Bula Fiji

I'm back in civillisation in Christchurch, New Zealand but will recount my Fijian adventures.

From Nadi town I travelled by the yellow boat to the Yasawas. I stayed in two different resorts which revolved around a lot of hammock time. you can't touch this. At first Fiji felt harder travelling alone because on the boat everyone seemed to be in couples- and indeed Fiji is a romantic getaway popular with honeymooners and the like. However, once on the resorts which were bure's (traditional Fijian thatched cottages but I had my tent) the numbers of people are small so people tend to mix together. Especially as meals are included in the price and on comes a steady stream of three meals a day and afternoon tea. This may be why I am suffering a bit from Fiji belly now.

The Fijian people are really friendly and the second resort I stayed in was run by the village and all the profit goes back to them. I sampled kava (a midly narcotic drink made from pounding a root and mixing it with water). There is a special ceremony and etiquette in how you drink the kava, showing respect by a lot of clapping. All it does is make your mouth go numb and the next day you experience the true meaning of Fiji time as you can not be bothered to do anything. Many Fijians drink it because alcohol is too expensive and strangely enough the more regularly you drink it the quicker it takes affect!?

I made some good friends on the islands and many of them are on similar journeys so hope to meet again.

Highlights have been:

Snorkelling; something I haven't done much before, its so easy to see incredible fish just off the beach. Overwhelming to be an intruder of this underwater world.

Coconuts; demonstrations on how to husk and get in to a coconut completed by sampling the milk and meat.

Dancing; from the Bula dance (Fijian macarena) to Fire dancing; It takes something for a grown man to put flames quite so close to his privates

I am quite disappointed I can not show my tan off for vanity's sake and I am sporting a mane (ish).

Landing in Christchurch has been quite a disorientating experience. Getting used to a colder climate although its like a British summer sort of. Feeling a bit ill and lonely at the mo but hope to get some plans together and have lots of ideas. Just trying to plan a route round the south island.

Really appreciate all your support, e mails and comments

bye for now

love Marianne