Once we were all settled in at the International Airport, printed our boarding passes, and found our gate, we just relaxed until our flight was boarding. I could not believe that I was actually going to Fiji. I was so excited and so anxious. I didn't even know what to expect. While waiting for our gate, I met a girl who was going to Boston to visit her boyfriend, who just found got a job there. She was really sweet so we talked for a bit. I asked her why she was going to Fiji, and she explained how it was the cheapest ticket to America, and she was telling me all of the stop overs she has. That makes me dread the flight coming home!
Once it was time, we boarded the plane! We flew Fiji Airways. Matt and I kept saying that even the plane looked Fijian. The seat covers and everything were Fijian. It was awesome. This was making me even more excited.
We finally touched down in Fiji! We were here! Oh my goodness. What a gorgeous view. We got picked up from the airport and were taken to our hostel, Smugglers Cove in Nadi. We had it planned to stay there for one night, and then go to the island tomorrow. At Smugglers Cove, after we checked in, we got some dinner, relaxed and enjoyed the view. There were random cats and dogs everywhere! For dinner, I had a chicken, cheese and tomato toastie, which was really good.
While we were just relaxing on the deck, we saw a few workers setting something up. We saw people go over and try a drink they made. So Matt and I wanted to go see what it was like. It was called Kava. Kava is a traditional Fijian drink, which is meant to help someone relax. Supposedly after a number of kava drinks, people will begin to feel more relaxed, but Matt and I only had a sip, so we did not feel anything. There is a whole ritual to perform before, during and after drinking kava. Before drinking the drink, you clap once, grab the cup, say "Bula", drink the kava, and then clap three times. Matt and I did this so we were both initiated. It did not taste good at all, but when in Fiji, you must drink kava!
The following morning (Friday), Matt and I were picked up pretty early by a bus, and we were taken to the Ferry Terminal. We now were on our way to Yasawa Islands, and we were staying at Mantaray Resort Island for the next 4 days. The cruise was about a 3 hour ride, and I wasn't feeling that well, so I slept most of it. But from what I saw, it was the absolute clearest water that I have ever seen in my whole entire life. It was so blue, but yet so clear at the same time. It was gorgeous. I AM IN FIJI! I still could not get over it.
We finally made it to Mantaray Resort Island!
As soon as we arrived at Mantaray, we were greeted by the Mantaray employees and they sang us a welcoming song, and gave us a pineapple slushy. I knew that I was going to love it here. After we got a tour of the resort, dropped our bags off at our room, we decided to go back to the beach. One of the workers said that he was going to feed the fish and was wondering if we wanted to help him, so of course we did. There were so many fish around. We fed them bread, and they loved it. They all were fighting for it.
Saturday morning, Matt and I woke up at the 8 o'clock, at the sound of the drum for breakfast. It was buffet style. They offered eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, cereal, muffins and much more. I had some pancakes and fruit! We then were getting ready to go scuba diving! I could not wait. I was so excited. Matt is a certified diver, so I didn't think that I would be able to dive with him, but since we had a small group, about 8 of us, we all stayed together. Because I am not certified, I had to stay with one of the instructors, and for the first dive, he held on to me and another intro diver, which really stunk. I told him that I have done it before, and felt comfortable, but he still wanted to us to stay with him. I still was enjoying my time, since I was diving in Fiji, I just wish that I had more freedom, but hey, that's okay. We saw so many things during the first dive, many different types of fish, gorgeous colourful coral, and even five sharks! It was absolutely incredible. It was my first time ever seeing sharks in person, I could not get over it. I wasn't even afraid. Below are some pictures of the sharks. It is a bit difficult to see, because the instructor wouldn't let us get as close as the certified divers, but it's still proof that I went scuba diving with sharks! After our dive was over, we took a short break, went to a different spot, and dove again. It was just so amazing. I wish I could live underwater because it is so pretty down there.
