...... We left America on November 9th and landed in Fiji early November 11th. Because of the time zones we skipped November 10th and didn't the jet lag let us know it. So much so that our first day and night in beautiful Fiji was spent sleeping.

Nadi Bay, the resort we were staying in had everything, lovely pool, 2 good restaurants, spa treatment centre, it really was the prize at the end of our 2 month road trip. However, we knew that it was even more idyllic on the island, so we waisted no more time and booked ourselves on the next mornings boat to the Yasawas, ( this was after some retail therapy in Jacks the biggest store in Nadi, it couldn't be helped as the taxi dropped us right outside and we were ushered straight in and ended up with our own personal shopper. Also, we figured we needed some floaty stuff ie, sarongs, wraps, tops etc if we were truly going to blend in to our exotic environment).

When I said next mornings boat I meant the earliest we could, 6:30am start ouch! We had booked a 'bula pass' which meant we weren't on a specific tour and could pick and choose the islands and resorts we wanted to stay at and how long we wanted. Our first recommended stop was in one of the farthest Yasawa islands called Tavewa and we booked to stay in the Coral View Resort. Just being on the boat put me into relax mode as we sailed past all the little idyllic islands stopping as small boats came to ferry passengers to the preferred resorts. Four and a haly hours later we arrived at Tavewa, I had not realised it had taken this long ( being in relaxed mode) and I also had not noticed how hot the sun had been, as there were quite a few clouds in the sky. However, my shoulders had noticed and they were red raw. I don't know which was worse, the pain or the fact that I looked like a typical British idiot, (nice start to paradise).

On arrival at our resort we were welcomed by the locals/staff (they weren't actually local to the island, apparantly they work on the island for a month then go home for a week and work a month etc). They serenaded us with their traditional greeting song and ushered us to a big tent laid out with big tables, where we sat and they brought us lunch, ( good start, it was flavoured rice, quite nice I just dreaded to think what else I would have to eat). It was here we met Kolin, the first of our Fiji gang, we started chatting as neither of us could understand what 'joe' our host was saying as his english was not too good, (our favourite saying of the week was 'least but not last', bless). We were upgraded to a double bure overlooking the sea as they had over booked the dorm. It was a very basic hut with a double and single bed, a mosquito net and plenty of geckos. The showers and toilets were an outside block but we couldn't have been happier as we made our way down to the beach for the rest of the afternoon.

Dinnertime was when we met the remainning two of our Fiji gang. Herman and Juliane a german couple who had lived in Cheltenham for a few years so understood and appreciated all our dry sense of humours. The coversation flowed, along with the drinks, meaning that it didn't matter that I couldn't eat the fish buffet they had prepared. More traditional Fiji songs were sang and people danced. We were lucky as we had picked one of the only resorts with 24hr electricity, so we chatted til we could chat no more.

We rose for breakfast by a drumroll the next day, obviously we ate it with our new gang, which was the start of what was to come for the rest of the week, (luckily it was doughnuts and cereal, yum). We went to the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon, eventually, as we kept on having to go back to the resort to pick up late people, including Kolin who had fallen asleep, 2 minutes after we had spoken to him about meeting us at the boat, (naturally we took the mick the rest of the afternoon). The Lagoon was beautiful, I had practised my snorkelling earlier on as I had never been able to do it before, and I got to see some colourful coral and fish. Later that evening we were persuaded to hike up the hill to see the sunset. I only just made it as me and hiking aren't best pals. It was a glorious sunset but not sure it was worth the toil and sweat, especially since, on the way down I fell on my arse twice, (my turn to have the mick taken out of me for the rest of the evening). Later, after dinner ( pork stirfry, copable), dancing begun and were partook in a dance off against a gang of Irish nurses.

Not being able to bare being split up we followed our gang to the next resort in the mamanuca islands. Korovu, was a lot less basic than Coral View, again we were greeted with traditional Fijian songs and there was a huge sundeck with pool and hammocks dotted around the perimeters. The only down side was we were in a 32 bunk dorm and the electricity went off at 11pm and we got caught out with the time, still up playing cards( one card game that lasted for hours, think we were playing it wrong) and having a laugh, it went pitch black and we spent the next 20 mins trying to navigate our way back to our room, without stepping on any cockroaches or geckos. Earlier on in the evening the resort staff had entertained as by doing a fire dance and a bula dance with compulsory audience participation. I had made a friend out of when of the band members and he dragged me up to lead the conga. Very funny night.

Exploring and more snorkelling was on the agenda for the following day. We treked to Honeymoon Beach and went out to hunt the colourful coral and fish. Unfortunately, my mask broke, a got cramp and I cut myself on the coral ( still got the scars to prove it), again I was the butt of many a calamity jane joke. In the evening I gave my Tandoori chicken to Herman ( I should have lost a couple of stone by now) and we were entertained with a bula dance lesson (like a male, macho version of the maccarana). Then the stick game, I could have won, but I was partnered with one of the bula dancers and he stank so I couldn't bear to be near him. Another walk back to the dorm in the dark.

Still tagging along with our Germans and Kolin we travelled to the next island 'bounty'. WOW!! Being the island that they filmed the first yeras celebrity love island, it encompassed what you thought a paradise island should be. White sands, turquoise blue water ( not unlike the other islands) but it just seemed so less unspoilt. The sundeck and pool looked like an iffinity pool and all the bures faced on to the beach. Unfortunately, we were sleeping in a 30 bunk dorm in the back of the island but we didn't have to spend much time there. Again we had a traditional welcome and dinner was a BBQ yum yum. Yet more Bula dancing in the evening (its funny every island does the dance differently). Our hosts were 2 young fijians, very enthusiastic and funny. We joined in with the older locals and did a kava ceremony, it was just like drinking a puddle if you ask me and played cards for our last evening as a gang BOO HOO!

I had been looking like my shoulder was going to peel off for the last few days so took the opportunity to have a sunburn treatment. It bloody hurt and it did b***** all so I still looked like a British idiot who hadn't heard of suncream ( so much for the golden tan I longed for, hadn't been out in the sun without covering up since I burn't). to be continued .........