New Mavida Lodge Ovalau Island

I had a bula blast! Friendly people, humid weather, ate spicy food and gained more pounds! I slept and woke up late but finally out and about. On relax mode. Ahh.. the LIFE. Trying to read a book, oh got it! A first page of Fiji Times just flew by. Lots of sight ...

... it was like. Never have I met a more amazing group of people in my life - and this was not specific to our hostel or even Nadi. We found the same warm, welcoming and good natured people throughout the islands as well.<br><br>One thing is for sure - the Fijians are doing something right. Their smiles, laughter, constant singing and joke telling demonstrate day in and day out that they are a truly happy people with a unique and inspiring ...

... a dip in the pool and a cocktail were in order. I met a scottish girl called Lynsey and she was off to Suva the capital of Fiji, in the afternoon and was also travelling alone and had arrived the night before. As I had no plans of what to do I decided to go with her. So I booked a bus and was off by 1:00 pm, well turned out to be more like 1:30 but Fijians dont like to rush!<br>

... they went down and I went up, it would end up right where I wanted it. I would take 1 minute tops to get the price! I just laugh as soon as I say a price so low that they freak out and go, "No, no, no, no this is worth $50... but I can make a deal at $40 for you"... and I would reply something like, "Okay, how about $20?" and keep working them down... it was hilarious. And somewhere in there, I would say, I don't even know if this is real... prove to ...

... custom, The Think Pacific team presented a &#8216;sevu sevu&#8217; gift of yaqona (kava ) to one of Fiji&#8217;s Chiefs. Our volunteers were formally welcomed to Fiji by pounding the roots of yaqona and sharing a few bowls of this ceremonial drink with the Ratu of Moturiki island. Kava is one of the most important, fascinating and endearing customs in Fijian society. It is made from the dried roots of a pepper plant and is drunk ceremonially from ...

... around the hills, which from the shore look completely forested, but which in fact had an entire community connected by concrete sidewalks, stairs, and bridges that were the only paths connecting the houses (no roads on these steep hills) making the community very unique and probably very close. The people were very friendly with kids waving from windows as we walked by. We spent one night here and then continued on...

... anchorage area. Instead we donned the snorkeling gear and swam around, seeing a lot of even better coral and variety of fish since this was a relatively untouched area (we were the only boat there). The highlight was seeing a giant clam, which if John had not pointed it out to me I would have glanced over guessing it was a large funny shaped rock. The clam was at least 3 feet long, probably 2 feet ...

... like an episode of shipwrecked. The 12 current guests, all white, twenty-something backpackers, wearing bikinis and boardies, had heard our boat arriving and came to stand on the shore and wave madly at us. In the day we spent out time exploring a tidal flat and the sea life it exposed, eels, starfish and crabs. We snorkeled just off the beach, read books, play volleyball - staff vs ...

... of the tree-climbing gardener) that the green coconut is much tastier than the hairy variety which falls down.<br><br>We went snorkelling several times;Andy reports encounters with both a moray and a large colour-changing octopus, as well as a black-tipped shark. And all without scuba!<br><br>And so we're now in the land of long evenings and preparations for a warm Christmas. As soon as we have our car, the odyssey will commence!

... sweaty and covered in frog slime to find our mosquito-infested cold water shower was now not providing any water at all (due to the drought water was restricted). Cheered our smelly selves up with trip to Audry's-sweet American lady who has been living on Taveuni for 16 years and sells delicious cakes with generous helpings of her home-made Kahlua. Eating gorgeous cake, sipping iced raspberry juice ...