Rough times

I'm pleased to say Les got over her little set back quickly and we headed back out to the islands to enjoy the rest of our trip.

We headed to a little island called 'Drawaqa' home of 'Barefoot Lodge' a small collection of 20 bures (thatched huts) and nothing else on the island. No electricity, no water, no ....... anything!! But what the island lacked in travel luxuries it made up for in natural beauty, within seconds we were snorkelling in extensive coral gardens, and within eyeshot a passage where the gigantic Manta Rays swam through. As usual, kayaking, snorkelling, and relaxing in hammocks were on the agenda.

As usual i have found a new tipple as i have been passing through countries, this time though it is not a beer (although Fiji Bitter is very nice), it is actually a narcotic drink called Kava, it is drank in ceremonial style until you pass out. Tastes like (and looks like) mud, but has a weird relaxing effect, and is legal (apparently)



After two days on the above island, our next stop was the most southern tip of Waya island, the place we stayed was called 'Sunset' (which is quite ironic as the huge mountain blocks us from seeing the sunset!). We arrived quite late and were pretty tired so we slept after we ha been introduced to the island by a Fijian guy named 'John'. We awoke at around 5am the next morning to hear a howling wind and lashing rain .... great! The day was spent inside a large bure playing cards and listening to lots of eager young backpackers yank on about thier worldly travels, and how great Thiland is compared to every where else in the world ........ zzzzzzzz

Our 27m catermaran (The Flyer) was rather late in picking us up to take us back to the mainland, and the sea was very rough. It arrived around 5pm and we were taxied out to the Flyer for our return trip. To say i wasn't ready for what ensued is an understatement!!! This was the worse trip of my life, waves the size of two storey houses battered the catermaran left, right, up, down, back and forth (and a combination of those direction) for around 2 1/2 hours. People were vomiting left right and centre, people were injured from flying objects and people had been reassigned seats by being bounced to another location out of their original seats.

I arrived back on the mainland, shaking and very sweaty.

Anyway have to go and catch a plane now so i will update pics and blog when i get back (in about 30 hours)

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