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It was a bit stressful when we rocked up at Nadi airport and our transfer to the hostel had just decided not to turn up- there had been a hurricane warning and it was pouring down with rain so apparently there was havoc on the roads - so we weren't sure whether it was that or the fact the driver was operating on "Fiji time" which meant he didn't show. Anyway luckily one of the local drivers helped us out and we got in a taxi to the resort.
Two hours later (yes two- this was a shock to us, we though it would take 45 mins max) we arrived at Mango Bay. It was still pouring down but we could tell it was a really nice place (bit of a flashpacker resort) so we just kept our fingers crossed and hoped the weather would pick up! The other thing that dampened our spirits somewhat was that the resort was full of "schoolies", who were 18 yr old Australians who have just graduated from high school and come away to go on the lash- so it was pretty rowdy and made us feel quite old - especially as I was due to turn 26 in a few days time!
Luckily the hurricane did not strike and the weather picked up the next day, so we were able to spend the rest of the week as planned, chilling out, sunbathing and just enjoying the fact that we didn't have to pack up and move on anywhere! It was a really nice place with a good atmosphere and friendly staff. The food was good too, even if they didnt always have much stock. One day when i ordered a burger i got told "we have no burgers for the buns, thats why we have no beef burgers", and another time Lolly got a banana split without the banana!
On Wednesday I tried my hand at some jewellery making where we made pendants out of coconut shells. It was here that we met Lolly and Becky who we ended up spending the rest of our time in Fiji with.
We met them for dinner and drinks that night and at midnight it turned my birthday and somehow we all ended up fully clothed in the swimming pool! Must have been the schoolies influence, 26 going on 19!!
Next day we had a birthday breakfast consisting of cereal followed by hash browns then after a walk on the beach played some volleyball in the pool, which I still seem to be pretty woeful at! Then we moved into our beachfront Bure which was a bit of a birthday treat - tiny hut right on the beach with an outdoor shower and everything - luxury compared to dorm rooms! Jonny pulled it out of the bag and got me a necklace (which I had seen ages ago at the jade factory in Hoikatika in New Zealand), a big cake and a Fijian massage which I had later that day!
That night I got a bit emotional chatting to mum on the phone, then we had a nice meal and over the course of the evening polished off a whole bottle of rum between me, Jonny and Lolly. We finished the night with a bonfire on the beach - perfect end to a birthday to remember!
Next day we decided to treat ourselves to another night in the beachfront bure because we had liked it so much. However this turned out to be a mistake as our bure was very close to the disco and that night not only happened to be party night bit also the schoolies' last night. The music was so loud in our (since they don't actually have walls so to speak!) we may as well have been sleeping on the dance floor! So yet again felt very old!
We were both surprised at how much sleep we ended up getting in the end (ear plugs from survival kit came in v handy), and so the following day was another one of just soaking up the sun and barely moving an inch from the spot we secured every morning! In the evening we had a really nice reunion with Jen from NZ and so spent the night catching up, as well as dancing round the room getting involved with a group of dancers that had put on a show!
Other activities over the course of the week included a kava ceremony- which is a drink made from crushed root of a plant and is basically like drinking muddy water. If you drink large quantities it is like smoking weed, but the small amount we had it just made our tongues tingle!
On Sunday we also went to a Fijian church ceremony which lasted for 3 hours, of which 2 and fifty minutes were in Fijian so we didn't have any clue what was being said- other than that the preacher sounded pretty angry!! The singing was good though- but I can say it was probably the longest 3 hours of my life! On the way back we had a quick look around the village and a family that made huge woven straw mats - then we walked back along the beach so at least we can say that we left the resort once in the whole week we were there!
We spent ages deciding what to do for our second week in Fiji and after much frustration at people not giving information voluntarily (this seems to be the Fijian way, which coupled with their timekeeping meant that Jonny in particular got a wee bit stressed on occassions) as well as it being really expensive to get anywhere we finally settled on Bounty Island! So, after what can only be described as the most painful check out process ever the night before, we set off bright and early on Monday morning to head to the Mamanucas!
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