Day 1: We wandered down to Nadi town in the afternoon and fair to say there isn't much to Nadi. Few supermarkets, lots of funky bula shirt shops and tacky souvenir shops...lots of hussle hussle from locals shouting bula across the road! Nadi is a very been there done that kinda place. Do not feel like I need to go back.
Day 2: The following day was spent staked out on the beach, reading my book, making bracelets...happy loz.
Day 3: My final day in smugglers was spent action packed. We hired paddle boards from the hostel and all of us 5 girls hit the ocean...which was surprisingly warm and such a giggle trying to stay on the boards! To keep the activities rolling we decided to take our taxi driver 'Ram' up on his offer to take us to the garden of sleeping giants and then to the sabeto hot springs and mud pools. 
Well I'll tell you, I've never seen such a pretty gardens before...full of colours and a insane amount of orchids which were just beaaautiful. But would I pay $16 for it knowing what I know now...perhaps not. 
On our way home the taxi driver is telling us that he has a new granddaughter and she's only 6 days old...we tell him our congratulations ect ect. The next thing we know we've been invited along to the ceremony and told to come around 6:30 for food and kava(some vile drink)..okay pal.
But he had us girls hooked after he said free food...hola hunny! So we trotted up to his house and were the only white ones there and the only ones bar him who spoke English...joy. So we sat there awkwardly until what felt like an hour later and the baby and mother came out and everyone was cooing at how cute she was when the mother passed the little bubba to holly and us girls all got a cuddle of this little bundle of hair and cuteness. Then on came the fooooood. Which was insane, potato, pumpkin curry with poppadoms and rice and salsa...all phenomenal. Ate like bloody Henry the 8th. 
Now home to pack up all my shite and go island hopping for the next 15 days... Bring on the yasawas. First stop Waya Lailai. All aboard.
Day 4: Wayawoza. This island is incredible.. As we got of the main boat we were headed into a little dingy long boat that didn't have seats or look like it could stay afloat! Well was I wrong. It flew through the ocean and rocked up to this island that is surrounded by crystal clear water and lush greenness. Welcomed to the island by 5 Fijians singing and playing the guitar...most adorable thing ever!! Hello my new home, shame it's only for 2 nights but if this is anything to go by. I don't think I'll be disappointed!
Wayalailai Eco haven is the sweetest little resort, all in little huts with straw roofs! Very spacious "dorm" rooms with mosquito nets and cute bedding. The beach has really comfortable hammocks to chill out on - which I made full use of this afternoon! The lunch was amazing...array of BBQ meat, salads, rice and fruit. All tasted amazing and very fresh! Can't wait to see what's for dinner...fattaaay. It turned out to be an interesting evening. I went down to the beach to watch the sunset and chill out for a bit but got interrupted by this local Fijian guy. We started chatting and he was pleasant enough. Then he asked to take a walk with him down the beach. I didn't want to be rude so I went with. And he took me up to some persons house that hadn't been there in 6 months. But was a very strange thing, sweet guy though didn't mean any harm I suppose and I got a good spot of the sunset...winning!
After my adrenaline packed morning I decided that the rest of the day will be spent chilling on the hammock reading my book. I did venture into the sea for a swim and a snorkel to be surrounded with fish and coral and crystal clear water!
My chilled out afternoon soon changed into a 10k hike up the mountain to sit on a rock to watch the sunset. But fuck me was it a hard walk, constant uphill, rocks, slippery leaves. Fair to say it wasn't the most enjoyable experience on the way up but mood was lightened when we got to the 'wombling' rock -that our tour guide found hilarious to rock while we were standing right ontop...we however did not. But the rest of the walk wasn't too bad, we reached this impossibly steep rock that this Fijian thought was a piece of piss to climb, but my gangly limbs just weren't made for climbing. The views were amazing and you could see all of the yasawas from one side and Vomo at the other...hike was defo worth the view.
Bye bye Wayalailai....Bula Waya!
