TravelStream™ news feed for member lauraball on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/lauraball en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:57:30 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223467200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223467200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223467200/tpod.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:57:30 -0500 Ball's Brilliant Adventure!

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Paihia, North Island, New Zealand

Stray Patch Pass: Paihia, the Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga

Spike was our driver for the day - crazy guy, really enthusiastic & funny, always making comments like 'happy as pigs in sh!t!'. He told us he was glad to get out of Auckland as they're all miserable - shouting 'Gudday mate' out the bus window to people, only to recieve shocked un-amused faces; saying to us all 'I told you so'. He calls them JAFA's - Just another f-ing Aucklander - he certainly was a character to say the least. He left me in charge of everyones' boat pass ticket for later in the day, naming me as favourite for the day - oh dear! Clearly didn't know me well to save the tickets - never been the most organised!

We headed through coastal towns of Orewa & Waiwera. We stopped in Whangarei for a quick break before heading up to the Bay of Islands - stunning place! We checked into the Pipi Patch Base hostel & then hurried down to the harbour for our free Dolphin discoveries & 'Hole in the Rock' eco-cruise - to cruise amongst the 144 islands which make up the Bay. Set to begin the worst afternoon I've had since being away. It started out lovely, taking in the views, absolutely beautiful. But then as we left the bay & headed for the hole in the rock, it began to get extremely choppy & I quickly got the worst sea sickness I can ever remember having.... sitting on the floor at the back of the boat, feeling horrendous, completely green & nearly passing out.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223247600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223247600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1223247600/tpod.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:39:59 -0500 Ball's Brilliant Adventure!

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Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

As organised as I ever am, I had no plans for my arrival in New Zealand. I managed to find the right bus recommended by Denise and got dropped off close by the YHA International. Luckily they had a space in a 4 bed dorm room and so my New Zealand adventure began.

The temperature was quite a shock after Fiji, out came the jeans, trainers & jumpers - feeling very at home in the rain! I had a steady first evening wandering around to get a feel for the place and managed to book onto a free Auckland orientation day trip the following day, with a guided tours company called 'Stray'. With Nancy as our driver & Craig the guide, we got underway. Unfortunately, there was more rain for the day ahead. Our tour took in the sky tower which is New Zealand's tallest building and Mount Eden, an old volcano to take in the views over the city. We were told of a time when, a few years ago, a group of people put a load of car tyres in the summit of the volcano & set them alight. When the city residents looked up and saw the smoke billowing from the volcano, everyone panicked (as you would), even though it was supposedly dormant. The police & services were all too scared to go up and check it out, so started evacuating the city. It wasn't until the fire eventually went out & people realised it was April 1st, that it dawned on everyone that it was actually a hoax! To this day, the people responsible have never been caught!

We then took in a local pub for lunch with much appreciated open fire, before we headed around the harbour, taking in the views before getting harnessed up to walk across the harbour bridge. We arrived at a pod/capsule where one of the guys bungy jumped, getting dunked in the water below. This inspired another 6 people to jump, however I can't say I was tempted in the slightest. So off we went back to the bus to get dropped off at our hostels again; the end of the trip. I then went out for pizza with a couple of the girls from my room, good day had by all.

My final day spent in Auckland was another wander around the city, also booking my tour bus for the rest of travels in New Zealand. I decided on 'Stray', opting for a North and South Island pass (Moe), along with a Patch pass to cover the Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga, the very northern part of NZ. Finally feeling fairly organised, a rare occasion for me; I got myself packed and ready for the early pickup the following morning when my Stray adventure was to begin....
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Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji

The pace was then to step up a few notches as I returned to the main island of Viti Levu staying in Smugglers Cove for a night, before joining the Feejee Experience (guided tour bus) for the next 4 days. Picked up at 8.15am on our lovely green bus - where two of the lovely ladies I'd met at Oarsman's were also on board - hurray! There were about 15 of us on the tour - fab group of friends for the trip ahead!

Day 1: Nadi to Mango Bay!
First stop was Nadi markets & shops where I bought a sulu ready to wear during the upcoming village visits. From Nadi we headed for another beautiful beach - Natadola Beach having an hour & half swimming & sunbathing before BBQ on the beach. Then winding our way through the sugar cane fields & several villages, we arrived at Malomalo coastal village where we had a wander around & sat in a traditonal Bure, where our guide Anna told us about life in a village, interactions of families & also the times when cannibalism still existed. The Bure we sat in was constructed without a single nail & has survived 7 cyclones apparently!
The next stop was the sand dunes at Sigatoka. We all grabbed a body board & headed up the steep slopes - felt like harder work in that heat than the half marathon back home! Gripping the board (for dear life) we launched ourselves off the top. Great fun had by all! Following our sand boarding efforts we headed down to the Coral Coast to our first overnight stop of Mango Bay Resort, where we all shared a dormitory together. We were greeted with a traditional kava ceremony where I was nominated spokesperson of the chief (they weren't allowed to speak)! Then we all sat together for a lovely meal & well earned glass of vino, before crab racing & then collapsing into bed exhausted after a fun filled day!

