Bula!!!! from Fiji

Bula everyone (that's hello in Fijian)! We have just had the best 10 days ever! Fiji was superb and it lived up to its expectations!

After being out of the backpacking ways for 4 month's we did wonder if we could get back into it - not a problem for Team RA!! Fiji is about 3 hr flight from NZ and we arrived late at night so we stayed in a backpackers lodge near the airport. We got picked up by a so called Taxi but this car was falling to bits!

Day1

Our first 5 nights were on the Robinson Crusoe Island. This is an island off the mainland only accessible by boat. After a 40 min boat ride we were greeted by the island band. This island was a back to basics place. With bucket showers, electricity only on until 23:30 and food only served as and when they cooked it, there were no shops or places to go, just us on the island. It was mega! The first night we had some Kava which is the traditional drink over there. Its not a drug but it makes you relaxed and a little numb if you drink loads of it which the locals do!! Its the root of a pepper plant mixed with water and it tastes like mud. There was about 12 of us staying on this island and we all bonded straight away.

We stayed in a little lodge about 10 metres from the beach and in the middle of coconut trees.

Day2

We spent the whole day on the island sunbathing with everyone. That afternoon about 90 people came over to visit (only for a few hours) so we joined them in the activities they did which included snorkeling, crab racing and kayaking. Rich also came up with coconut shotput which kept the boys amused for a few hours! That evening Rich went and played with the other lads in the sea while I just chatted to the girls on the beach were we all watched the sunset with a drink around a bonfire. That night we all partied until the early hours we met some marines who were hardcore rum drinkers so rich and andy struggled a little to keep up! We were playing long jump in the sand, holding poisonous snakes (unbeknown to us!) and falling in the sea where there were snakes and sting rays! ha lol. But after every good night comes a bad day and that was very true for us, we both had a few too many, Rich fell into the sea, pulled me down with him and that meant the camera too!! After a few days of drying out it still wouldn't work so we've just bought our 3rd camera in 6 months!! Not only that, he lost his flip flops, ear plug and his t-shirt (luckily he found this the next day) - good night though by all accounts!!!


















Day3

This was spent getting a boat back to the mainland and then a bus journey into the capital city to try and replace everything we'd had lost/broken - we had to buy some disposable cameras and rich unknowingly bought flip flops with the face of a communist leader on!! Very hungover in the middle of a boiling hot city with people trying to sell us wooden stuff was not a good day!!!!! When we got back to the island it was so funny seeing everyone else hungover still in bed at 5pm, needless to say we didn't drink that night! Althea we did end up doing the conga with the staff around the island! It really did feel like our little island as there was so few of us there.

Day 4

Back to normal today, loaded up with disposable camera and new flip flops we went island hopping. We saw some great islands and did some awesome snorkeling in crystal clear water with skoals of fish swimming around us. We just spent the day taking in all the different islands and beaches, we hoped to go to Castaway island for a few hours but we found out although the island is named after the film the film wasn't shot there so we gave that a miss and headed somewhere else, although the next place we pulled up at said they were too full to take us in - i swear there were only 2 people on that beach, that is pure rejection, must have been Rich's chest hair. That night we played games with everyone on the beach, it was such a laugh, even had a cheeky few bowls of Kava with the staff.

Day 5

Our last day on the island, we started off the day waving off some of our friends which was sad, its funny how much you get on with people in such short spaces of time. Anyway we said goodbye and went Kayaking to the Mangroves where we had to duck vines and trees to get to a massive mud pool where we had a huge mud fight with everyone, it was hilarious!! Our last night was spent just chilling out on the beach watching our last sunset there, they were magnificent.












Day 6

With our stuff packed and ready to go we remembered we had been given a free massage voucher when we arrived, so we both had a massage before getting on the boat back to the mainland to catch our Feejee Experience bus and start our next adventure

We met everyone on Natadola beach for a BBQ lunch and had chance to chat with everyone and get to know them all (there were about 16 people we'd be travelling with on a bus for the next 4 days). We then headed to a village for a first Fijian village visit. We had to wear sarongs (yep even the boys, Rich looked like a cross between David Beckham and Dame Edna - very gay) We were able to wander around the village, talk to the locals and learn about village life in Fiji, they still have chiefs they have to give all of the food they have farmed/caught to before he dishes it all out to everyone! After this we headed to some sand dunes for sand boarding, this was mint, we had to climb a massive sand dune before flying down it. That night we arrived at Mango Bay, a gorgeous resort on the Coral Coast where we all sat together for tea and drinks.