Day 6: I'm probably going to say this about every resort and island but I can't get over how beautiful it is!! The water is turquoise blue and so clear, I literally can't wait it get in and snorkel with the go pro tomorrow! Octopus is the most amazing resort, it's so cute, chilled out and well laid out. Couldn't fault it! Would change the guests to be less children running around and some single guys wouldn't go a miss. But what can you do....?
The food is unreal, had delicious curry selection last night, and beaut breakfast this morning.
I haven't really felt alone because every meal I've sat down to there's always been people to strike up a conversation. But the Austrian I met last night at dinner said a very true statement...saying that you don't miss the company until you do something amazing and want to share the moment with another person. That's the only downfall to travelling alone. But for that I have the gopro ;)
Day 7: I was wanting to snorkel today but the water is just far too choppy so looks like I'll be going in the morning if weather picks up. For now I'm just happy reading and sunbathing. However I do feel the need to go on a run or swim or something. So maybe will get up extra early tomorrow to swim before breakfast? I say this now and by the time tomorrow rolls round I'll be thinking the exact opposite!!
Absolutely exhausted after a hard day of doing nothing. But Kim the Korean German from my room is the cutest and hilarious! I had dinner with her and a couple from Norway that were going to sail from bora bora to aus on their own boat. How cool!! OH and had my first fresh coconut too today which was nice but very sickly! 
Day 8: On to mantray island...which does exactly what it says on the can. The only island where giant mantrays swim in the shallow water. So look forward to being petrified swimming with them.
It's an okay resort...everything is almost done for money. Looks great on the outside. But there's a charge for this...fee for that. Anyway. I'll get over that.
Day 9: 6:45am: (haha this sounds like a Big Brother moment) DING A LING LING LING LING. Off went the manta ray drums AT 6:45am!! Not a happy bunny but the bells meant we were getting to go snorkelling with manta rays. Our dorm room was literally like an army camp. Jenny was running round knocking on everyone's beds waking us up. And then all scrambling to get our swimmers on and down to the beach before the mantas swam off. So bearing in mind it's now about 7am and the wind is blowing full force...I am soooo cold, I don't even want to get in the water! But I plunged in to swim up to the crowd and moments later be hovering above the biggest sea creature I've ever been in the water with. Then another followed so there's 2 massive 3m wide mantas swimming just below us, such a surreal moment and I stupidly forget I'm carrying the gopro. But because the current is so strong you get blown the opposite way to the rays. It's almost like we're on a amusement ride. We ride the current and then get picked up by a boat and do it all over again...classic loz bailed half way through and sat in the boat. The rest of the day was super chilled on the beach and went in for a little snorkel which was better than the day before, so much more fish and all super colourful too. I can hand on heart say that the reefs out here are 100% better than the Great Barrier Reef!
The night started off okay, we had 3 new additions to our table...a girl from Hertford and 2 Canadians which mixed up the table of 1 American, 1 kiwi, 2 Dutch, 2 Canadian and 2 pommies. Then Solo(the main guy) declared we would be playing games tonight...my first thought was oh fuckkkk I really don't want to do this. But the first game was with a stone...ooh exciting. Funnily enough it was hilarious. You had to push this rock with either feet or hands the furthest but not crossing a line while your partner was holding your weight. So the first couple went and set the bar extremely high so a few people went up, while me and corrie discussed our game plan.. So it was our turn and he goes try the splits, me being the most inflexible person ever decide to give it a crack....well it turns out that I'm more flexible than I thought I was because I somehow managed to win the first round!!! But got knocked out because there's only so far my legs can stretch!
Second game was called kings, queens, princesses and castles. So we all paired up and got told these various positions...so queen the girl had to get on the guys back, king was the opposite so the guy had to get on the girls, princess was being picked up like you do on your wedding day, and castle the guy had to get on all 4's and you perched on his back. So basically there would be music and when solo called out one of the actions and the slowest couple to get into the position was knocked out me and my little Canadian Jordan had it pretty good until someone blocked him and we got knocked out half way through. But I literally couldn't breath because I was laughing so much!
Next game was where we were in a circle and had to cluster into groups of the amount he said...basically a popularity thing haha. Still very amusing.
