Sep 2006

Hello everybody,

Sorry about the delay in writing the latest episode of our adventures.. we have been in Fiji for the last week and the internet has been slow, non existent in places and so bad that we havent bothered. So be ready for a monster one.
Current time is 12.48am on Saturday morning (in Fiji) and its mid morning for you lucky people still at work.
We arrived last Sunday Am after crossing the international date line and losing Saturday completely... (boo!) and we checked into a hostel called smugglers cove, staying in the pirates Dorm (oooo arghh me hearties!)
Sunday Am: After waking up with merely three hours sleep under our belts.. we made the gravest mistakes of booking some further accomodation without properly researching the idea. We spoke to a lovely lady in the travel office at the hotel who recommended that we embark on a cruise to the Yasawas Islands and stay in some of the secluded resorts there... so we did... no questions asked (oops i hear you say!) The boat ride took us to a small island almost four hours away from the mainland and to a resort called Coralview...

First impresssions were... well, lets just say, "Average". The resort looked like a cross between Brigadoon (one for you there mums) and Castaway with Wills good friend Ben Fogle! The "resort" was some what dated and "traditional" as it was described in the rather sparse brochure.

Anyway, we were greated by hordes of staff who sang to us and offered us refreshments and were whisked away for lunch. "Great" we both thought, that was until we had to check in. The Credit card machine that we were advised on, didnt exist, and being a desert island in the middle of the pacific, the chances of a Cashpoint (Even a fee charging one) were slim to non existent. Anway, to cut a long story short, the resort, didnt take anything but cold hard currency. So we were in a bit of a pickle... we managed, eventually, to haggle them into accepting a driving license as collateral and we set about enjoying our stay.
Our only gripe with the resort was that the beach wasnt a beach and it didnt really cater for stays as long as ours (Five days!) So we settled into two days of cards, UNO, volleyball and general lazing around. "How can that be so bad?" I hear you cry? Well it wasnt to be fair! Just wish the weather had been better!
Anyhoo, after a couple of beers on the first night, we decided to make a break for another island, and boarded the big yellow boat. After a chat to staff, we settled on a lovely resort called Bounty island... and no its not where the chocolate bars are made.. but it is..AND WAIT FOR IT...where they filmed the first series of CELEBRITY LOVE ISLAND. The original set was still there (albeit a bit worse for wears...) and we also sat on the pier were Kelly Brooke and Patrick Keilty hosted the prog! The first night, we took part in a Kava Ceremony ( a traditional Fijian welcome - even the Queen took part in one!)

and I

(Ali) was made honorary Chief for the event! What an honour! i even got to drink second out of everyone!
Today was special.. it was special because we plucked up the courage to go Scuba diving... What an experience, although i must say that the pool session was a bit strange and it took us both a little time to get use to breathing through a regulator. We dived to an amazing coral formation called Jackies reef (just off our resort) and we saw some of the most incredible fish you can imagine. We even saw some Nemo's! and they were cool.. they swam up to the instructor and kinda squared up to him as if saying "This is my reef, get lost!" Didnt see any sharks thankfully and now we both want to do more when we get the chance!
To sum up Fiji - If anyone is thinking of coming here.. Its a nice place away from the main island.. the Yasawas and mamanucas are an idyllic sun kissed Backpackers paradise.. We loved the snorkelling, the diving and the blue star fish.

Just make sure that you research the islands first! Dont take the tour operators word for it.. they are on commission!
Thanks for all the comments and we promise we will email you all when we have reliable, fast internet access.. (prob tomorrow.)
Will: Hope the Kitchen and bathroom come on ok!
Parents: We are both ok..Need a proper shower and clean clothes though! Please be careful about Sweden comments.. our friends might read it!
Emily: How did Maisy enjoy her first swim, is she a natural? And more importantly, will she be representing the UK in the Olympics?
Sandrine: Seen some cute dogs. Coral view had its very own Charlotte (with balls!)
Laura H and Col: If you are still reading this.. hope you are ok and flat is cool.
Matt S: Nugget!
Mish: Who was Torso of the week?
Mike and Carol: Didnt come across any bare breasted maidens coming out of the sea whilst visiting Tahiti, Plenty of calendars though!
The Bagnalls: Thanks for reminding me of the Man Utd vs Arsenal Score.. Please the Computers are holding up!

Thats your lot for tonight. We are off to catch a plane to New Zealand... Will update piccies asap.

Take care:

love pollyali

xxxx

Hello everyone,

Its been a while so we thought we would update you on our last few days.

Since the trek across the Raro, we have chilled and met some incredibly different people.
The Swedens: A couple from the northern wastelands of Sweden who were poles apart from each other (get it?!?) She was a ginger (dyed blonde) hairdresser who had a tendency to over use the word Fxxk and to scream at the merest hint of anything with wings. He was an electronics salesman who was hilarious and somewhat more subdued than her. Both however were great fun and we fully intend on imposing ourselves on them as we venture round New Zealand.
UK People: As we are, all very nice and with a similar tendency to drink too much and run around doing silly things!
Main happenings: One evening was spent having a few drinks with a girl called Katie, The Swedens and and English Couple called Phil and Katie.. needless to say, several trips to the shop to refill on the booze were needed and the night ended with the females of the party chucking themselves in the sea.
We managed to see a bit more of the island by hiring some scooters.. We used them to venture further afield to various snorkelling patches and in the process saw some incredible fish.. angel fish, giant clams and some little blighters that chased pol and made her scream!
Island night on Thursday was excellent.. saw some authentic half nude Polynesian men (and women) strut their stuff and make us all laugh. The night was compered by a chunky bald maori who had numerous digs at the brits!.