Day 7

An early start as we made our way to a Rainforest for a 3 hour trek! It started to rain which made it really muddy but the rain soon passed and the sun was out in full force. This trek took up us mud hills, across streams and right into the heart of the rainforest making bridges out of logs and clambering over rocks, it was great. At the end of the trek we had some lunch before getting on some tyres and tubing down the river to waterfalls where we jumped off into little secluded pools. Such a good day but so tiring!! That night again we all had tea together and a few drinks but we soon called it a night, we were too knackered.

















Day 8

Another early start to the day as we headed to a Fijian school to be shown around by the pupils. This was a boarding and a non boarders school, we went into lessons where they were having debates, saw the kitchen and their dorms. To them it was normal but it was humbling to see, they are all up at 5:30am helping the school cook/clean /farm, nothing like Woldgate! Following this we went to another village where we we greeted by the chief and his family and drank some Kava again, we all had 1 coconut bowl each then the girls went to see the women and made bracelets out of banana leaves while the boys had to finish off the Kava. Next stop after the village was Bamboo rafting. We were split into 2 teams and had to race on bamboo rafts down a river, we also played volleyball and water rugby in this river which looked like the Derwent! We stayed at a great place that night where, because it was out last night all together we had a theme night. The theme was 'P' so we had to dress up as something beginning with 'P'. WE couldn't go shopping for anyting so wer had to borrow eaqch others clothes and use paper or whatever we could get our hands on! I was a pirate and Rich and 3 other guys went as Pom Pom girls, such a good night, we had loads of games and it all ended with the events organiser of the hotel who turned out to be a transvestite dancing to Candy Man in full drag! Not just once, not twice, but 3 times, that man loves his job! We finished the night at a bonfire right near the sea, it was a really clear night so we could see loads of stars, it was a great way to spend our last night on Feejee Experience.

Day 9

A late start as everyone was a bit hungover. It was the Indian festival of light (Diwali) that day so we went to an Indian restaurant for an Indian lunch and to learn about the festival. We cooked our own Roti's (a bit like Naan bread) and ate Indian sweets. All full up on curry we went to a mud pool and hot springs. The hot springs were really boiling hot it was so relaxing, this was our last activity with everyone as after this we headed straight for our hostels in Nadi which is where we flew out of the next day.

All in all a fantastic and jam packed 10 days away, we didn't expect it to be so tiring and full of things to do and see especially the partying! We were so lucky to meet some great people there who we really got on with, it made our trip.

We came back to our house in NZ for a few days to say bye to all of our friends and sort out some bits and pieces. Next stop is Oz, we fly on Monday morning to Cairns - lets hope its hot!!

Speak soon

All our love
Team RA
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Last full week in Auckland

Hello again. We can't believe that we have just finished our last full week in Auckland..boooo!!!!

Amy's contract expired at L'Oreal and I just had a few sessions early in the morning which meant we could plan and spend the last week doing the things we saved to do.

Last Weekend

We have been looking forward to this since we arrived in our house. Alistair's family have a beach house in the Coramandal located in Pauanui, so 49 Duke Street had a weekend trip, all five of us and yes of course our little hariy friend Theo!!

Pauanui is the rich part of NZ where the houses range from 1 million upwards!!The houses are amazing - some having planes outside with a runway at the back which around 30 or so houses share!! Al's house looks onto the beach! We packed Sarah's car and set off after tea on Friday.

Saturday

Me and Alistrair woke up about 6:00 am and went fishing on the beach. We didn't get much but is was a great epxerince - Fishing, looking out at the Sunrise over the Pacfic, you just can't buy.

We got back and all the girls were up and had breakfast ready. After breakfast we went to the hot beach. This is where you dig your own little hotpool which is heated by the thermal activity under the sand. Jesus !!! it got hot, so you just got out to cool down in the sea and jumped back in!

After this we went to where the "Piano" was filmed in Cathedral Cove. This was gorgeous we saw views you can't explain. No dogs where allowed so we left Theo in the car and walked for a couple of hours down and around caves.

We got back and the dog must have got a bit ill to say the least as he was sick and did the worst smelling, wet, sloppy number 2 I have ever smelt all over the car!! ha ha lol. It stank!!

So after a while cleaning it up we drove back to the beach house with us all hanging our heads out of the window.. lol ha

Sunday

We deicided to go Sea fishing. We hired a boat and headed off for 6 hours of fishing. We went everywhere and the weather was good. It was Amy's first time and guess what.. she caught a 10 pound Baracuda!! lol. It nearly pulled here in!! A great day. There was even a seal that swam under the boat and started playing near us. Amy enjoyed hereslef that much she is going to make fishing her hobby.

