22 February 2012

I am about to board thge Emirates flight EK 766 to Auckland via Dubai, saying goodbye was the hardest but I am ready for my new adventure ahead. The view from here waiting to board is so beautiful! So many flashing lights with a few boltz of lightning!

I arrived in Dubai at about 08h00 on the 23rd of Feb - Emirates is really a fantastic airlines - They treat their customers so well! Transitting in Dubai was a breeze, I am on my way to Auckland flying via Brisbane for about an hour stop.

An extremely long flight but I am in Auckland. A very beautiful airport with loads of lines! :) Arrived in Nadi (Pronounced Nandi) at about 20h30 on the 24th opf Feb and took my transfer to my pre nights accommodation - The Aquarius Hotel. I met Emily who had just completed a full month's volunteering at Tovuto Base and I met John who is joining me. We woke up at about 06h00 just in time for our transfer to the Port where we met Tamu our leader. We went through a few risk evaluations, had breakfast and loaded the boat transfer to our our island. Our island is the very last point near Nacula Island (Pronounced Nadula) so the boat takes about 5 hours until our final destination, dropping of passemhers at various resorts along the way. The boat trip was amazing! The boat meets up with a smaller boat that takes you directly to your resort. We will be staying at Sunrise Resort. The resort is cute but very basic - Has all the necesaties that you will need. Electricity is run by a generator that only runs between 19h00 and 22h00 at night . There are about 25 volunteers, ranging between the 3 programes: Education; Marine and construction. We all get out into cokking temas and lunch temas where you will need to cook 1 breakfast and 1 dinner each week. We all have to contribute towards cleaning as well. The ocean is right on your doorstep and it is such an amazing sound to fall asleep to each night. That evening we had a brief presentation as to what we will be doing for the next couple of days. Everyone here is extremely friendly and helpful :) I share a dorm with 10 other volunteers but its awesome :)