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We caught a 4.30am flight straight to Nadi on the east coast of Fiji, a shuttle to the hotel and then a much needed shower and shave. The temperature was already about 15 degrees warmer than NZ! Had managed a couple of hours kip on the plane, but new country and all that, so with a second Canadian in toe (you can spot them all a mile off, they have the canadian flag on their rucksacks.. Live with it, you're basically americans!), Cole, we headed into town for a rice and chips lunch. Then somehow (blaming Canada), we got pulled into a clothes shop (as the storekeeper wanted to give us his business card apparently), and before we knew it had purchased Bula shirts, skirts (!) and wooden things with our names etched into them. Feeling slightly violated, we headed back to the hotel where Cole and I got aquainted with the local brew "Fiji Baby" (not bad), followed by some slightly drunken underwater photography in the pool and sparked out by about half eight that night....
Next morning, up early (always early, this is no good), for a catermeran trip to the island of Kuata (about an hour and a half north of Nadi). Arrived to find very basic accomodation (mosquito nets included), but rather tasty tuna sandwiches for lunch. Then off for an hour snorkelling amongst coral reefs in the Pacific. Was slightly startled by the appearance of the first reef shark, but got used to them swimming round us and got more worried by our guide reloading his harpoon gun while it was facing me... Then back to the village for a few beers and a shower before the nights entetainment..
Which consisted of a welcoming ceremony, including drinking Kava (made from the root of some bush or other), and a Fijian feast. With a flower behind my ear and my lairy bula shirt on, I was looking almost local. Then (one for the women really), out came the dancing boys in their grass skirts, and before long we were all doing a conga line and playing musical statues. Afew of us then parked up for a serious Kava session with the locals, and I would guess I went to bed sometime in the early hours.....
So the following morning I awoke to realise I should've put on sunblock the previous day... Yep, sunburnt again! Back on the catermeran (how do you spell this?), and further north to Korovou. Another singalong welcoming, healthy lunch and a much needed sleep, then a night of cards with our new chums, Irish Steve and Olive, while being serenaded by a local playing westlife and oasis songs on an out of tune guitar. Awesome!
After another early night (not beer induced, they switch all the islands pwer off at 10.30!), fruit for breakfast (beginning to fear for my beer belly), followed by a boat ride to the local village for another Kava ceremony (me being chief at last!) and a look around the local craft shops (well, women sitting on sheets anyway). Will have to send a parcel home at some point, the amount of tat I've bought. The off to the local primary school for the kids to sing and dance for us. Very uncomfortable I can tell you. Back to the island for yet more beer and cards and shade as the shoulders got really rather painful...
Final day in Korovou, learnt how to husk and open coconuts and fed fishies in the sea (vicious b*****s bite)! Then back to Nadi for a burger (meat at last!) and early night....
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