Our Bula Pass enabled us eleven nights stay, in dorms, on The Yasawas at about ten different resorts. Instead of trying to see all the islands we picked four that appealed to us most meaning we could spend longer on them and avoid travelling each day.
The first island we decided to stay at for two nights was called Kuata. It took around two hours to reach from the mainland by the catamaran and was definitely worth the journey. Fiji was a country Louise and I were extremely excited to visit having read and heard so many things about its white sandy beaches, crystal clear sea, amazing nature and most importantly the easy going lifestyle and cheerful people.
It did not disappoint and even exceeded our expectations. Needless to say I fell in love and it's for life.
We spent our afternoon lying on the beach listening to the waves and occasionally dipping in the exquisite water, the temperature just right. When the tide starting lapping at our feet it was time to get ready for dinner. Our dorm, the one in the photo above, was a two minute stroll from the beach, if that. The shower was a pipe from the ceiling with no form of shower head and no temperature control but I liked it this way.
After taking some photos of the beach in the early evening light it was time for dinner. Our Bula Pass meant that every meal was provided for and so we just joined other guests in the communal dining room. The food was delicious, enhanced by the fact that we did not have to cook it ourselves!
Once we were finished eating the locals who worked on the resort treated us to some evening entertainment. They showed us the Bula Dance (bula meaning welcome), which varies across islands somewhat, and then got us involved in learning the dance. As expected I was terrible but it has led to some funny photos.
Upon mastering the Bula Dance we were taught some other dancing games. One involved standing in a large circle, in pairs, with one person in the middle of the circle holding a stick. The music would play and everyone had to dance around the circle with their partner. The person in the middle would drop the stick whenever they had had enough of dancing with it at which point the partners on the inside of the circle all had to switch, but not with the ones directly infront or behind. It sounds confusing, possibly my terrible explanation, and was chaotic. The other dances followed a similar vein and the evening was extremely enjoyable but left us needing a second shower because it was so hot.
The following day, Saturday, we decided to go Reef Shark snorkelling, one of the activities offered by the resort. Before that I took a few more photos of our dorm and the view from it which was gorgeous. Trying to limit my photographs for these blogs has been hard because everywhere wa absolutely stunning.
There were about ten of us going snorkelling prompting a search for enough flippers, goggles and snorkels. Kuata is a quiet resort and ten was quite a large number for one activity. We all piled into one of the wooden boats and were taken to a reef about 20 minutes away. The snorkelling was fantastic. The water was clear and the reef was beautiful and full of colours. Fish swarmed around us as we idly swum and floated in the sea. Reef Sharks appeared and surveyed us curiously, drawn by the fish caught by our guide. It was amazing watching these creatures swim around us, getting so close you could touch them.
I wish I had a 'go-pro' or an underwater camera so that I could share the incredible scenes we saw. Eventually I did away with my leaking snorkel and held my breath diving under the surface to be closer to the reef, fish and the magnificent 'friendly' sharks.
We returned to the island and spent the rest of the morning sunbathing and swimming before lunch. After we tried our hand at jewellery making. Firstly, we did some weaving or rather Louise did and the woman who was helping me insisted on doing the whole thing, probably because I looked incapable. Then we strung some shells along fishing line to create anklets. The afternoon was relaxed like the morning, spent on the beach and snorkelling when the tide was high enough.
Our evening was delightful, spent with the locals drinking Kava, the Fijian drink. It is not alcoholic as I thought it would be but was a drink made of ground up pepper roots mixed with water. It is a traditional drink and in past years was only drunk by men, it is becoming more acceptable for women to drink it although many do not like it. Kava has numbing affects making for a very good nights sleep after a few bowls.
The Kava is served in coconut bowls which are not allowed to be placed on the floor. It is customary to clap once before receiving your bowl of Kava, drink it in one gulp, smile (or at least try to after the peppery taste) and then clap three times after giving your bowl back. When not drinking Kava we sat chatting to each other about anything and everything.
Following a wonderful nights sleep where it felt like I'd been knocked unconscious for 8 hours it was time to leave the beautiful Kuata. The people here were lovely and welcoming making it extremely difficult to leave.
Until next time.
A x
No comments:
Post a Comment