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Well what can I say about Fiji. The month I spent there has now finished and it's sad to think about what I am missing back on camp right now. The 'phase' I was on does not finish for another six weeks but I didn't have time to be there for that length of time and found four weeks just enough.
Right now, it is 9:40am on camp in Fiji and the other volunteers would be either in a lecture, or getting ready to dive. But before I jump right in and confuse you with what life on camp was like, I must tell you about my journey to camp...
On the 8th of last month I started my journey to Fiji, flying from Melbourne to Brisbane, then Brisbane to Nadi (pronounced Nandi). Nadi is the 3rd largest town on Viti Levu, the largest island on Fiji. I arrived at 5:30am and had an eight-hour wait until my connecting flight to Savusavu on the second biggest island, Vanua Levu. I did immigration fine, got my bag and stumbled into the arrivals bleary eyed from the two hours sleep I managed to grab on the flight. I was welcomed greatly by the many Fijian staff members who wanted to know where I was from and where I was going so they could help. Informing them I had to wait for a connecting flight I was promptly offered to be shown round Nadi by an airport taxi driver. Before I was able to let my brain comprehend that I was getting into a car with a random Fijian man and so might not be the genius idea I had initially thought, we were off on what would turn out to be quite the adventure.
It was dark outside and my taxi driver told me the sun was come up in about half an hour. He drove us through the town and out onto Queen's highway which runs along the coast from Nadi to Suva (the capital). He had informed me the cost would be $30/hr (abt. £10) this wouldn't have seemed so bad and really quite cheap, if the tour hadn't lasted seven hours! We went along the coral coast to a resort for breakfast, where he promptly sat back and watched me eat. Then back along the highway to a souvenir shop and then into Nadi town. The views from the cab were incredibly scenic, especially as the sun had come up from behind the mountain ranges that cover the islands of Fiji. Fiji is lush and green and my driver told me all about the crops grown on the island, how only half of Viti Levu was able to grow sugarcane and the other half couldn't. I tried to keep my eyes open to everything we passed, as I wasn't going to get the opportunity again, but the tiredness crept up on me and I kept nodding off.
I looked around the town but did not want to buy anything as I desperately calculated how much this little jaunt into the unknown would be when I eventually made it back to the airport. One side of me wanted to get back to the airport immediately and fall asleep on any set of seats I could, but the other was intrigued as to what else the driver could show me. I stayed and the taxi driver took me to a traditional Fijian village where I was shown around and had a full-on welcoming ceremony put on for me. There was dancing, singing and Kava; Kava is the traditional ceremonial used throughout Fijian villagers made from the roots of the yuqona plant, ground down and mixed with water and yes, it tastes just as horrible as it sounds. It supposedly has medicinal properties but really it just make your tongue go tingly and make you feel a little bit tired, just what I needed... After a couple of cupfuls with plenty of 'Bula's and clapping in between each drink, they went on to show me how they made the pottery they sold to the suckers, sorry, tourists, that visited like me. I was then expected to give a donation for the ceremony and then buy some pottery, but I must admit it was pretty interesting seeing how they made and glazed their works.
We left the village and I thought it was all over, but no, onwards to 'the best beach in Fiji' where I was able to say no to many Fijians offering me horse rides and for them to take me snorkeling. When I finally picked up the courage to ask to go back he got in first and told me he would take me to buy some lunch and then he'd get me back to the airport. We went to this quiet restaurant run by Indian-Fijians and ordered a chicken curry and sprite. I was then told it would be more expensive than first told, as the chicken was fresh in that morning rather than frozen. I asked to order again but was persuaded into the chicken curry when I had both the waitress and the driver watching me make me decision. The funny thing was, although I had been hungry, I was too tired to eat and had to leave half of it when it arrived as it was a full platter with dhal, tomato chutney, poppadoms and naan bread. When it came to the bill, I even had to pay for the sprite my taxi driver had drank. Feeling a little sorry for myself and more stupid than ever I finally made it back to the airport and paid up the $200 odd for my 'tour'.
With my eventful morning behind me I checked my bag in and was presently weighed with my hand luggage also so they could get the weight distribution correct on the little twin otter aircraft we would be taking across to Savusavu. After a little wait, I went through security into a tiny little departure lounge and watched two other flights leave before we were 'called through'. Literally a man in the doorway saying 'Anyone for Savusavu?' We crossed the tarmac and crammed ourselves into the tiny plane. The co-pilot sat down at the front and told us 'no smoking, wear your seatbelt at all times, there are six exits' before taking his seat in the cockpit. My excitement did not cease as we rumbled down the tarmac and, light as a feather, took off neatly and easily.
The views were stunning with beautiful turquoise sea down below with definite outlines of the coral reefs and tiny little islands dotted about. We soon flew into clouds and I settled down with my book for the hour ahead. Towards the end of the journey, we flew into a raincloud and our tin can of a plane was thrown round a little bit but we descended slowly and suddenly we seemed to be flying just above the sea. We cornered round and landed straight from sea onto airstrip. We taxied down to the 'terminal' - a wooden hut - and clambered out collecting our bags from the trolley they had been unloaded onto.
It wasn't long before my camp leader, Chad, showed up to collect me in a taxi. He was a little taken aback though as had been expecting an Indian, male, medical student. Unfortunately what he got was me and we soon got chatting. He told me that we - the other volunteers, staff and I - would be staying a night in Savusavu, in a guesthouse, before heading to camp the next day.
I was last to arrive and all the other volunteers were having lunch in a cafe in town so I ditched my bag in a room I was to share with two other girls and freshened up before being taken down to the cafe to meet everyone. I was introduced to the group, but only had chance to chat to a few people before people left to do some shopping. That evening Chad went over paperwork with us - visas, insurance, medical forms for diving - and then we all went out for dinner. I managed to get the staff and volunteers I was sitting with to almost wet themselves laughing after I told them the events that had unfolded that morning with my taxi driver and a new rule was written that I was not allowed to go anywhere by myself from now on so I wouldn't be swindled again. After having a great time with everyone, I was exhausted and got an early night back at the guest house as I knew it would be a long day the next day...
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