Then spent the rest of the evening chatting to my little Canadian king, very sweet!
Day 10: After a chilled morning on the island I'm of to Naviti island to white sandy beach...well white sandy beach is a shit hole. I've arrived and I'm so disappointed I didn't look into it before I came. All I want to do is leave. Praying these next 2 days go quickly...my only saving grace is that a few from the last island are on the resort next to this one so fucking hope I can go visit them for the most part. (Can you tell I'm a bit annoyed?) maybe I'm just being harsh, i should give it a chance. Well dinner was a nightmare, there's only 7 other guests and they're all German so they're all quite happy speaking amongst themselves on top of me feeling like an outsider the food was awful! The soup was like piss water and the mains was disgusting and bland...only paying $70 a night so I guess I shouldn't expect anything more. As soon as I ate dinner I escaped to the next door resort where a few people I'd met at mantray were staying and played games with them and then trotted back here to sleep.
Day 11: I trotted over to korovou(the next door resort where the others were staying) and we weaved baskets out of coconut tree leaves. Fair to say I was awful
at it! So the lady that was helping us do it, she made me a coconut clutch which was very sweet. After we had done that it was time to watch the 'gecko man' climb a coconut tree, get us some coconuts and climb down head first...very intrigued to how he was going to do that without injuring himself. Fair to say it wasn't that spectacular, he kinda just gripped on for dear life and slid down the tree. We headed over to honeymoon beach which was on the other side of the island. It's a strip of beach that's very secluded and has soft white sand, shame that when we went the tide was out so it was pretty shallow and we couldn't snorkel but a nice place to visit nonetheless. Was a pretty chilled rest of the day on the hammocks reading - think I may have got a bit of sunstroke because I felt vile all afternoon and didn't feel like doing anything.
Day 12: IM OUTAAAAA HERE. Not going to miss it one bit. Cyaaaa laterrrrr fuckers. The ferry ride from white sandy to long beach didn't take long which was good. Arrived at long beach being the only one on my boat....greaaaat. Can see where the next 2 days are going to take me.
Upon arriving to the resort the host introduced me to the guests which was a nice touch! There was only 4 guests so not much introducing went on, but they're all German again!! Joys of being the only English at the table. Then to lunch which was a mounded pile of spaghetti and tomato vegetable sauce, pretty nice and massive portions compared to what I was given at white sandy. After lunch I was taken to my room, and to much delight I've been put in a bure not a dorm room! Woop! So I've got 3 beds to choose from, including a double bed....winner! And my own bathroom...happy days. The host of the resort is really nice and friendly and has made me feel super welcome.
Ugh I tried to workout for the first time in a long time today. And let's just say it didn't go too well! Not looking forward to having to get fit when I get home :( oh and guess what? 2 weeks today and I'll be back in miserable old England. Oh the joys.
Well dinner was a success, no vile "meat" in sight and was actually a proper portion of food. Considering that I'm the only English at the table - same as last time... the people are so much more friendly and nice and are actually engaging conversation. So I'm again on a high of fiji, tomorrow is Sunday where there's no activities but I've picked up this book that looks like it's made for 12 year olds haha. Ah well. Fiji time for me tomorrow...bliss
Day 13: average joe breakfasts this morning, but can't complain. It's pretty overcast so my plan is to go grab a hammock and chill and read my day away. It was such a boring day. The highlight was 2 welsh girls...Olivia and Chantelle arrived so I finally had someone to talk to. We made coconut rings, mine was shiteeeee. But at least I was doing something. We learnt how to open coconuts without tools. New life skill learnt...wonder if I'll ever get to use it in the UK...?
Day 14: how on earth have I been in fiji for 2 weeks already??? Anyway onto my next island today which I'm really excited for!! But first at long beach we did a coconut demonstration where I got taught how to crack a coconut in 2, pretty impressive. And then we ate papaya, lime juice, and coconut milk, oh my lord. You wouldn't have thought that was a combination but it was heavenly. Nothing beats fresh coconuts! Onto blue lagoon now and it's beaut, just what I needed to pick me up again! Some nice company...already made some pals and ate with them at lunch. And some good food. Yammy. Only down side. I had my heart set on staying here for 3 nights and beachcomber for 1 but they're fully booked here so looks like I'm going to beachcomber for 2 nights. I just hope it's okay!!
