Grand West's Villas Nadi Sonaisali Island

... very poor conditions. Anyone who visits Fiji and is cocooned in their luxury resort will get the wrong impression of the country. Clearky money is pouring i form tourism and development grants but wher is it going - I feel a rant coming on but better not go into print as you never know who might read it!<br><br>The weather di pick up and I managed to do some snorkelling and suning myself. thebeach had all sorts of lovely pices of coral and shells and I did collect ...

Bula everyone! In case you didn't guess, "Bula" means "Hello" in Fijian!<br><br>It is Tuesday evening and we just got back to the mainland today. We spent the last 5 days on the small island of Waya in the Yasawa island group at the Octopus Resort. If you ever want to check out Fiji and everything it has to offer, this is the prime place for you! Amazing food, extensive diving, great snorkeling right out ...

... whether I book at the hotel or at the port.  It is nice to not have to bargain with ten people to get a fair price. The weather is so nice right now, but not sure if this is just because they are going into their winter.  I feel very welcome here and love the music that the locals play. I also think the coral is more beautiful than the other islands I have been to.  My only worry is how I am ever going to leave this place and if I do leave, when I will ever have a ...

... in a traditional sevu-sevu (kava) ceremony. On our way we were met by people waving to us. Our tour guide told us that the people in the area know what days the green bus drives by and the approximate time. For people in this area the people on the Feejee Experience bus are the only white people that they see!<br><br>Kava is a plant that they drink. Basically they pound the roots of the kava plant and add a little bit of cold water. When the chief hands you a coconut full of kava you ...

... again in the water is great and I remember not only how much I love it but also how much better it is than snorkelling. We head down to around 22m and follow the wall all the way along, mostly searching and looking at the smaller creatures in the rocks, finding only a Moray Eel and colourful reef fish. The visibility is at around 10-15m and the variety of fish and coral species is somewhat limited when compared to other places we have dived but this was going to be a risk ...

... other guests to the nearby village - the only village on the island. It was a little weird strutting through someone elses home as they go about their daily chores. But as usual we were greeted with the boisterous Bula! Our guide, newphew of the chief, also the name of our favorite New Zealand beer, Tui, showed us the meeting house and the churches (catholic and ...

... step on any....also the moths are as big as your open palm. I can deal with all of this, but the freaking flying cockroaches are not for me....luckily there are not that many of them....these creatures should not be allowed to fly...they are bloody disgusting. We have gekos in our room every night that eat all the mosquitoes, so that's good! The other guests here are very cool. There are a couple of guys from London that are really funny. About 4 people from California, and ...

... work, and so is a Good Thing. We attended a yaqona (kava) ceremony, concentrating ******* the protocol, and then enjoyed the music, the food, and dancing with the completely adorable children.<br><br>We will visit Fiji again (although at a different time of year!) and take away the memory of the friendliest locals we have ever met; and Bula 100FM on our Island Barn radio!Next journal - the New Zealand adventure begins in the new Bluesmobile!