Fiji
We arrived into Nadi airport to the sound of live Fijian music... Possibly the friendliest passport check I've ever been through! We headed to the hostel then returned to the airport to meet Nicola's sister Rachael. We had dinner while watching some amazing Fijian dancing followed by fire throwing. The room in our hostel, Smugglers Cove, looked something like a prison with 30 beds but it was comfy for the night! The next morning a bus took us to the ferry port where we met the Yasawa Flyer, the big yellow catamaran that ships the hoards of travellers to the Yasawa Islands which lie to the West of the mainland. We passed by the Mamanuca Islands, one of which looks like your picture perfect tiny sand island full of palm trees and cemented the fact that we had arrived in paradise. The Flyer is incredibly efficient (rather different from our experience of similar boats in Thailand) - they alert you to which resorts they will soon be arriving at so you can prepare to disembark, then the catamaran is met by small boats from the resorts with departing guests who board the Flyer, then those arriving take one of them and the other takes your luggage which is effortlessly thrown from boat to boat by muscular Fijian men. 3 hours flew past and we arrived at our resort, Korovou Eco Resort, on Naviti Island. We hopped off the Flyer onto a smaller boat which took us to shore where we paddled through the shallow waters and onto shore to the sound of Fijian singing and guitar playing. We were lead to our beautiful hut just steps behind the beach then enjoyed a delicious lunch. Most travellers stay for 2 nights on one island then move onto the next but we decided that we'd like a holiday from our holiday and wanted to remain in one place to prevent the requirement of constant packing and moving around. We loved being settled in what most be one of the most beautiful, untouched, picturesque places on earth surrounded by wonderful locals who run the resort and interesting travellers coming and going. The resort's head chef was trained at the Sheraton so we enjoyed delicious meals everyday and spent every evening being entertained by the 'Bula Boys' (Bula meaning Welcome in Fijian). The Bula Boys comprised of men who work in the resort but all dance in the evenings to provide entertainment then encourage the guests to join in on games as if we were at a kids party... Not had so much fun in a long time! We became good friends with many staff members and enjoyed watching them climb trees to fetch coconuts for us then teach us how to crack them open and enjoy the delicious water and flesh inside. The hot and sweaty trek to a high point on the island was worth the effort to see the amazing views of the islands southern hills and beaches and to be able to see two of the Islands eight villages. Spending most of the day in a bikini by the pool or on the beach, learning how to weave coconut leaves, dressing in hula skirts with flowers in our hair, collecting shells to make jewellery, playing volleyball with other guests and locals, doing long challenging runs along the beach, enjoying fresh coconut water after and watching beautiful sunsets from the hammocks on the beach all add up to what was one incredibly relaxing and wonderful week. We departed the island to the local farewell song which brought a tear to the eye. I've promised to return one day, I plan to keep that promise.