I may have sent a text to dad when I was on my way to long beach after the horrific white sandy saying I've just had the worst time ever and he's taken it so dramatically telling everyone to try and get in contact with me and even messaged someone that I was tagged in a picture to try and find out how I was!! How dramatic is that?! I've only not replied because I haven't even had signal. Haha I find it funny but font think dad will. Whoops
Day 15: as I've been a couch potato the past few days I decided to go on a snorkelling trip but as the weather wasn't great I can't say it was the most amazing reef and not many fish but hey. Live and learn. Me and Gemma decided to snorkel just at the reef out the front of the resort and that had loads of fish and lots of colourful reefs. But my goggles kept getting fogged up and I was stressing out mega so I quickly abandoned the sea. And to make matters worse it's not been sunny at all the past few days so I've not even been able to sunbathe! But had good crowd at this resort which makes it so much better.
The night started off with a crab race that was utterly hilarious! There was about 30 mini hermit crabs in a jar that got released into the sand and there's shouting and cheering for these miniature creatures to win!
I've come to the conclusion that I despise rum of any sort, it's vileeeee. Only acceptable in cocktails! Jeff the dive instructor was getting drinks and to no joke his drinks were all rum and a splash of coke...reminded me of Mikey and how he would get along with these guys so well. Any who we stayed up till 1am just chatting and drinking. The next thing I know I'm being talked into doing a shark dive the following morning...
Day 17: Swai-a-lai caves were on my list to do while in fiji so when the opportunity came about that I could go see them I just had to! So me and Gemma decided to go together which was nice to have a buddy and she's such a lovely girl! These caves were pretty cool, and pretty scary when you thought too much about it! So you go into one that's got no roof and it's all light then the next one you've got to squeeze through a small gap that literally fits half of your head! Anyway. The next cave is pitch black with no light at all, the only light is coming from the guides torch, very scary but so cool. Now on the big boat heading toward beachcomber, was gutted to leave blue lagoon and Gemma, but hey I'll make sure I come back!
Night número uno at beachcomber was actually quite fun but very quiet for a "party island" but it's never how many can make a party it's always who can make one. I had the welshies..Chantelle, Olivia who I met on long beach, and Carys who they had met on an island and then this creepy shitefaced Norwegian decided he would join us on our table, which resulted in liv saying he looked like Nigel Thornberry which was SUCH a good, but insulting comparison haha. Then you can always bond over bitching about really drunk people so this is where Matt and Graeme come in, they helped up escape from Nigel, and also encouraged us to get our drink on. Which I came to find that the boys were very good influencers, hilarious and charming none the less. 
Day 18: Carys decided the team needed to do something active to sweat out the alcohol and the only appealing thing was to hire kayaks. So off us and the boys went out aiming to reach the next island that we could se, only because they had a cool trampoline in the middle of the ocean...after 20 minutes of gruelling zigzagging paddling (because me and Carys weren't very good) we finally made it to Treasure island! We all clambered onto the trampoline which was quite fun pinging about...a utter bitch to climb onto though! We had a little ponder round treasure island which looked really cute and nice! Finding a mini golf course, wedding chapel, and then a really nice pool in the resort that just had to be tested out! 
