My two weeks in Fiji were amazing.

Arrived in Nandi on the 17th September after a total of 36 hours in transit. The weather was awful and had to walk in over an inch of water that was rolling down the street. Time to get some rest at Smugglers Cove resort.

Day two was a little brighter and time to head to the port to get the ferry to Mana Island where I had planned to spend 4 nights to do my Padi course. On arrival in Mana the weather was still terrible and I had to walk to the hostel with my back pack on in very stormy conditions. That afternoon I was introduced to Dan the Scuba Diving instructor and so the lesson began. A mixture of watching some very corny american diving DVDs, reading and short multiple tests at the end of each of the 5 sections. The following day after a heavy night playing flip cup it was time to take my first dive. Gear set up and on we headed to the beach and waded into the water. Very daunting the first time you go under the water... something was telling me that the gear wasnt going to work and i would end up with a belly full of sea water. All was well and on the 1st dive we went to a depth of 11m. The following dives were not great as I could not equalise below 6m having bruised my ear drum when i jumped off a boat. So three days passed with unsuccessful attemps morning and afternoon. Finally on my last day on the island I could equalise and I had to complete three dives to get my certification. We dived at Seven Sisters where I dived with Sharks and then at Dans Wall where a turtle swam inbetween Dan and I for about 20meters or so. It was totally amazing and considering I have always had fears of the sea becoming a qualified open water diver was an amazing feeling.

Beachcomber Island was my next stop. Originally for one night but ended up being two. It is such a good party island. Met a group of american guys and we hit it off. The agenda for the next two days... drink and party. There was a group of us sat at a table chatting and then one of the party realised that all the girls from the table disapeared. The reason... three of the All Blacks players had just arrived on the Island. They were good fun and played volleyball and touch rugby with us and then sat around a big table drinking cava and alcohol until the early hours.

Bounty Island was next. I needed a rest from Beachcomber and it was the perfect place for a rest, or so I thought. Big Mama the resort manager took a liking to me and I sat with her and a couple of norweigan girls drinking cava again until about 2am. Big Mama is at least 20 stone and had she made a move I wouldnt have been able to get away. Luckily for me she fell asleep!

Up at 7am to get a boat to Manta Ray Island. Low and behold at the next stop the American Guys got on the boat and we started drinking Jack Daniels and beer. We arrived at Manta Ray a couple of hours later at lunch already for another big drinking session. After going on a drunk boat trip to snorkel with manta ray which didnt arrive we headed to the other side of the island to watch the sunset. A perfect opportunity for us all to do some swimwear modelling shots whilst drinking ectoplasm cocktails. A very big night playing drinking games until the sun rose. The next day I woke up fine but later on in the day I felt like I had sea sickness. It wouldnt go away and I had to retire after dinner and get some rest before my legs gave way.

Everyone had been raving about Coral View, but I was disappointed. Very basic accomodation, beaches that were full of litter and the food wasnt up to much either. Granted the coral itself was beautiful and I saw lots of beautiful and brightly coloured fish. I only stayed here one night and glad because I decided to go to Maya LaiLai based on Donals recommendation.

Approaching Waya LaiLai was amazing. Beautiful white beaches, blue sea's and the most amazing landscape with lots of vegetation and a huge mountain. The Island was quiet only about 12 of us staying there. Unfortunately I had missed the Sumit walk and didnt get to do it the following day as there was not enough people in the group. The view from 300ft is said to be amazing and you can lean over the edge of the highest point and take a photo of the resort, beach and coral - I really wanted that picture - it would have been amazing. I guess I will have to go back. That night after dinner I sat with a couple of people from melbourne drinking cava with the villagers and chief. We chatted about the Fijian culture and at around 3am I fell asleep on the chiefs shoulder. Bill earlier that night had promised to take me to the village the following day where he lives. It was amazing. Everyone in the village were so friendly and they live in relatively nice accomodation. Brick or concrete houses usually about 20ft by 20ft. Whole generations of families squeeze themselves into the houses and cook and wash all in one room. The village was full of colour and amazing sights. It was so good to get away from the more commerical islands and actually see some local culture.

Two weeks in Fiji was paradise and I made so many good friends that I am likely to see again in Australia. New Zealand awaits me now.