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A couple of mad Kiwis Andre & Jaq were
on hand to make New Years a laugh. The girls predictably ended
up in the pool. Good on ya guys.
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Whose champagne is this? |
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A couple of minutes into 2002, retaining the
essential skill of pouring champagne for everyone. |
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| The time came for us to leave the luxury
behind and board the Yasawa Flyer and tour the Yasawa
and Mamanuca Archipeligo. First stop was the imaginatively
named David's Place, the most "basic" place
I have ever stayed. Our traditional Bura housed a large
crab and (according to Holly) a rat. The bed was damp
with salt water and had bed bugs giving no chance of sleep.The
entertainment was dancing to whatever was on the radio
with the Fijian Mamas. I ended up in a Kava session with
the village elders to try and mellow to sleep. 10 cups
was not enough! 4:30 sunrise was just about worth the
long wait. |
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| Completely
Hammocked |
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Tavewa Cave
Boat Trip
This was the first time on the water without the reckless BJ
Baracus and the Yasawa Flyer. We passed idyllic deserted islands
and swam in the Sawailau Caves with the invisible biting swimming
creatures. Some of the group squuezed underwater into another
cave. Not me! |
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| Fantastic island with really friendly
people and azure sea. Holly gave me a haircut on the beach and
spent the day with the Canadian photographer Keith chilling.
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Our Bura |
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| Living in a traditional Fijian house is hot and here we had
our own private toilet/shower facility complete with resident
tarantula-type spider. |
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| Kuata
Snorkelling Trip |
| We were taken to a sand spit to
snorkel. Not being supremely confident in the water, the session
just blew my mind. The conditions were perfect - crystal clear
water, amazing coral and myriads of tropical fish. On the way
home we dropped in on one of our boy's home village |
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| Fiji Village Welcome |
| A great Bula welcome from everyone
there, especially the kids. Their innocence was amazing. |
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| The
Kids Are Alright |
| These kids were fantastic. Their
poses were highly polished to give maximum cuteness. A herd
of them just followed us around like the Pied Piper. |
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| Reunion on South Sea Island |
| Again, hooked up with Sam and
Karen and ended up being the only four people on an island you
could walk around in 8 minutes. A taste for cold Fiji Bitter
had now been acquired. |
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| South Sea Island |
| Not quite enough people to get
a volleyball game going so we went out in the Yellow Submarine
to check out the coral. |
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| Yellow Submarine |
| The glass bottomed Yellow Submarine
took us inches away from the gorgeous coral that completely
circled the island. |
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South Sea Cruise
An all inclusive cruise took us to a disappointingly commercialised
village visit on Treasure Island. Never mind, "good"
Kava root was on hand. |
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Castaway Island
After lunch, we snorkelled the famous Castaway Island (where
Castaway was filmed). |
| Taveuni - The Garden Island |
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Back to the mainland and a flight to the Garden Island where
we met with Eric - the 7' 6'' basketball player (what else would
he do?). Word got around and when we made a trip to the 180
Meridian Line, the whole of neighbouring village turned up and
followed the giant like naughty schoolchildren. |
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| The Three Waterfalls, Taveuni |
| A 3 hour trek up a mountain to
view three gorgeous waterfalls. Humidity, an awkward steep track
and rain made the journey sapping. |
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| Waterfall |
| Running into this beautiful waterfall,
this waterfall was incredible. Just an idyllic backdrop. |
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| The Rainforest Queen |
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