In Fiji now and are about to embark on an island adventure.. staying in a nice hotel about four hours by boat from the main island in Fiji.. will update in a couple of days with some more pics.

Loz: Happy Birthday and well done on the RAF.
Phil: Can you reply to your sis's email if you want the money for the bills.

Time is up so good bye.

love and hugs

Pollyali

xxx

Hello everybody...
Feeling a tad tender today as we managed a most amazing cross island trek yesterday (8km in total)
6 of us from the hostel geared up at nine oclock and after a short bus ride, entered the interior of the island, shortly before 11. After stumbling across a tied up pig and several incidents of roadkill.. the road disappeared (completely) and all we had to follow were muddy footprints trailing off into the forest. Well, it got worse as the almost vertical climbs up tree roots and over branches nearly got the better of ali as he banged his head and looked a complete loser as sweat began to appear where it really shouldnt do!

Any way, to cut a long story short, we made it to the needle (the highest point on the trek) where we consumed two marmite sandwiches (Thanks Pols Mum!) and managed to cool off while taking some great pics.

The way down was slightly easier and after some closer encounters with some rather large spiders, we made it to the waterfall where we all cooled off and gave the mosquitoes a feast. Four km's later and we arrived back at the hostel, slightly worse for wears but in need of some alcholic refreshments! Last night was spent drunk and playing some card games with the rest of the UK contingent (great fun) but someone has pinched our lonely planet..grr.
Thanks for the comments everyone,

Alis mum: Sorry about the day off yesterday.. hope this placates your hunger for more news!
Pols mum and dad: How did Loz get on with his interview? and how is the Rabbitoid?
Sandrine: Nice to know Topshop havent forgotten about me yet!
David: Wish i could say the same about work! However, having too much fun out here to contemplate organising your week for you!

Miss you all

Pollyali

Well here we are, Day two of our Rarotongan adventure and if we are honest, we've done f### all! The beach is fantastic and right on our doorstep.. we have a cheap room and the hostel is full of backpackers.. SWEET! Only seems to be two problems at the minute... and wait for it...
1: Jet lag: led to a monster 13 hour sleep yesterday and our record bed time so far has been 9oclock.
2: The weather is a bit shoddy. No where near as bad as in Blighty (before you all laugh to yourselves!) but overcast and showery whilst still being 25 degrees. Thanks for the comment (Mothers) it shows that some people have been bothered to register (we know you have Col and Mike, but we eagerly await some input)
Sorry for the lack of visual stimuli, the hostel, being budget does not allow for the uploading of data but merely the trickle of incoming info. We will, however endeavour to put some on in Fiji (next week!)
The islands are very expensive for phone calls - $10 for three mins of calls (so we will call more when we arrive in New Zealand in a couple of weeks time.
Snorkelling has been an amazing experience for us both. We have seen some incredible fish and a multitude of slimy squelchy sluggy type things. Pol seems to have made friends with two dogs and a pair of hermit crabs whom she has affectionately named "Hermi" and "Gary"
We seem to be eating well (bread, noodles and beans) but we dont care as we dont have anything strenous to do.
thats aboot your lot for today, we probably will update again soon so keep any eye out for more adventures of pollyali..

love you all.

xxxxxx

Preliminary views of Tahiti, in my opinion were "amazing." Shame it didnt last. After getting on the boat to the neighbouring island of moorea.. which was great fun (with some fantastic views) we met, by a stroke of luck, our host " Mark" from Marks paradise. He "Kindly" offered to give us a lift to our "prebooked" accomodation in his beaten up four by four. He took us to his equally beaten up shack. And when i say equally, i mean it..The "Shed" was coming out of the bottom of a tree, which in first light seemed ok... but when night came, all manner of creepy crawly type things emerged to play.
Nuff said about the accomodation. The Island of Moorea was "BORING" to say the least... i thoroughly recommend no-one goes there unless you have a sheraton gold card with gazillions of pounds in t'bank.
However in defense of the good citizens of Tahiti they were without a doubt the nicest people we have ever met. And close your ears now mother.... We HITCH-HIKED from the shed to the ferry port as there were no buses and we were damned if we were paying Mark to take us back there. This leads me on the Bill we received from the lovely Mark. The nice convenient lift he had offered, did in fact cost us 1000 cfp's.. which is about 6 pounds... wouldnt have minded if he had mentioned this at the ferry port, but he didnt so we were miffed to say the least.

We have decided to start a little game called "Who Gets Bitten The Most" present, it is 3-0 polly and every time we write, we will update for your viewing pleasure... Time to go as we only have 12 mins internet left... prelim views on Rarotonga are...

"TOP BANANA"

P.S... Ali agrees.