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14/04/2010 We arrived in Fiji, The land of the giants (the local Fijians all seem to be flipping huge with enormous feet), Starting in Nadi the 2nd biggest town on the main island Viti levu for 5 nights, Its hot and humid and over 30 degree's, lovely!. At Mama's tropic of Capricorn hostel/hotel our host the lovely Mama, A 72 year old lady and larger than life personality, bra less with breasts sitting on her waist, met us with a big slobbery kiss, She is really entertaining you hear her coming for miles, She looks after all her guests as though there her own family, After taking in some R&R (Sunbathing/tan topping),She pointed us towards our next destination Malolo island in the Mamanuca island group for 5 nights (pay for 4 get the 5th night free and a free upgrade room as well), Malolo is where the reality TV program the resort was filmed. Here the locals met us at the jetty, Singing a native welcome as the Thames river craft in which we had spent an 1 hour 20 roughing it in the open seas came along side. These are known as the Hollywood isle's, On the way to Malolo we passed Bounty island where they filmed Survivor, Castaway island of Tom Hanks Fame, Treasure and South sea islands.
Malolo is a beautiful island with only 20 guests and fantastic freshly cooked food (Oonagh says "the best fish ever"), Our thatch roof bure (fantastic room) was only a few metres from the beach with its own private hammocks. A great place to spend time just chillaxing in between snorkelling and kayaking on the islands own reef, Oonagh learnt how to make her own hat woven out of palm leaves, which she is sending home. Frog and Crab racing are some of the more strenuous events we have participated in
24/04/2010 We were commanded back to Mama's where she was having a party to celebrate the completion of the hostel, Loads of traditional dancing and food and drink (all free), The Attorney General & Minister of tourism came with his body guards police and army escort. By the end of the evening we had mapped the way forward for Fiji ("Thank god for the Chaffers," were sure we heard him say?).
27/04/ 2010 Staying on the main island we headed 2hrs further south, down the Queens highway to Koroleva on the Coral coast.(North is the Kings highway, it's the only other main road in Fiji) The Beach house backpackers resort, our base, Is where celebrity love island was filmed (its not technically an island, but that's TV), with Callum Best, and other Z list personalities, The main buildings still have the two way mirrors from the camera runs, even the love shack still survives. it's now a little bit of budget paradise, even if the food isn't all that. Here we completed our PADI open water dive course, Getting an ear infection for my troubles, I visited the local doctor, in his 1950's surgery, I gave a donation to the village and left with a money bag of tablets. We stayed in Koroleva until my ear was well enough to give it a test dive, On this dive Oonagh saw 4 turtles to my one, Played with Nemo and earned the name of Mermaid from Damos the Dive master. Some good news we have learnt to make jewellery from coconut shells whilst I've been out of the water (Bet you can't wait for Christmas)
13/05/2010 Still with my ears playing up a little we headed back out to the Mamanuca isle's, and to the island of Mana, Lucky for us it's one of the larger islands with 3 hostels. The first hostel, Mana lagoon was the worst accommodation we have seen by several country miles on all our travels, An absolute flea pit, We quickly moved to the middle resort further along the beach, Panicking because the boat (same smelly Thames pleasure craft) only passes once a day. To Ratu kini hostel, and a far better place, They have a good dive centre, the island is near all the main dive sites, The Supermarket dive site, famed for its sharks was more empty than Tesco on Christmas day, all the sharks must have heard we where coming and were scared off. (again Mermaid girl is our new dive masters favourite and I'm still a floundering along), On our last day on Mana with the centres 4 dive instructors who came out for fun, We decided to dive the supermarket again, In swelling sea's with 6ft plus waves, the boat was being tossed all over and with us looking more than a little green we asked as one "is it safe for us," Henry the lead instructor told us "it was safer in the water than the boat," followed by "dive quickly or you will be caught in the washing machine effect and be in trouble" not being people who don't heed advice, we dived quickly and got down by the wall to be met by two 2m+ sharks and then 2 more came over and checked us out. (Grey and black tips only, but still exciting)Robert the Spanish instructor told us sharks prod, Then nipple you (nibble) before they bite.
17/05/2010 to Mango bay on the Coral coast for our last days in Fiji. The Shark feeding dives where booked all week, So we dived again with Damos and Marcelo, First dive a 2m Marlin came and checked us out coming a little to close, but really great (within 3m Scary).
In Fiji we had a great time, Diving literally opened a whole new world to us, Fiji time, (any time from now to never) can be a pain, but you just have to chill out, Which isn't hard. The scenery lovely. We loved Fiji, met some great people. we would come back? You bet.
Au soa liu mada the Chaffer's
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