Hi Everyone!

Sorry its been so long since an update (and this one is going to be short as the time on the internet is running out) - but the computer in the Solomon Island couldn't deal with the complexity of this blog system so we haven't been able to access the blog for ages. Thanks to everyone who left messages over the time - really nice to read; and I think the "good luck" for the exams definitely payed off (just figured out that resit week is next week, had the worst of happened - thank goodness it didn't!!).

There is so much to tell about what has happened over the past 5 weeks since we last wrote, but as time is limited I am simply going to list what we have done and where we have been and then we can fill in the gaps later.....

Fiji - Nadi - Transit, stayed at Nadi Bay Hotel/Resort. Met 2 of our friends from Uni here - very random!

Solomon Islands - Honiara - Very dusty, smelly, run down - not the best first impression of the solomons! House was grotty and literally on the main road/motorway - joey had mushrooms growing off the curtains in her room.

Solomon Islands - Taro - First ride in a twin otter airplane - amazing! Got to the hospital, where they weren't expecting us and ended up staying with the doctor in his house. Went out to a couple of villages to do health promotion, worked in the OPD, did ward rounds, did ante-natal and child health clinics, minor ops (Joey - Anaesthetist, Matt - Surgeon). Really AMAZING time, felt a real part of the community and were invited to a huge number of local social events where we were guests of honor. Loads of stories to tell when we get home! (Include the crocidle encounters!)

Solomon Islands - Gizo - Did our Open Water Padi Scuba Diving certificate - fanatastic time and saw loads of wildlife. Really nice place and met a few other english people which was great. We stayed at one of the cheapest "rest houses" there but it had THE best view I have ever seen (plus because we were "European" we could use the Gizo Hotel pool, which costs about 100 pounds a night to stay at!). It really was like being back in the 1960s - complete ex-pat heaven! Partied with the locals as well, a bit too hard infact (getting in the sea at 5.30 in the morning is never the best idea!). Fatboys was fantastic as well - great food and a really nice room (photos to follow soon!)

Solomon Islands - Honiara - Stayed in the same place and it was just as bad!

Fiji - Nadi - Transit, same place again, stupid gap year students kept us awake all night, but we got a private room although we paid for a dorm. Infact we have been very lucky with our rooms - always getting a better deal then we paid for.

Fiji - Funky Fish resort, really great time, awesome people, nice wine and food! Great way to start Fiji as neither of us were feeling great (had a bit of a headcold and were very nauseous).

Fiji - Mana - Rata Kini Backpackers; again, very quiet but a great place to relax. More "back-packer" than any of the other places we had been and met loads of new people. Went to the "sunset beach" which was beautiful (made more so by the bottle of red we took with us!). Last day here was a little dull as it was very over-cast and lets be honest, there is NOTHING to do in Fiji when you don't have sun.

Fiji - Beachcomber Island Resort; oh deary me. Both of us were dreading this a little as its renouned as the party island where you stay up all night, get completly trollied and do stupid things - not really our thing anymore but thought it was worth a look. But when we got there it was VERY quiet (well, compared to what we expected). A civilised crab racing contest, then a bit of drinking, to bed at 1am and not too much noise (although it was an 80+ bed dorm!). Left quickly the next morning though.

Fiji - Nadi, Transit at the same place (today!). Had a great meal in the evening and was nice to just catch up on e-mails, with friends etc.

Really looking forward to going to New Zealand now and the change in climate will be amazing! Hopefully internet will be better in NZ and we can get some of the amazing photos we have up on the web! Lots of Love to all! X