Day 19: it's fair to say I wasn't feeling to funky fresh this morning... Then next thing I know I've got to get on a little speed boaty thing to get back to the main land. Luckily it wasn't too choppy and was a fairly quick boat journey. So my next task of the day was to get a bus to beachouse on the coral coast....easy? HmmmNO. I had to wait an hour to get on this massive bus full of Fijians. I'm sat there being the only white on the bus. And boy did I feel out of place, the Fijians didn't seem to want me there either...it's funny because most of them are 90% happy and very chatty. Anyway. I asked the drivers assistant to stop at beachouse as I didn't have a clue where I was going. And he was like yeah yeah yeah. Sure....I was told the bus was about 1hr-1:30 but as the journey was getting toward 2 hours and I could feel we were getting more and more inland as the kilometres ticked by. So at the next stop I got up and asked the driver where beachouse was...his eyes widening to an inhumane size kinda already gave me my answer...we had passed it and by a long shot. OH FUCK. I'm on this bus full of Fijians and I'm half the way to Suva in the middle of friggen Fiji! So he tells me to get off the bus and wait on the other side of the road and there may be one passing. Well I don't know about you but knowing the odds of another bus passing are slim I wasn't getting off the bus in a hurry. But in the next instant he flags down a little mini van and asks if they can take me. So I get lobbed of one bus and chucked into the van. Just hoping that I was heading in the right direction. And about 20 minutes later I'm being told I'm here...I can tell you that it certainly didn't look like I had arrived. But yet again been told to get off the bus....okaaaay then. So there's little old loz pottering down this road in the middle of the jungle with my backpack on. And right enough i had finally arrived at the beachouse!! YAY. The relief was unreaaaal.
But saying all that shite it was really cool to drive through all the different villages and see the true Fiji not only the touristic parts.
The beachouse was really cool and had a nice vibe and funky furniture, met some really nice people and yet again didn't feel alone which is amazing! Really good food and heaaaaaps of it! Such friendly staff too. And what a bonus...there is 7 adorable puppies just roaming around. CUTEEEEEE.
Day 20: Sunday funday... Or rainyday in my case. Today has been such a lazy day but really nice and chilled. Played some volleyball with fellow travellers and then spent the rest of the arvo just sitting round the table with a puppy sleeping on my lap...heaven! 
Day 21: BYE BYE BEACHOUSE. Thankfully my journey from the coral coast to nadi was very uneventful and spent with the lads from beachouse so was nice to have familiar company on the long journey back! We stopped off to get some corn that that was just on a stall at the side of the road, and only $1. Bargain.
Then back to smugglers cove for one night, and I've got familiar faces here too, Graeme and Matt are here so can tell you something for sure it's not going to be a quiet night by any means!
Carl and I went into Nadi town this afternoon to do some cultural bits so we went to the temple which was very uneventful and relatively boring. Then to find a bula shirt, which, not only did I find one. I got it custom made! Loving life. And then headed to the markets because food is my favourite thing ever. But don't think much is in season as all the stalls sold pretty much the same stuff. One half of the market was fruit and veg and the other one was cava...so cava is a root, and the Fijians ground it down to a powder and mix it with water. And it has a medicinal property that kinda makes you numb, my one glass got my mouth and lips tingly, but if enough is consumed it can numb your whole body and kinda chills you out. But in my eyes it just tastes like vile muddy water, there's not any
other way to describe it. But it was really cool to see the amount that was at the market.
Anyway back to smugglers to see what my last night has in store for me....
My last night was too messy...the boys can drink fack loads. A game of kings and ride the bus never ends well for me. Especially when there's tequilaaaaaaa involved. At the end of the game it just seemed logical to all run into the sea? Somehow I thought that was a good idea...? But nonetheless was a lot of fun. A memorable night to end my trip with, very grateful I got to meet the guys because they made my last few days really enjoyable, going to miss having them around.
Waking up at 5:30 was not ideal, especially on minimal sleep and too much drink. And to top of being hungover...I didn't realise that I needed a visa to get back into oz, so that was fun when the guy on the desk said that he couldn't let me board. Errrrm what. But after $100 we got it fixed and approved and I'm just
chilling/hanging out my arse waiting to board my flight to Brisbane.
Well I've never experienced something quite like that. The turbulence was on another level, or maybe I'm just being dramatic because I was already very jittery. But I genuinely feel sorry for the Aussie that sat next to me. I constantly gibbered in his ear because I was nervous and then grabbed for his hand a few times because the turbulence made me jump that much. Haha. How on earth am I going to do my next flight alone. TOUCHDOWN...back in my second home. I have an action packed day and I don't quite know how I'm going to do it! Coffee time me thinks!!
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