Here is a picture of the shark. It is right in the middle of the screen.
Once we got back from scuba diving, the crew told us that mantarays were spotted even though it isn't mantaray season, so we went out to swim with the two mantarays. I did not know what to expect, as I have never seen them in person before, but they were absolutely huge! And they were not afraid of people at all. So many people were surrounding them, and they didn't even care. We swam with the two of them for a while. They were so fast, and we were swimming against the current, so for a while it was pretty difficult to catch up with them.
I had such a great day scuba diving and swimming with the mantarays!
Sunday morning, Matt and I planned to go take the village trip. One of the employees took us by boat over to one of the villages, where he lives, and we were able to take a tour. His friend was actually the one who showed us around. This village trip was an eye opener to me. It was touching. We watched her and her family get ready for their church service, and she gave me a wrap to put on to cover up my legs, since the bottom of my legs were showing. She then sent her children off to church alone. I thought this was different for a while, but once we got to church, I realised why the children went alone. The set up of the church service was completely different than what I was used to. The children all sit together on the front left side. While the males sit in the back left, and the women sits in the front right. The choir also had their own pews in front. I wish I could explain how beautiful the choir sounded. It was amazing. Such a pleasure to listen to. It shocked me when children started to cry, or got fidgety, an older child would calm them down, or take them out of church, instead of their parents. It was just a sight to see. The actual church was beautiful.
After the church service finished, it was time for us to go back to Mantaray Island. Although I wish we would have gotten a better tour of the village, I am still glad that we were able to go and see SoSo Village.
Once we got back from the village trip, it was time for lunch. The meals here were delicious. I had a chicken caesar salad. After lunch, both Matt and I had a one hour massage. How relaxing!! We had it planned to go fishing after the massages, but one thing that I learned in Fiji was that do not make plans, because nothing ever seems to work out. Someone needed the boat, so we were unable to go fishing, so we went for a kayaking ride instead. We kayaked all the way across to the other island. Our friend Tessa came with us too. We stopped at the other island for a bit, and collected some shells, then went back to Mantaray to relax for the rest of the afternoon.
As soon as we walked to the restaurant for dinner, the sun was setting, and it was breathtaking. A Fijian sunset might be the prettiest I have ever seen. No one was at their table for dinner, they all were taking pictures of the gorgeous sunset.
After dinner, there was game night. Matt and I decided to join in. We first had a hermit crab race. We had five minutes to train our crab, and then we raced. Mine did great in training, but not so great during the race. Matt's hermit crab made the top 5! After that, we played two other games. I ended up winning the last game and won a free drink!
Monday was our last day here at Mantaray Island. We decided to go fishing this morning, since we were unable to the day before. In Fiji, they do hand rail fishing. So instead of reeling the fish in with a reel, you reel it in with your hands. It was quite interesting, but very fun! The guy who took us out caught the first fish and kept getting very lucky, and then I caught the next fish. Both Matt and I only caught one fish, while the other guy who took us caught 4, but we still had such a fun time!
The fish that I caught is the one right in the middle.
Just a side note, the food at Mantaray Island was very delicious. It was so nice to have some real food for once!
Tomato soup with garlic bread!
Fish cakes, which I actually liked!
The food menu!
The most delicious gnocchi!
And for dessert, a banana fritter! So yummy!
One of my lunches, the Mantaray Club (chicken, egg, lettuce and cheese)
One of the buffet dinners (salad, rice, veggies, beef and potatoes)
As Matt and I were waiting to head back to Nadi, the mainland of Fiji, I decided to FaceTime my dad for a bit. He was with my Uncle Rick and my Grandmom, so it was really nice to see all of them!
I cannot believe that it was already time to leave Fiji. These few days flew by, but they were amazing. Before we left, the crew sang us a departure song, shook all of our hands, thanked us, and wished for us to come back. We had such a good time in Fiji.
Here are a few pictures of what the resort looked like:
Matt and I!
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