After we got back we had a BBQ with the fish we caught and headed back home. It was a great weekend!

Monday

I am bored now of writing so I'll pass you over to Amy. I enjoyed my First Monday morning without working! That morning we just chilled out out and pottered. It was a nice day so we went for a walk to Mission Bay and had Ice cream and looked around the place. That evening we went to a Sushi Train Resturant.

Tuesday

Rich was coaching in the morning. We went to Botnay which is where Sarah is from and had a pub lunch. That evening we went to the pictures and got tickets in the Gold Class - Great! we had our own lazy chair and waiter!

Wednesday

We had walk up Mt Eden Volcano which is just 10 minutes walk from our house. We climbed right to the top of the crater and had a picnic lunch. That evening we got a Brian (Ferry) over to Devonport. People here have a great way of life. The ferry leaves every 30 mins and people commute to Auckland to work. The place was lovely and we had Fish n Chips on the beach.

Thursday

I arranged to get a car from L'oreal and drove to Piha Beach. Saved us a fortune on hiring a car and petrol! This is a black sand beach where the sand is magnetic becasue of all the iron in it from a volcanic explosion!! Really strange. After wandering around there we went to Waikatere Ranges where we did a rainforest walk. To finish of the day we went to Bethals beach, again black sands but this time there were sand Dunes around the place and it was a prettier beach.

Friday

Rich did his last coaching session so he's now finished work. It was a rainy day so we just stayed in and wathched a DVD and did some cleaning. That Night Sarah's got a new boyfriend so we had a flat meal and got to know him.

Saturday

Anita, my friend from L'Oreal took us to Matakana Market which is 1 hour drive away. It was lovely with an old fashioned Folk band playing and farmers selling all different kinds of things. After this we all went for a hot chocolate. Bill Clinton went to the same place when he was over here and we sat in his seat!

That afternoon we sold some Drawers we bought over here and made a profit!!

Sunday

We have been saving money each week we have been working and decided to go to Fiji with it. We fly out today and will be back in 10 days. We can't wait and will update you all when we get back!!

All our Love

Team RA

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Auckland Update

Hello all. We've had a busy week so we'd thought we would share it with you otherwise if we wait until this weekend it will be a BIG Blog update.

The week went normal with us both in our routine. At the weekend we hired a car and went to Waitomo caves. It was probably the worst car I have ever seen and driven but I loved it. I felt a bit like a foreign in taxi driver - soft steering wheel, the smell etc ,anyway enough of me ranting on about the car. We headed south from Auckland with Amy navigating...... so having been going in the wrong direction for a hour we turned around and made our way lol only joking she's got the hang of it now... just read what it says on the paper love and we will be fine.

Waitomo Caves is full of caves ( as you would have guessed) that were discovered in the mid 1960s. You can do loads of adventures like walking through, or abseil down them. We decided to do a 4 hour adventure which meant we got to do 70 ft abseil, rock climbing 70 ft under ground and crawling through the smallest caves you have ever seen - in the wet - looking at my chin its a wonder how the hell it fitted through!!! ha whats going on with it? -. We went had a group of 5 which really made it - we weren't waiting around for any fattys.. ha lol. It was class!

Amy was a natural at abseiling - no messing around in fact we were the only two that were allowed to do another rock climb as the others weren't getting to grips with it - soz experienced cavers!!! 4 hours of it though is more than enough. You can't imagine how tired you get!!!

On Saturday Night we called Ben to wish him all the best on his big day.. he sounded nervous bless him but by all accounts it was a fab day! good luck to the both of them.

On Sunday I went to do some selecting for the U13/14 grade looking for a team to take to the nationals. This was good there are some good footballers out here. That afternoon I headed off with the girls I coach for a 3 day Tournament. We took 3 girls and 4 boys teams in total. We all had tracksuits, each team had a physio! and all food paid for. I had the C team ( the only C team in the Tournament) but we ended up winning the Plate!! It was a great week and experience..

Amy stayed at home and had a nice few days. She went to a few BBQs with Laura Barker and a few people she works with. it was strange being away from other really..

This weekend just gone by. We watched New Zealand U17 girls team , had a BBQ and just relaxed on Saturday night. On Sunday we went to have some Yum Cha which is Cantonese breakfast with Amy's work mates. Lovely food - we have never had this before and we can now use chop sticks!!!

Well that's about it until the next update.

Happy Birthday mum on Wednesday!! have a great day.

lots of love

Team RA