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Flying with Air Pacific I reluctantly left New Zealand on the 20th October. I arrived in Fiji Airport to be greeted by three native Fijians strumming a lively tune with floral shirts to accompany their equally fruitful music (apparently they play all night).
I embarked on the Fiji Experience Tour, meeting my tour guide ‘Balla’ in the airport. He organized my stay in smugglers cove, a hotel with a 40 bed dorm. The food was excellent and I was able to wonder from the hotel straight onto the beach. Exploring the beach I was fascinated by the mini crabs which would retreat into the sand as soon as you came close.
Whilst walking down the beach I was offered lunch by a complete stranger. He was an Indian bloke who was keen to find out about foreign cultures. I thanked him, but declined his offer. The people of fiji are exceptionally friendly to tourists and it is not unheard of for them to welcome people into their homes. Later that evening I meet many of the other tourists in my hotel including a lady in her 40’s who looked like a human pin cushion! Apparently the mosquitoes had taken a fancy to her (poor lady).
I was really fortunate with the tour group. They were a wicked bunch of people..you know who you are…inorder to get to know everyone we had a ‘friendly’ game of football on the beach. This soon got competitive (or at least I did). Balla and junior our tour guides prepared a BBQ feast….cracking stuff! Moving on we journeyed through the countryside. The villages on the south of the Island are self sufficient, being reliant on the crop growth/sugar cane.
HISTORY LESSON TIME: SUGAR CANESugar cane has been growing commercially in fiji since 1870’s. The history behind this relates to the labour trade in the pacific, or slaves authorized by the European government at the time. Controls were placed on this practice and arrangements were made with the Indian government to import Indian labours for 5-10 years at a time, once again a cheap labour source for the crown which was also eventually abolished. The excuse made by the European government was that it did not want to utilize Fijian labour as it would upset village dynamics (basically they didn’t want to use lazy Fijian workers) I saw lots of sugar cane trains and trucks on their way to the mill. Often around harvest time you will see farmers burning off the crops. This means that the crop must be harvested within a few days otherwise the quality of the stock will deteriorate. Often the farmers will burn their crops to force the mills to take their crops earlier. The millers do no like this practice because there is a lower sugar level in burnt cane.
Moving on from Natalda Beach we cruised onto the coastal village at Malo Malo. Had to wear my newly purchased Sarong (I felt like a right plonker) to show respect to the village people. There were no material possessions in the village eg TV’s etc but the kids seemed really happy.
That night we stayed at Mango Bay a nice beach retreat. I got my first chance to sample Carva, the traditional root drink of the region. Everyone sits on the floor whilst the Carva is prepared. The result is something which resembles muddy water and it doesn’t taste a lot better. The Fijians lap this stuff up. I couldn’t see the appeal. Apparently if you get the strong stuff it not only numbs your tongue but also knocks you unconscious (Did I fail to mention it’s a natural aesthetic?). You have to drunk about 3 litres before that’s likely to happen. Think I’ll stick to beer.
I meet Marcie a bubbly Canadian student and we had a go at frog racing. Unfortunately my frog didn’t hop to it. Although I think some of the girls jumped higher than the frog ever could!
Traveling onto Suva the Capital. Music for the journey consisted of Shakera and the Papia song from the Carvaholics. Prior to getting to Suva we did a really worthwhile day hike known as the Matakimball track. During some parts of the trek we waded through knee deep water, finishing at the Navua river. After lunch everyone jumped onto a rubber tyre ring and we floated down stream. The best technique was to paddle backwards. I also had a go at jumping into the base of the waterfall; great fun. I won the contest for the best belly flop….(it was never in doubt).
Later that night we celebrated Alistars Birthday in the Bad dog café, Suva. The Hostel prepared the biggest chocolate cake I had ever seen! The party continued in the night club next door; Alistair’s dance effort was unrivalled.
The next day proved to be rainy but undeterred we meet the chieftain of Korovou for yet more Carva….(Not a good hangover cure, trust me) After drinking what felt like a reservoir and a toilet stop to empty ones bladder we arrived at Wai School. The kids here were so much fun, they were fascinated by our digital camera’s and made some great poses for the camera.
Our next stop was to have ago at Billi Billi rafting. These rafts were once used to transport bananas up the river. Thus we jumped onto a make shift bamboo raft, one person was the uderman. He pushed us along with the aid of a long stick. It didn’t take long before it devolved into a slashing carnage. Everyone got soaked!
I decieded to stay in Voli Voli Beach to complte my open water suba diving course. This required lots of reading and watching dvd'd after 5 days I had passed the theory with 98% and was comfortable with the theory. Next stop the golden barrier reef. This was amazing saw loads of clown fish, ells ghoust coral (which changes colour when you touch it) my dive master Paul kept a careful eye on me which gave me a sense of reassurance. A few days later I had a go at diving off beach comber Island. My first Shark dive, I saw 6 2m white tipped reef sharks. They are amazing creatures to watch. They were feeding on a school of barricuda's whilst we sat on the ocean floor. My dive master had to pull me a down as once shark was getting a bit close for comfort!!!! Incredible experience.
Kayaked from beachcomber over to treasure island with Cameron a canadian bloke. Saw a gaint manter-ray snorkerlling.....it just hugs the ocean floor, neat propulsion it swims by flapping the edge of it's body. Also witnessed some polyansian dancing in the evening and enjoyed some fijian rum.
Returning back to Nadia I got to the airport to catch my flight. It was only when I got to the check in desk that I realised to my horror I was a day late! I had written the wrong date down in my diary! Thankfully there was an identical flight that night all I had to do was pay 25 fijian dollars ( 10 pounds) I handed over the money in a flash and made my way to Los Angeles, America.
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