dont like those) we jumped on another green bus and it soon felt like home! our driver was watson, the BEST driver in the world, and charlies new idle, and our guide was miriama, about 20 and really cool coz she got involved in all the stuff we did.

so our first stop was nadi town where we picked up some 'jesus sandles' as char likes to call them for a hike we would be doing the next day. we had a look around and then headed off to natadola beach, voted worlds sexiest beach???!!! we had a bbq, swam in the sea (which basically involved charlie pissing himself on the beach as us 3 were knocked over by every bloody wave that came thru). Some guy came up to us on a horse that had sun burn and tried to get us to have a ride. safe to say we didnt, poor horse. After we went on a village visit to malo-malo, where we sat in a bure (traditional house) and learnt about fijian culture and the structure of villages. really interesting- you have a cheif who may govern a few villages and then a series of clans; spokesman clan (who appoints the chief), preistly clan, warrior clan, carpenter clan and fisherman/ farmer clan. although there is a hierarchy each clan is fundamental to the survival of the village so everyone is equally valued, and even if you head out to the city and become a succesful businessman or something when you come home to the village you will still be in your clan, even if it was a farmer clan or something.

after this was our fav activity (not) SANDBOARDING at the sigatoka sandunes! i became self nominated photographer and let the others get their underwear full of sand. Our stop for that night was mango bay resort and it was beautiful! the dorms were big, but they all had muslin for privacy/ bug protection! and the beach was amazing, only difficulty was the millions of toads (no exaggeration) that you basically had to hope and pray you wouldnt crush underfoot, coz even sticking to the path didnt help, they were bloody everywhere! we really wish we had the time to stay there longer but alas, we did not. That night some boys from the local village came and performed some fijian songs and dances, and me and char we pulled up to dance with some very smelly teens. SO read this blog again coz i will keep updating, but im off to throw a couple of shrimp on the baaarbay at my friend stuarts. love love x