Day 2: Mango Bay to Suva!
Another early start, on the bus by 8 - I thought this was meant to be a holiday! We left the coastline and started winding our way up the side of the Navua River, then swapping into a truck to take us the rest of the way up a gravel road. Then here begun a 3 - 3 & half hour trek into the mountains, mostly uphill - certainly a bit of a challenge! We ventured through rainforest amidst the inner mountains part way through joining a river/stream which we walked through for a good half hour - in some cases places the water came up to your thighs - but generally just above ankle depth. Had an amazing time - definitely a highlight! The end of Matakibau's trek intersected with Navua River where we stopped on the shore for lunch followed by tubing down the river & rapids until you reached the waterfalls which you can jump off the top into pools & back into the river! Then begun the long boat ride down the river through a stunning gorge with mountains either side back down to civilization.
We then went through the capital of Suva, the heart of Fiji - seeing all the markets & high rise, before heading onto Raintree Lodge set around tropical rainforests & lakes to re-fuel for our second overnight stop.

Day 3: Suva to Volivoli!
Today we went straight to Wailotua Village to view a traditional sevu-sevu ceremony. Andre was appointed chief with Shah as his spokesman. We then all in a semi circle around the kava bowl in our Sulus as the ceremony took place. The whole bowl had to be drunk, the guys had to stay & finish it while we sat with the ladies buying & making woven bracelets. I had 4 bowls of kava & was feeling fairly relaxed by that point!
Then we were off to the Wainibuka river with the chief from the village for Bilibili rafting. We glided down stream, jumped off for a few ball games with chief, before heading back with me attempting to steer - good job it wasn't deep!
We then took the supplies we'd bought (pens, paper, pencils, crayons) along to the school visit. They were primary school age, all seemed advanced though for their age & really enthusiastic & happy. One boy had to walk/run for 2 hours to school and back every day - sure to become good at marathon running! It was certainly an experience!
Onto Volivoli beach resort in Rakiraki on the northern most tip of Viti Levu - a beautiful spot right on the beach. There was an entertainment guy at the hostel called Sasha who liked to cross dress. An evening of games ahead where I managed to win a beer - every little helps!

Day 4: Volivoli to Nadi!
Down to the beach for sea kayaking & snorkelling before pick up at midday. Saw some giant bright purple starfish! We headed to Ba Town for a ruby murray in the district of the Indo-Fijians. I had a fish curry which blew my head off - no change there then! I did get to cook my own roti though - I knew I had some cooking skills in me somewhere!
We finished the trip with the Sabeto Valley hot springs and mud pools, at the base of the sleeping giant mountain range. Really enjoyed these, the mud was lovely & warm & like a free health spa! Mud fights galore, group photos, & me doing a bambi impression as I completely skidded when I got out - the clumsiness seems set to continue! Then washed off & jumped in the hot pools - amazing hot! Great day had by all, it's a hard life!
Then back to Nadi for farewell drinks with the group as the trip came to an end.

My second to last night in Nadi included sitting on the floor amongst other guests with the 5 entertainment guys playing the guitar & singing around yet another massive kava bowl! Quite a surreal experience, listening to lots of Bob Marley, with some Eric Clapton's Layla & Bill Withers Ain't No Sunshine thrown in, with more kava consumed that night than the whole amount I'd drunk over the rest of the trip put together = good night's sleep!
During my last full day, I took a trip around Nadi town, visiting the Hindu temple - quite spectacular! Then bartering at the local markets, purchasing a watch made from coconut shell and a wooden bracelet. The final morning (5th October) I had a well deserved rest, reading my book in the sun before heading to the airport for my New Zealand adventure to begin - very excited!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1222247400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1222247400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lauraball/1/1222247400/tpod.html Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:46:31 -0400 Ball's Brilliant Adventure!

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Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji

I well and truly settled into Fiji time where it was certainly very relaxed - all helped along by the kava!

I landed in Fiji at 5am on Wednesday 24th September after a day and a half traveling. After another short bus ride and then 4 hours cruising the Yasawa islands on the Yasawa flyer (a big yellow boat / ferry) I arrived at my first destination of Oarsman's Bay Lodge on Nacula island. This stood on the edge of a stunningly beautiful white sandy beach with crystal clear waters. Home for my first 4 nights away & definitely a great choice to get over the jet lag!! (Thanks Andrea for recommendation!). Lazy days on the beach, snorkeling on the fabulous coral reef, meeting new friends, learning new card games, crab racing, dancing & flower necklaces on Fijian night, tasting traditional lovo (underground oven) cooked meal, experiencing kava for the first (of many) times, a drum signal summoning everyone for each meal together & just generally chilling out!! Sega na leqa! (No worries)! It was completely remote, so no phone signal or internet access - hence no updates for a while!
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